2010 Minnesota Statutes

CHAPTER 151. PHARMACY

BOARD OF PHARMACY

151.01 DEFINITIONS.

Subdivision 1.Words, terms, and phrases.

Unless the language or context clearly indicates that a different meaning is intended, the following words, terms, and phrases, for the purposes of this chapter, shall be given the meanings subjoined to them.

Subd. 2.Pharmacy.

"Pharmacy" means an established place of business in which prescriptions, drugs, medicines, chemicals, and poisons are prepared, compounded, dispensed, vended, or sold to or for the use of patients and from which related clinical pharmacy services are delivered.

Subd. 3.Pharmacist.

The term "pharmacist" means an individual with a currently valid license issued by the Board of Pharmacy to practice pharmacy.

Subd. 4.

[Repealed, 1988 c 550 s 20]

Subd. 5.Drug.

The term "drug" means all medicinal substances and preparations recognized by the United States Pharmacopoeia and National Formulary, or any revision thereof, and all substances and preparations intended for external and internal use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease in humans or other animals, and all substances and preparations, other than food, intended to affect the structure or any function of the bodies of humans or other animals.

Subd. 6.Medicine.

The term "medicine" means any remedial agent that has the property of curing, preventing, treating, or mitigating diseases, or that is used for that purpose.

Subd. 7.Poisons.

The term "poisons" means any substance which, when introduced into the system, directly or by absorption, produces violent, morbid, or fatal changes, or which destroys living tissue with which it comes in contact.

Subd. 8.Chemical.

The term "chemical" means all medicinal or industrial substances, whether simple or compound, or obtained through the process of the science and art of chemistry, whether of organic or inorganic origin.

Subd. 9.Board or State Board of Pharmacy.

The term "board" or "State Board of Pharmacy" means the Minnesota State Board of Pharmacy.

Subd. 10.Director.

The term "director" means the director of the Minnesota State Board of Pharmacy.

Subd. 11.Person.

The term "person" means an individual, firm, partnership, company, corporation, trustee, association, agency, or other public or private entity.

Subd. 12.Wholesale.

The term "wholesale" means and includes any sale for the purpose of resale.

Subd. 13.Commercial purposes.

The phrase "commercial purposes" means the ordinary purposes of trade, agriculture, industry, and commerce, exclusive of the practices of medicine and pharmacy.

Subd. 14.Manufacturing.

The term "manufacturing" except in the case of bulk compounding, prepackaging or extemporaneous compounding within a pharmacy, means and includes the production, quality control and standardization by mechanical, physical, chemical, or pharmaceutical means, packing, repacking, tableting, encapsulating, labeling, relabeling, filling or by any other process, of all drugs, medicines, chemicals, or poisons, without exception, for medicinal purposes.

Subd. 15.Pharmacist intern.

The term "pharmacist intern" means (1) a natural person satisfactorily progressing toward the degree in pharmacy required for licensure, or (2) a graduate of the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy, or other pharmacy college approved by the board, who is registered by the State Board of Pharmacy for the purpose of obtaining practical experience as a requirement for licensure as a pharmacist, or (3) a qualified applicant awaiting examination for licensure.

Subd. 15a.Pharmacy technician.

The term "pharmacy technician" means a person not licensed as a pharmacist or a pharmacist intern, who assists the pharmacist in the preparation and dispensing of medications by performing computer entry of prescription data and other manipulative tasks. A pharmacy technician shall not perform tasks specifically reserved to a licensed pharmacist or requiring professional judgment.

Subd. 16.Prescription.

The term "prescription" means a signed written order, or an oral order reduced to writing, given by a practitioner licensed to prescribe drugs for patients in the course of the practitioner's practice, issued for an individual patient and containing the following: the date of issue, name and address of the patient, name and quantity of the drug prescribed, directions for use, and the name and address of the prescriber.

Subd. 17.Legend drug.

"Legend drug" means a drug which is required by federal law to bear the following statement, "Caution: Federal law prohibits dispensing without prescription."

Subd. 18.Label.

"Label" means a display of written, printed, or graphic matter upon the immediate container of any drug or medicine; and a requirement made by or under authority of Laws 1969, chapter 933 that any word, statement, or other information appearing on the label shall not be considered to be complied with unless such word, statement, or other information also appears on the outside container or wrapper, if any there be, of the retail package of such drug or medicine, or is easily legible through the outside container or wrapper.

Subd. 19.Package.

"Package" means any container or wrapping in which any drug or medicine is enclosed for use in the delivery or display of that article to retail purchasers, but does not include:

(a) shipping containers or wrappings used solely for the transportation of any such article in bulk or in quantity to manufacturers, packers, processors, or wholesale or retail distributors;

(b) shipping containers or outer wrappings used by retailers to ship or deliver any such article to retail customers if such containers and wrappings bear no printed matter pertaining to any particular drug or medicine.

Subd. 20.Labeling.

"Labeling" means all labels and other written, printed, or graphic matter (a) upon a drug or medicine or any of its containers or wrappers, or (b) accompanying such article.

Subd. 21.Federal act.

"Federal act" means the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, United States Code, title 21, section 301, et seq., as amended.

Subd. 22.Pharmacist in charge.

"Pharmacist in charge" means a duly licensed pharmacist in the state of Minnesota who has been designated in accordance with the rules of the State Board of Pharmacy to assume professional responsibility for the operation of the pharmacy in compliance with the requirements and duties as established by the board in its rules.

Subd. 23.Practitioner.

"Practitioner" means a licensed doctor of medicine, licensed doctor of osteopathy duly licensed to practice medicine, licensed doctor of dentistry, licensed doctor of optometry, licensed podiatrist, or licensed veterinarian. For purposes of sections 151.15, subdivision 4; 151.37, subdivision 2, paragraphs (b), (e), and (f); and 151.461, "practitioner" also means a physician assistant authorized to prescribe, dispense, and administer under chapter 147A, or an advanced practice nurse authorized to prescribe, dispense, and administer under section 148.235. For purposes of sections 151.15, subdivision 4; 151.37, subdivision 2, paragraph (b); and 151.461, "practitioner" also means a dental therapist authorized to dispense and administer under chapter 150A.

Subd. 24.Brand name.

"Brand name" means the registered trademark name given to a drug product by its manufacturer, labeler or distributor.

Subd. 25.Generic name.

"Generic name" means the established name or official name of a drug or drug product.

Subd. 26.Finished dosage form.

"Finished dosage form" means that form of a drug which is or is intended to be dispensed or administered to the patient and requires no further manufacturing or processing other than packaging, reconstitution, or labeling.

Subd. 27.Practice of pharmacy.

"Practice of pharmacy" means:

(1) interpretation and evaluation of prescription drug orders;

(2) compounding, labeling, and dispensing drugs and devices (except labeling by a manufacturer or packager of nonprescription drugs or commercially packaged legend drugs and devices);

(3) participation in clinical interpretations and monitoring of drug therapy for assurance of safe and effective use of drugs;

(4) participation in drug and therapeutic device selection; drug administration for first dosage and medical emergencies; drug regimen reviews; and drug or drug-related research;

(5) participation in administration of influenza vaccines to all eligible individuals ten years of age and older and all other vaccines to patients 18 years of age and older under standing orders from a physician licensed under chapter 147 or by written protocol with a physician provided that:

(i) the pharmacist is trained in a program approved by the American Council of Pharmaceutical Education for the administration of immunizations or graduated from a college of pharmacy in 2001 or thereafter; and

(ii) the pharmacist reports the administration of the immunization to the patient's primary physician or clinic;

(6) participation in the practice of managing drug therapy and modifying drug therapy, according to section 151.21, subdivision 1, according to a written protocol between the specific pharmacist and the individual dentist, optometrist, physician, podiatrist, or veterinarian who is responsible for the patient's care and authorized to independently prescribe drugs. Any significant changes in drug therapy must be reported by the pharmacist to the patient's medical record;

(7) participation in the storage of drugs and the maintenance of records;

(8) responsibility for participation in patient counseling on therapeutic values, content, hazards, and uses of drugs and devices; and

(9) offering or performing those acts, services, operations, or transactions necessary in the conduct, operation, management, and control of a pharmacy.

Subd. 28.Veterinary legend drug.

"Veterinary legend drug" means a drug that is required by federal law to bear the following statement: "Caution: Federal law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian."

Subd. 29.Legend medical gas.

"Legend medical gas" means a liquid or gaseous substance used for medical purposes and that is required by federal law to bear the following statement: "Caution: Federal law prohibits dispensing without a prescription."

Subd. 30.Dispense.

"Dispense or dispensing" means the preparation or delivery of a drug pursuant to a lawful order of a practitioner in a suitable container appropriately labeled for subsequent administration to or use by a patient or other individual entitled to receive the drug.

Subd. 31.Central service pharmacy.

"Central service pharmacy" means a pharmacy that may provide dispensing functions, drug utilization review, packaging, labeling, or delivery of a prescription product to another pharmacy for the purpose of filling a prescription.

Subd. 32.Electronic signature.

"Electronic signature" means an electronic sound, symbol, or process attached to or associated with a record and executed or adopted by a person with the intent to sign the record.

Subd. 33.Electronic transmission.

"Electronic transmission" means transmission of information in electronic form.

History:

(5808-1) 1937 c 354 s 1; 1961 c 394 s 1; 1967 c 377 s 1,2; 1969 c 933 s 1-7; 1973 c 639 s 1,2; 1975 c 101 s 1; 1985 c 247 s 25; 1985 c 248 s 70; 1986 c 444; 1988 c 550 s 1-5; 1990 c 412 s 1,2; 1990 c 526 s 2; 1991 c 213 s 1; 1993 c 121 s 10; 1994 c 389 s 3; 1994 c 632 art 2 s 36; 1995 c 205 art 2 s 5; 1997 c 132 s 1; 1999 c 62 s 1; 2003 c 118 s 18; 2007 c 103 s 1; 2007 c 123 s 122,123; 2008 c 189 s 22; 2008 c 321 s 3; 2009 c 95 art 3 s 30; 2009 c 157 art 1 s 12

151.02 STATE BOARD OF PHARMACY.

The Minnesota State Board of Pharmacy shall consist of two public members as defined by section 214.02 and five pharmacists actively engaged in the practice of pharmacy in this state. Each of said pharmacists shall have had at least five consecutive years of practical experience as a pharmacist immediately preceding appointment.

History:

(5808-2) 1937 c 354 s 2; 1973 c 638 s 27; 1976 c 239 s 58; 1986 c 444

151.03 MEMBERSHIP.

Members of the board shall be appointed by the governor. The governor shall make appointments to the board that reflect the geography of the state. The board members who are pharmacists must, as a whole, reflect the broad mix of practice types of pharmacists practicing in Minnesota. Membership terms, compensation of members, removal of members, the filling of membership vacancies, and fiscal year and reporting requirements shall be as provided in sections 214.07 to 214.09. The provision of staff, administrative services and office space; the review and processing of complaints; the setting of board fees; and other provisions relating to board operations shall be as provided in chapter 214. Any pharmacist on the board who, during incumbency, ceases to be actively engaged in the practice of pharmacy in this state shall be automatically disqualified from membership.

History:

(5808-3) 1937 c 354 s 3; 1973 c 638 s 28; 1975 c 136 s 29; 1976 c 149 s 32; 1976 c 222 s 80; 1986 c 444; 1991 c 199 art 1 s 45; 1992 c 389 s 1

151.04 RECOMMENDED NAMES.

The Minnesota State Pharmaceutical Association and the Minnesota Society of Hospital Pharmacists may jointly recommend five names for each pharmacist to be appointed.

History:

(5808-4) 1937 c 354 s 4; 1973 c 638 s 29; 1988 c 550 s 6

151.05 ELECTION OF OFFICERS.

The board shall annually elect one of its members as president and one of its members as vice-president, and a pharmacist, who may or may not be a member, as secretary.

History:

(5808-5) 1937 c 354 s 5

151.06 POWERS AND DUTIES.

Subdivision 1.Generally; rules.

(a) Powers and duties. The Board of Pharmacy shall have the power and it shall be its duty:

(1) to regulate the practice of pharmacy;

(2) to regulate the manufacture, wholesale, and retail sale of drugs within this state;

(3) to regulate the identity, labeling, purity, and quality of all drugs and medicines dispensed in this state, using the United States Pharmacopeia and the National Formulary, or any revisions thereof, or standards adopted under the federal act as the standard;

(4) to enter and inspect by its authorized representative any and all places where drugs, medicines, medical gases, or veterinary drugs or devices are sold, vended, given away, compounded, dispensed, manufactured, wholesaled, or held; it may secure samples or specimens of any drugs, medicines, medical gases, or veterinary drugs or devices after paying or offering to pay for such sample; it shall be entitled to inspect and make copies of any and all records of shipment, purchase, manufacture, quality control, and sale of these items provided, however, that such inspection shall not extend to financial data, sales data, or pricing data;

(5) to examine and license as pharmacists all applicants whom it shall deem qualified to be such;

(6) to license wholesale drug distributors;

(7) to deny, suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew any registration or license required under this chapter, to any applicant or registrant or licensee upon any of the following grounds:

(i) fraud or deception in connection with the securing of such license or registration;

(ii) in the case of a pharmacist, conviction in any court of a felony;

(iii) in the case of a pharmacist, conviction in any court of an offense involving moral turpitude;

(iv) habitual indulgence in the use of narcotics, stimulants, or depressant drugs; or habitual indulgence in intoxicating liquors in a manner which could cause conduct endangering public health;

(v) unprofessional conduct or conduct endangering public health;

(vi) gross immorality;

(vii) employing, assisting, or enabling in any manner an unlicensed person to practice pharmacy;

(viii) conviction of theft of drugs, or the unauthorized use, possession, or sale thereof;

(ix) violation of any of the provisions of this chapter or any of the rules of the State Board of Pharmacy;

(x) in the case of a pharmacy license, operation of such pharmacy without a pharmacist present and on duty;

(xi) in the case of a pharmacist, physical or mental disability which could cause incompetency in the practice of pharmacy;

(xii) in the case of a pharmacist, the suspension or revocation of a license to practice pharmacy in another state; or

(xiii) in the case of a pharmacist, aiding suicide or aiding attempted suicide in violation of section 609.215 as established by any of the following:

(A) a copy of the record of criminal conviction or plea of guilty for a felony in violation of section 609.215, subdivision 1 or 2;

(B) a copy of the record of a judgment of contempt of court for violating an injunction issued under section 609.215, subdivision 4;

(C) a copy of the record of a judgment assessing damages under section 609.215, subdivision 5; or

(D) a finding by the board that the person violated section 609.215, subdivision 1 or 2. The board shall investigate any complaint of a violation of section 609.215, subdivision 1 or 2;

(8) to employ necessary assistants and adopt rules for the conduct of its business;

(9) to register as pharmacy technicians all applicants who the board determines are qualified to carry out the duties of a pharmacy technician; and

(10) to perform such other duties and exercise such other powers as the provisions of the act may require.

(b) Temporary suspension. In addition to any other remedy provided by law, the board may, without a hearing, temporarily suspend a license for not more than 60 days if the board finds that a pharmacist has violated a statute or rule that the board is empowered to enforce and continued practice by the pharmacist would create an imminent risk of harm to others. The suspension shall take effect upon written notice to the pharmacist, specifying the statute or rule violated. At the time it issues the suspension notice, the board shall schedule a disciplinary hearing to be held under the Administrative Procedure Act. The pharmacist shall be provided with at least 20 days' notice of any hearing held under this subdivision.

(c) Rules. For the purposes aforesaid, it shall be the duty of the board to make and publish uniform rules not inconsistent herewith for carrying out and enforcing the provisions of this chapter. The board shall adopt rules regarding prospective drug utilization review and patient counseling by pharmacists. A pharmacist in the exercise of the pharmacist's professional judgment, upon the presentation of a new prescription by a patient or the patient's caregiver or agent, shall perform the prospective drug utilization review required by rules issued under this subdivision.

(d) Substitution; rules. If the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) determines that the substitution of drugs used for the treatment of epilepsy or seizures poses a health risk to patients, the board shall adopt rules in accordance with accompanying FDA interchangeability standards regarding the use of substitution for these drugs. If the board adopts a rule regarding the substitution of drugs used for the treatment of epilepsy or seizures that conflicts with the substitution requirements of section 151.21, subdivision 3, the rule shall supersede the conflicting statute. If the rule proposed by the board would increase state costs for state public health care programs, the board shall report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the senate Health and Human Services Budget Division and the house of representatives Health Care and Human Services Finance Division the proposed rule and the increased cost associated with the proposed rule before the board may adopt the rule.

Subd. 1a.Disciplinary action.

It shall be grounds for disciplinary action by the Board of Pharmacy against the registration of the pharmacy if the Board of Pharmacy determines that any person with supervisory responsibilities at the pharmacy sets policies that prevent a licensed pharmacist from providing drug utilization review and patient counseling as required by rules adopted under subdivision 1. The Board of Pharmacy shall follow the requirements of chapter 14 in any disciplinary actions taken under this section.

Subd. 2.Application.

The provisions of subdivision 1 shall apply to an individual owner or sole proprietor and shall also apply to the following:

(1) In the case of a partnership, each partner thereof;

(2) In the case of an association, each member thereof;

(3) In the case of a corporation, each officer or director thereof and each shareholder owning 30 percent or more of the voting stock of such corporation.

Subd. 2a.

[Repealed, 1988 c 550 s 20]

Subd. 3.Application of Administrative Procedure Act.

The board shall comply with the provisions of chapter 14, before it fails to issue, renew, suspends, or revokes any license or registration issued under this chapter.

Subd. 4.Reinstatement.

Any license or registration which has been suspended or revoked may be reinstated by the board provided the holder thereof shall pay all costs of the proceedings resulting in the suspension or revocation, and, in addition thereto, pay a fee set by the board.

Subd. 5.Costs; penalties.

The board may impose a civil penalty not exceeding $10,000 for each separate violation, the amount of the civil penalty to be fixed so as to deprive a licensee or registrant of any economic advantage gained by reason of the violation, to discourage similar violations by the licensee or registrant or any other licensee or registrant, or to reimburse the board for the cost of the investigation and proceeding, including, but not limited to, fees paid for services provided by the Office of Administrative Hearings, legal and investigative services provided by the Office of the Attorney General, court reporters, witnesses, reproduction of records, board members' per diem compensation, board staff time, and travel costs and expenses incurred by board staff and board members.

History:

(5808-6) 1937 c 354 s 6; 1941 c 78 s 1; 1955 c 847 s 16; 1969 c 933 s 8; 1973 c 722 s 2; 1975 c 136 s 30; 1976 c 222 s 81,82; 1982 c 424 s 130; 1985 c 248 s 70; 1988 c 550 s 7; 1990 c 526 s 3; 1990 c 568 art 2 s 18; 1992 c 513 art 7 s 10,11; 1992 c 577 s 5; 1997 c 132 s 2; 2003 c 66 s 8; 2007 c 123 s 124; 2010 c 289 s 1

151.061 UNFAIR PRICE DISCRIMINATION.

Subdivision 1.Generally.

Any person doing business in this state and engaged in the distribution (other than at retail) of any prescription drugs, who shall discriminate between purchasers by selling prescription drugs at a lower price or rate to one purchaser or association of purchasers than offered to another purchaser or association of purchasers within this state (other than at retail) after making allowance for the difference, if any, in the grade, quality, or quantity, and after equalizing the distance from the point of distribution and freight costs therefrom, shall be guilty of unfair discrimination. Unfair discrimination occurs when quantity discounts are not reasonably based on actual cost savings to all like purchasers. Unfair discrimination shall embrace any scheme of special rebates, collateral contracts, or any device of any nature which in substance violates the provisions of this subdivision. Nothing in this subdivision shall apply to purchases for their own use by schools, colleges, universities, public libraries, churches, hospitals or charitable institutions not operated for profit.

Subd. 2.Remedy.

Any person injured by unfair discrimination as defined in subdivision 1 may bring a civil action and recover damages, together with costs and disbursements, including reasonable attorney's fees, and receive other equitable relief as determined by the court. The remedies provided by this section are cumulative and shall not be construed as restricting any remedy which is otherwise available.

History:

1973 c 722 s 1

151.07 MEETINGS; EXAMINATION FEE.

The board shall meet at times as may be necessary and as it may determine to examine applicants for licensure and to transact its other business, giving reasonable notice of all examinations by mail to known applicants therefor. The secretary shall record the names of all persons licensed by the board, together with the grounds upon which the right of each to licensure was claimed. The fee for examination shall be in such amount as the board may determine, which fee may in the discretion of the board be returned to applicants not taking the examination.

History:

(5808-7) 1937 c 354 s 7; 1953 c 76 s 1; 1961 c 394 s 2; 1975 c 136 s 31; 1976 c 222 s 83

151.08 [Repealed, 1975 c 136 s 77]

151.09 [Repealed, 1976 c 222 s 209]

151.095 INACTIVE STATUS LICENSE.

The board may, by rule, establish standards for an inactive status of licensure for previously licensed pharmacists who have retired from active practice, have left the state, or have otherwise ceased to be actively engaged in the practice of pharmacy in this state.

History:

1988 c 550 s 8

151.10 QUALIFICATIONS OF APPLICANTS.

Subdivision 1.Graduates of schools in good standing.

To be entitled to examination by the board as a pharmacist the applicant shall be of good moral character, at least 18 years of age, and shall be a graduate of the College of Pharmacy of the University of Minnesota or of a college or school of pharmacy in good standing of which the board shall be the judge and shall have completed internship requirements as prescribed by the board.

Subd. 2.Graduates of schools outside the United States.

An applicant who is a graduate of a school or college of pharmacy located outside the United States, when that school or college of pharmacy has not been recognized by the board as a school in good standing, may be entitled to examination for licensure by the board if the applicant is of good moral character, at least 18 years of age, has completed the internship requirements prescribed by the board, has provided verification of the applicant's academic record and graduation, and has successfully passed examinations approved by the board to establish proficiency in English and equivalency of education with graduates of schools or colleges of pharmacy which the board has determined to be in good standing.

History:

(5808-10) 1937 c 354 s 10; 1941 c 78 s 2; 1973 c 639 s 3; 1973 c 725 s 20; 1976 c 222 s 84; 1984 c 426 s 1; 1986 c 444

151.101 INTERNSHIP.

The board may license as an intern any natural persons who have satisfied the board that they are of good moral character, not physically or mentally unfit, and who have successfully completed the educational requirements for intern licensure prescribed by the board. The board shall prescribe standards and requirements for interns, pharmacist-preceptors, and internship training but may not require more than one year of such training.

The board in its discretion may accept internship experience obtained in another state provided the internship requirements in such other state are in the opinion of the board equivalent to those herein provided.

History:

1969 c 933 s 9; 1973 c 639 s 4; 1976 c 222 s 85; 1986 c 444; 1988 c 550 s 9

151.102 PHARMACY TECHNICIAN.

Subdivision 1.General.

A pharmacy technician may assist a pharmacist in the practice of pharmacy by performing nonjudgmental tasks and works under the personal and direct supervision of the pharmacist. A pharmacist may supervise two technicians, as long as the pharmacist assumes responsibility for all the functions performed by the technicians. A pharmacy may exceed the ratio of pharmacy technicians to pharmacists permitted in this subdivision or in rule by a total of one technician at any given time in the pharmacy, provided at least one technician in the pharmacy holds a valid certification from the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board or from another national certification body for pharmacy technicians that requires passage of a nationally recognized, psychometrically valid certification examination for certification as determined by the Board of Pharmacy. The Board of Pharmacy may, by rule, set ratios of technicians to pharmacists greater than two to one for the functions specified in rule. The delegation of any duties, tasks, or functions by a pharmacist to a pharmacy technician is subject to continuing review and becomes the professional and personal responsibility of the pharmacist who directed the pharmacy technician to perform the duty, task, or function.

Subd. 2.Waivers by board permitted.

A pharmacist in charge in a pharmacy may petition the board for authorization to allow a pharmacist to supervise more than two pharmacy technicians. The pharmacist's petition must include provisions addressing the maintenance of patient care and safety. A petition filed with the board under this subdivision shall be deemed approved 90 days after the board receives the petition, unless the board denies the petition within 90 days of receipt and notifies the petitioning pharmacist of the petition's denial and the board's reasons for denial.

History:

1997 c 132 s 3; 1999 c 63 s 1; 2000 c 276 s 1

151.11 [Repealed, 1988 c 550 s 20]

151.12 RECIPROCITY; LICENSURE.

The board may in its discretion grant licensure without examination to any pharmacist licensed by the Board of Pharmacy or a similar board of another state which accords similar recognition to licensees of this state; provided, the requirements for licensure in such other state are in the opinion of the board equivalent to those herein provided. The fee for licensure shall be in such amount as the board may determine by rule.

History:

(5808-12) 1937 c 354 s 12; 1961 c 394 s 4; 1973 c 639 s 5; 1976 c 222 s 87

151.13 RENEWAL FEE; CONTINUING EDUCATION.

Subdivision 1.Renewal fee.

Every person licensed by the board shall pay to the board a renewal fee to be fixed by it. The board may promulgate by rule a charge to be assessed for the delinquent payment of a fee. It shall be unlawful for any person licensed as a pharmacist who refuses or fails to pay such renewal fee to practice pharmacy in this state. Every certificate and license shall expire at the time therein prescribed.

Subd. 2.Continuing education.

The board may appoint an advisory task force on continuing education, consisting of not more than ten members, to study continuing education programs and requirements and to submit its report and recommendations to the board. The task force shall expire, and the compensation and removal of members shall be as provided in section 15.059.

History:

(5808-13) 1937 c 354 s 13; 1961 c 394 s 5; 1969 c 486 s 1; 1973 c 655 s 1; 1976 c 222 s 88; 1983 c 260 s 38; 1990 c 412 s 3

151.14 REINSTATEMENTS.

Any person who has been licensed by the board and has defaulted in the payment of the renewal fee may be reinstated within two years of such default without examination, upon payment of the arrears and upon compliance with the provisions of section 151.13, subdivision 2.

History:

(5808-14) 1937 c 354 s 14; 1973 c 655 s 2; 1976 c 222 s 89

151.15 COMPOUNDING DRUGS UNLAWFUL UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS.

Subdivision 1.Location.

It shall be unlawful for any person to compound, dispense, vend, or sell drugs, medicines, chemicals, or poisons in any place other than a pharmacy, except as provided in this chapter.

Subd. 2.Proprietors of pharmacies.

No proprietor of a pharmacy shall permit the compounding or dispensing of prescriptions except by a pharmacist or by a pharmacist intern under the personal supervision of a pharmacist; or the vending or selling of drugs, medicines, chemicals, or poisons in the proprietor's pharmacy except under the personal supervision of a pharmacist.

Subd. 3.Unlicensed persons; veterinary legend drugs.

It shall be unlawful for any person other than a licensed veterinarian or pharmacist to compound or dispense veterinary legend drugs except as provided in this chapter.

Subd. 4.Unlicensed persons; legend drugs.

It shall be unlawful for any person other than a licensed practitioner or pharmacist to compound or dispense legend drugs except as provided in this chapter.

History:

(5808-16) 1937 c 354 s 16; 1967 c 377 s 3; 1986 c 444; 1988 c 550 s 10; 1990 c 526 s 4; 1991 c 213 s 2; 1994 c 632 art 2 s 37

151.16 VIOLATION A GROSS MISDEMEANOR.

Every person who violates any of the provisions of section 151.15, when the death of a human being results from such violation shall be guilty of a gross misdemeanor. This section is supplementary to existing laws relating to homicide and not a repeal thereof.

History:

(5808-17) 1937 c 354 s 17

151.17 UNLAWFUL USE OF "PHARMACIST."

It shall be unlawful for any person to falsely assume or pretend to the title of pharmacist.

History:

(5808-18) 1937 c 354 s 18

151.18 UNLAWFUL TO USE MISLEADING NAME.

It is unlawful for any person to carry on, conduct, or transact a retail business under a name which contains as a part thereof the words "drugs," "drug store," "pharmacy," "medicine," "apothecary," or "chemist shop," or any abbreviation, translation, extension, or variation thereof; or in any manner by advertisement, circular, or poster, sign or otherwise, describe or refer to the place of business conducted by such person by such term, abbreviation, translation, extension, or variation unless the place so conducted is a pharmacy.

History:

(5808-19) 1937 c 354 s 19

151.19 REGISTRATION; FEES.

Subdivision 1.Pharmacy registration.

The board shall require and provide for the annual registration of every pharmacy now or hereafter doing business within this state. Upon the payment of a fee to be set by the board, the board shall issue a registration certificate in such form as it may prescribe to such persons as may be qualified by law to conduct a pharmacy. Such certificate shall be displayed in a conspicuous place in the pharmacy for which it is issued and expire on the 30th day of June following the date of issue. It shall be unlawful for any person to conduct a pharmacy unless such certificate has been issued to the person by the board.

Subd. 2.Nonresident pharmacies.

The board shall require and provide for an annual nonresident special pharmacy registration for all pharmacies located outside of this state that regularly dispense medications for Minnesota residents and mail, ship, or deliver prescription medications into this state. Nonresident special pharmacy registration shall be granted by the board upon the disclosure and certification by a pharmacy:

(1) that it is licensed in the state in which the dispensing facility is located and from which the drugs are dispensed;

(2) the location, names, and titles of all principal corporate officers and all pharmacists who are dispensing drugs to residents of this state;

(3) that it complies with all lawful directions and requests for information from the Board of Pharmacy of all states in which it is licensed or registered, except that it shall respond directly to all communications from the board concerning emergency circumstances arising from the dispensing of drugs to residents of this state;

(4) that it maintains its records of drugs dispensed to residents of this state so that the records are readily retrievable from the records of other drugs dispensed;

(5) that it cooperates with the board in providing information to the Board of Pharmacy of the state in which it is licensed concerning matters related to the dispensing of drugs to residents of this state;

(6) that during its regular hours of operation, but not less than six days per week, for a minimum of 40 hours per week, a toll-free telephone service is provided to facilitate communication between patients in this state and a pharmacist at the pharmacy who has access to the patients' records; the toll-free number must be disclosed on the label affixed to each container of drugs dispensed to residents of this state; and

(7) that, upon request of a resident of a long-term care facility located within the state of Minnesota, the resident's authorized representative, or a contract pharmacy or licensed health care facility acting on behalf of the resident, the pharmacy will dispense medications prescribed for the resident in unit-dose packaging or, alternatively, comply with the provisions of section 151.415, subdivision 5.

Subd. 3.Sale of federally restricted medical gases.

The board shall require and provide for the annual registration of every person or establishment not licensed as a pharmacy or a practitioner engaged in the retail sale or distribution of federally restricted medical gases. Upon the payment of a fee to be set by the board, the board shall issue a registration certificate in such form as it may prescribe to those persons or places that may be qualified to sell or distribute federally restricted medical gases. The certificate shall be displayed in a conspicuous place in the business for which it is issued and expire on the date set by the board. It is unlawful for a person to sell or distribute federally restricted medical gases unless a certificate has been issued to that person by the board.

History:

(5808-20) 1937 c 354 s 20; 1953 c 76 s 3; 1961 c 394 s 6; 1969 c 486 s 2; 1976 c 222 s 90; 1986 c 444; 1988 c 550 s 11; 1989 c 314 s 1; 2007 c 147 art 11 s 4

151.20 [Repealed, 1969 c 933 s 22]

151.21 SUBSTITUTION.

Subdivision 1.Generally.

Except as provided in this section, it shall be unlawful for any pharmacist or pharmacist intern who dispenses prescriptions, drugs, and medicines to substitute an article different from the one ordered, or deviate in any manner from the requirements of an order or prescription without the approval of the prescriber.

Subd. 2.Brand name specified.

When a pharmacist receives a paper or hard copy prescription on which the prescriber has personally written in handwriting "dispense as written" or "D.A.W.," a prescription sent by electronic transmission on which the prescriber has expressly indicated in a manner consistent with the standards for electronic prescribing under Code of Federal Regulations, title 42, section 423, that the prescription is to be dispensed as transmitted and which bears the prescriber's electronic signature, or an oral prescription in which the prescriber has expressly indicated that the prescription is to be dispensed as communicated, the pharmacist shall dispense the brand name legend drug as prescribed.

Subd. 3.Brand name not specified.

When a pharmacist receives a paper or hard copy prescription on which the prescriber has not personally written in handwriting "dispense as written" or "D.A.W.," a prescription sent by electronic transmission on which the prescriber has not expressly indicated in a manner consistent with the standards for electronic prescribing under Code of Federal Regulations, title 42, section 423, that the prescription is to be dispensed as transmitted and which bears the prescriber's electronic signature, or an oral prescription in which the prescriber has not expressly indicated that the prescription is to be dispensed as communicated, and there is available in the pharmacist's stock a less expensive generically equivalent drug that, in the pharmacist's professional judgment, is safely interchangeable with the prescribed drug, then the pharmacist shall, after disclosing the substitution to the purchaser, dispense the generic drug, unless the purchaser objects. A pharmacist may also substitute pursuant to the oral instructions of the prescriber. A pharmacist may not substitute a generically equivalent drug product unless, in the pharmacist's professional judgment, the substituted drug is therapeutically equivalent and interchangeable to the prescribed drug. A pharmacist shall notify the purchaser if the pharmacist is dispensing a drug other than the brand name drug prescribed.

Subd. 3a.Prescriptions by electronic transmission.

Nothing in this section permits a prescriber to maintain "dispense as written" or "D.A.W." as a default on all prescriptions. Prescribers must add the "dispense as written" or "D.A.W." designation to electronic prescriptions individually, as appropriate.

Subd. 4.Pricing.

A pharmacist dispensing a drug under the provisions of subdivision 3 shall not dispense a drug of a higher retail price than that of the brand name drug prescribed. If more than one safely interchangeable generic drug is available in a pharmacist's stock, then the pharmacist shall dispense the least expensive alternative. Any difference between acquisition cost to the pharmacist of the drug dispensed and the brand name drug prescribed shall be passed on to the purchaser.

Subd. 4a.Sign.

A pharmacy must post a sign in a conspicuous location and in a typeface easily seen at the counter where prescriptions are dispensed stating: "In order to save you money, this pharmacy will substitute whenever possible an FDA-approved, less expensive, generic drug product, which is therapeutically equivalent to and safely interchangeable with the one prescribed by your doctor, unless you object to this substitution."

Subd. 5.Reimbursement.

Nothing in this section requires a pharmacist to substitute a generic drug if the substitution will make the transaction ineligible for third-party reimbursement.

Subd. 6.Disclosure.

When a pharmacist dispenses a brand name legend drug and, at that time, a less expensive generically equivalent drug is also available in the pharmacist's stock, the pharmacist shall disclose to the purchaser that a generic drug is available.

Subd. 7.Drug formulary.

This section does not apply when a pharmacist is dispensing a prescribed drug to persons covered under a managed health care plan that maintains a mandatory or closed drug formulary.

Subd. 8.List of excluded products.

The Drug Formulary Committee established under section 256B.0625, subdivision 13, shall establish a list of drug products that are to be excluded from this section. This list shall be updated on an annual basis and shall be provided to the board for dissemination to pharmacists licensed in the state.

History:

(5808-22) 1937 c 354 s 22; 1969 c 933 s 10; 1975 c 101 s 2; 1986 c 444; 1993 c 345 art 5 s 10; 1994 c 625 art 8 s 48,49; 1997 c 202 art 2 s 40; 2007 c 123 s 125-128

151.211 RECORDS OF PRESCRIPTIONS.

All prescriptions dispensed shall be kept on file at the location in which such dispensing occurred for a period of at least two years. No prescription shall be refilled except with the written or verbal consent of the prescriber. The date of such refill must be recorded and initialed upon the original prescription or within the electronically maintained record of the original prescription by the pharmacist, pharmacist intern, or practitioner who refills the prescription.

History:

1969 c 933 s 11; 1973 c 639 s 6; 1986 c 444; 1988 c 550 s 12

151.212 LABEL OF PRESCRIPTION DRUG CONTAINERS.

Subdivision 1.Prescription drugs.

Drugs dispensed pursuant to a prescription shall bear a label permanently affixed to the immediate container in which the drug is dispensed and which is received by the purchaser. The label shall bear the name of the manufacturer or distributor of the finished dosage form of the drug and all other information required by law and by rules of the board.

Subd. 2.Controlled substances.

In addition to the requirements of subdivision 1, when the use of any drug containing a controlled substance, as defined in chapter 152, or any other drug determined by the board, either alone or in conjunction with alcoholic beverages, may impair the ability of the user to operate a motor vehicle, the board shall require by rule that notice be prominently set forth on the label or container. Rules promulgated by the board shall specify exemptions from this requirement when there is evidence that the user will not operate a motor vehicle while using the drug.

Subd. 3.Veterinary drugs.

Drugs dispensed, sold, or distributed in any manner pursuant to the order of a licensed veterinarian shall bear a label permanently affixed to the container in which the drug is dispensed and which is received by the purchaser. The label shall bear the name of the manufacturer or distributor of the finished dosage form of the drug and all other information required by law and the rules of the board.

History:

1969 c 933 s 12; 1975 c 101 s 3; 1975 c 356 s 1; 1976 c 338 s 5; 1985 c 248 s 70; 1988 c 550 s 13,14

151.213 COPIES OF PRESCRIPTIONS.

Prescriptions on file in a pharmacy are not a public record. A person having custody of or access to such prescription orders shall not divulge the contents thereof or provide a copy thereof to anyone except to:

(1) the patient for whom the prescription was issued, the patient's agent, or another pharmacist acting on behalf of the patient or the patient's agent;

(2) the licensed practitioner who issued the prescription;

(3) the licensed practitioner who is then treating the patient;

(4) a member, inspector, or investigator of the board or any federal, state, county, or municipal officer whose duty it is to enforce the laws of this state or the United States relating to drugs and who is engaged in a specific investigation involving a designated person or drug;

(5) an agency of government charged with the responsibility of providing medical care for the patient;

(6) an insurance carrier or attorney on receipt of written authorization signed by the patient or the patient's legal representative, authorizing the release of such information;

(7) any person duly authorized by a court order.

Such copies furnished shall bear on the face thereof the statement "Copy for information only," and may be filed to account for the dispensing of a drug only if such dispensing is authorized in writing or orally by the prescriber and communicated to the pharmacist dispensing and filing such copy.

History:

1969 c 933 s 13; 1986 c 444

151.214 PAYMENT DISCLOSURE.

Subdivision 1.Explanation of pharmacy benefits.

A pharmacist licensed under this chapter must provide to a patient, for each prescription dispensed where part or all of the cost of the prescription is being paid or reimbursed by an employer-sponsored plan or health plan company, or its contracted pharmacy benefit manager, the patient's co-payment amount and the pharmacy's own usual and customary price of the prescription or the amount the pharmacy will be paid for the prescription drug by the patient's employer-sponsored plan or health plan company, or its contracted pharmacy benefit manager.

Subd. 2.No prohibition on disclosure.

No contracting agreement between an employer-sponsored health plan or health plan company, or its contracted pharmacy benefit manager, and a resident or nonresident pharmacy registered under this chapter, may prohibit the pharmacy from disclosing to patients information a pharmacy is required or given the option to provide under subdivision 1.

History:

2004 c 268 s 13; 2004 c 288 art 3 s 5; 2005 c 10 art 1 s 82; 2006 c 267 art 1 s 6

151.215 CERTIFICATION.

A pharmacist must certify a prescription, in compliance with Minnesota Board of Pharmacy rules, before the prescription is dispensed, delivered, mailed, or shipped to a patient or a patient's caregiver. However, if the prescription has been certified by a pharmacist at a licensed central service pharmacy, in compliance with Minnesota Board of Pharmacy rules, an additional certification is not required at the pharmacy that dispenses, mails, or ships the completed prescription to the patient.

History:

2007 c 103 s 2

151.22 LIABILITY FOR QUALITY OF DRUGS.

Every pharmacist in charge or proprietor of a pharmacy shall be responsible for the quality of all drugs, medicines, chemicals, and poisons procured for use and sold therein, except proprietary medicines or other articles sold in the original package of the manufacturer.

History:

(5808-23) 1937 c 354 s 23; 1969 c 933 s 14

151.23 POISONS MUST BE LABELED.

It shall be unlawful for any person to sell at retail any poison without affixing to the package or receptacle containing the same a label conspicuously bearing the word "poison," and the name and the business address of the seller, and being satisfied that such poison is to be legitimately used. This section shall not apply to the sale of poison on a physician's written prescription or in the original package of the manufacturer.

History:

(5808-24) 1937 c 354 s 24; 1986 c 444

151.24 SALE OF POISONS MUST BE RECORDED.

It shall be unlawful:

(1) for any person, either acting independently or while in the employ of another, to sell or give away any poison, as designated by the board, without first recording in a book to be kept for that purpose with an indelible pencil or ink the date, the name and address of the person to whom, and the amount and kind of poison, delivered, except when such poison is sold on the written prescription of a physician;

(2) to give a false name to be recorded;

(3) for any person having custody of any such record book to refuse to produce it on demand for the inspection of any authorized agent of the board or other duly authorized officer.

History:

(5808-25) 1937 c 354 s 25; 1986 c 444

151.25 REGISTRATION OF MANUFACTURERS; FEE; PROHIBITIONS.

The board shall require and provide for the annual registration of every person engaged in manufacturing drugs, medicines, chemicals, or poisons for medicinal purposes, now or hereafter doing business with accounts in this state. Upon a payment of a fee as set by the board, the board shall issue a registration certificate in such form as it may prescribe to such manufacturer. Such registration certificate shall be displayed in a conspicuous place in such manufacturer's or wholesaler's place of business for which it is issued and expire on the date set by the board. It shall be unlawful for any person to manufacture drugs, medicines, chemicals, or poisons for medicinal purposes unless such a certificate has been issued to the person by the board. It shall be unlawful for any person engaged in the manufacture of drugs, medicines, chemicals, or poisons for medicinal purposes, or the person's agent, to sell legend drugs to other than a pharmacy, except as provided in this chapter.

History:

(5808-26) 1937 c 354 s 26; 1953 c 76 s 4; 1961 c 394 s 7; 1973 c 639 s 7; 1976 c 222 s 91; 1986 c 444; 1988 c 550 s 15; 1990 c 526 s 5; 1990 c 568 art 2 s 19; 1991 c 213 s 3; 1994 c 632 art 2 s 38

151.26 EXCEPTIONS.

Subdivision 1.Generally.

Nothing in this chapter shall subject a person duly licensed in this state to practice medicine, dentistry, or veterinary medicine, to inspection by the State Board of Pharmacy, nor prevent the person from administering drugs, medicines, chemicals, or poisons in the person's practice, nor prevent a duly licensed practitioner from furnishing to a patient properly packaged and labeled drugs, medicines, chemicals, or poisons as may be considered appropriate in the treatment of such patient; unless the person is engaged in the dispensing, sale, or distribution of drugs and the board provides reasonable notice of an inspection.

Except for the provisions of section 151.37, nothing in this chapter applies to or interferes with the dispensing, in its original package and at no charge to the patient, of a legend drug, other than a controlled substance, that was packaged by a manufacturer and provided to the dispenser for distribution as a professional sample.

Nothing in this chapter shall prevent the sale of drugs, medicines, chemicals, or poisons at wholesale to licensed physicians, dentists and veterinarians for use in their practice, nor to hospitals for use therein.

Nothing in this chapter shall prevent the sale of drugs, chemicals, or poisons either at wholesale or retail for use for commercial purposes, or in the arts, nor interfere with the sale of insecticides, as defined in Minnesota Statutes 1974, section 24.069, and nothing in this chapter shall prevent the sale of common household preparations and other drugs, chemicals, and poisons sold exclusively for use for nonmedicinal purposes.

Nothing in this chapter shall apply to or interfere with the vending or retailing of any nonprescription medicine or drug not otherwise prohibited by statute which is prepackaged, fully prepared by the manufacturer or producer for use by the consumer, and labeled in accordance with the requirements of the state or federal Food and Drug Act; nor to the manufacture, wholesaling, vending, or retailing of flavoring extracts, toilet articles, cosmetics, perfumes, spices, and other commonly used household articles of a chemical nature, for use for nonmedicinal purposes. Nothing in this chapter shall prevent the sale of drugs or medicines by licensed pharmacists at a discount to persons over 65 years of age.

Subd. 2.

[Repealed, 1973 c 639 s 11]

History:

(5808-27) 1937 c 354 s 27; 1953 c 76 s 5; 1969 c 627 s 1; 1971 c 192 s 1; 1973 c 639 s 8; 1Sp1981 c 4 art 1 s 82; 1986 c 444; 1988 c 550 s 16

151.27 EXPENSES.

The expenses of administering sections 151.01 to 151.40 shall be paid from the appropriations made to the State Board of Pharmacy.

History:

(5808-28) 1937 c 354 s 28; 1973 c 638 s 30; 1976 c 222 s 92

151.28 [Repealed, 1988 c 550 s 20]

151.29 VIOLATION A MISDEMEANOR.

Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter, or rules hereunder, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, unless otherwise provided.

History:

(5808-30) 1937 c 354 s 30; 1985 c 248 s 70

151.30 COUNTY ATTORNEY TO PROSECUTE.

It shall be the duty of the county attorney of the county wherein any offense under this chapter is committed to prosecute the offender, except that when offenses hereunder are committed in cities of the first class it shall be the duty of the city attorney thereof to prosecute the offender. Such prosecutor is authorized to examine the books of any manufacturer or wholesale dealer within the state for the purpose of acquiring information to aid in the prosecution.

History:

(5808-31) 1937 c 354 s 31

151.301 REPORTS TO COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.

(a) The board shall maintain a record of an event that comes to the board's attention that, in the judgment of the board or a committee of the board, qualifies as an adverse health care event under section 144.7065.

(b) Within 30 days of making a determination under paragraph (a) that an event qualifies as an adverse health care event, the board shall forward to the commissioner of health a report of the event, including the facility involved, the date of the event, and information known to the board regarding the event. The report shall not include any identifying information for any of the health care professionals, facility employees, or patients involved.

History:

2004 c 186 s 9

151.302 IMMUNITY.

Members of the board and persons employed by the board or engaged in maintaining records and making reports regarding adverse health care events are immune from civil liability and criminal prosecution for any actions, transactions, or publications in the execution of or relating to their duties under section 151.301.

History:

2004 c 186 s 10

151.31 [Repealed, 1988 c 550 s 20]

PHARMACY PRACTICE ACT OF 1988

151.32 CITATION.

The title of sections 151.01 to 151.40 shall be the Pharmacy Practice Act of 1988.

History:

(5808-35) 1937 c 354 s 35; 1988 c 550 s 17

151.33 CARELESS DISTRIBUTION OF DRUGS.

Subdivision 1.Prohibited.

No person, directly or indirectly, by agent or otherwise, shall scatter, distribute, or give away any samples of any medicine, drugs, or medical compounds, salve, or liniment of any kind unless the same is delivered into the hands of an adult person, or mailed to such persons through the regular mail service.

Subd. 2.Penalty.

Any person violating any provision of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

History:

(10275, 10276) 1905 c 33 s 1,2; 1971 c 23 s 15

151.34 PROHIBITED ACTS.

It shall be unlawful to:

(1) manufacture, sell or deliver, hold or offer for sale any drug that is adulterated or misbranded;

(2) adulterate or misbrand any drug;

(3) receive in commerce any drug that is adulterated or misbranded, and to deliver or proffer delivery thereof for pay or otherwise;

(4) refuse to permit entry or inspection, or to permit the taking of a sample, or to permit access to or copying of any record as authorized by this chapter;

(5) remove or dispose of a detained or embargoed article in violation of this chapter;

(6) alter, mutilate, destroy, obliterate, or remove the whole or any part of the labeling of, or to do any other act with respect to a drug, if such act is done while such drug is held for sale and results in such drug being adulterated or misbranded;

(7) use for a person's own advantage or to reveal other than to the board or its authorized representative or to the courts when required in any judicial proceeding under this chapter any information acquired under authority of this chapter concerning any method or process which is a trade secret and entitled to protection;

(8) use on the labeling of any drug any representation or suggestion that an application with respect to such drug is effective under the federal act or that such drug complies with such provisions;

(9) in the case of a manufacturer, packer, or distributor offering legend drugs for sale within this state, fail to maintain for transmittal or to transmit, to any practitioner licensed by applicable law to administer such drug who makes written request for information as to such drug, true and correct copies of all printed matter which is required to be included in any package in which that drug is distributed or sold, or such other printed matter as is approved under the federal act. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to exempt any person from any labeling requirement imposed by or under provisions of this chapter;

(10) conduct a pharmacy without a pharmacist in charge;

(11) dispense a legend drug without first obtaining a valid prescription for that drug;

(12) conduct a pharmacy without proper registration with the board;

(13) practice pharmacy without being licensed to do so by the board; or

(14) sell at retail federally restricted medical gases without proper registration with the board except as provided in this chapter.

History:

1969 c 933 s 15; 1971 c 25 s 35; 1988 c 550 s 18; 1989 c 314 s 2; 1990 c 412 s 4

151.35 DRUGS, ADULTERATION.

A drug shall be deemed to be adulterated:

(1) if it consists in whole or in part of any filthy, putrid or decomposed substance; or if it has been produced, prepared, packed, or held under unsanitary conditions whereby it may have been rendered injurious to health, or whereby it may have been contaminated with filth; or if the methods used in, or the facilities or controls used for, its manufacture, processing, packing, or holding do not conform to or are not operated or administered in conformity with current good manufacturing practice as required under the federal act to assure that such drug is safe and has the identity, strength, quality, and purity characteristics, which it purports or is represented to possess; or, its container is composed, in whole or in part, of any poisonous or deleterious substance which may render the contents injurious to health; or it bears or contains, for purposes of coloring only, a color additive which is unsafe within the meaning of the federal act, or it is a color additive, the intended use of which in or on drugs is for the purposes of coloring only, and is unsafe within the meaning of the federal act;

(2) if it purports to be or is represented as a drug the name of which is recognized in the United States Pharmacopoeia or the National Formulary, and its strength differs from, or its quality or purity falls below, the standard set forth therein. Such determination as to strength, quality, or purity shall be made in accordance with the tests or methods of assay set forth in such compendium, or in the absence of or inadequacy of such tests or methods of assay, those prescribed under authority of the federal act. No drug defined in the United States Pharmacopoeia or the National Formulary shall be deemed to be adulterated under this paragraph because it differs from the standard of strength, quality, or purity therefor set forth in such compendium, if its difference in strength, quality, or purity from such standard is plainly stated on its label;

(3) if it is not subject to the provisions of paragraph (2) of this section and its strength differs from, or its purity or quality differs from that which it purports or is represented to possess;

(4) if any substance has been mixed or packed therewith so as to reduce its quality or strength, or substituted wholly or in part therefor.

History:

1969 c 933 s 16

151.36 DRUGS, MISBRANDING.

A drug shall be deemed to be misbranded:

(1) if its labeling is false or misleading in any particular;

(2) if in package form and not dispensed pursuant to a prescription unless it bears a label containing (a) the name and place of business of the manufacturer, packer, or distributor, (b) a statement of identity, and (c) an accurate statement of the net quantity of the contents in terms of weight, measure, or numerical count, provided, however, that under (c) reasonable variations shall be permitted, and exceptions as to small packages shall be allowed in accordance with the federal act;

(3) if any word, statement, or other information required by or under authority of this chapter to appear on the label or labeling is not prominently placed thereon with such conspicuousness (as compared with other words, statements, designs or devices, in the labeling) and in such terms as to render it to be read and understood by the ordinary individual under customary conditions of purchase and use;

(4) if it otherwise fails to meet the labeling requirements of the federal act.

History:

1969 c 933 s 17

151.361 MANUFACTURER DISCLOSURE.

Subdivision 1.After January 1, 1976.

The manufacturer, packager, or distributor of any human use legend drug sold, delivered, or offered for sale in the state of Minnesota after January 1, 1976 must have printed on the label on the immediate container of the drug the name and address of the manufacturer of the finished dosage form of the drug.

Subd. 2.After January 1, 1983.

(a) No legend drug in solid oral dosage form may be manufactured, packaged or distributed for sale in this state after January 1, 1983 unless it is clearly marked or imprinted with a symbol, number, company name, words, letters, national drug code or other mark uniquely identifiable to that drug product. An identifying mark or imprint made as required by federal law or by the federal Food and Drug Administration shall be deemed to be in compliance with this section.

(b) The Board of Pharmacy may grant exemptions from the requirements of this section on its own initiative or upon application of a manufacturer, packager, or distributor indicating size or other characteristics which render the product impractical for the imprinting required by this section.

(c) The provisions of clauses (a) and (b) shall not apply to any of the following:

(1) Drugs purchased by a pharmacy, pharmacist, or licensed wholesaler prior to January 1, 1983, and held in stock for resale.

(2) Drugs which are manufactured by or upon the order of a practitioner licensed by law to prescribe or administer drugs and which are to be used solely by the patient for whom prescribed.

Subd. 3.Penalty.

Failure to comply with the requirements of this section shall subject a drug to embargo in accordance with section 151.38.

History:

1975 c 101 s 4; 1981 c 206 s 1

151.37 LEGEND DRUGS, WHO MAY PRESCRIBE, POSSESS.

Subdivision 1.Prohibition.

Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, it shall be unlawful for any person to have in possession, or to sell, give away, barter, exchange, or distribute a legend drug.

Subd. 2.Prescribing and filing.

(a) A licensed practitioner in the course of professional practice only, may prescribe, administer, and dispense a legend drug, and may cause the same to be administered by a nurse, a physician assistant, or medical student or resident under the practitioner's direction and supervision, and may cause a person who is an appropriately certified, registered, or licensed health care professional to prescribe, dispense, and administer the same within the expressed legal scope of the person's practice as defined in Minnesota Statutes. A licensed practitioner may prescribe a legend drug, without reference to a specific patient, by directing a nurse, pursuant to section 148.235, subdivisions 8 and 9, physician assistant, medical student or resident, or pharmacist according to section 151.01, subdivision 27, to adhere to a particular practice guideline or protocol when treating patients whose condition falls within such guideline or protocol, and when such guideline or protocol specifies the circumstances under which the legend drug is to be prescribed and administered. An individual who verbally, electronically, or otherwise transmits a written, oral, or electronic order, as an agent of a prescriber, shall not be deemed to have prescribed the legend drug. This paragraph applies to a physician assistant only if the physician assistant meets the requirements of section 147A.18.

(b) The commissioner of health, if a licensed practitioner, or a person designated by the commissioner who is a licensed practitioner, may prescribe a legend drug to an individual or by protocol for mass dispensing purposes where the commissioner finds that the conditions triggering section 144.4197 or 144.4198, subdivision 2, paragraph (b), exist. The commissioner, if a licensed practitioner, or a designated licensed practitioner, may prescribe, dispense, or administer a legend drug or other substance listed in subdivision 10 to control tuberculosis and other communicable diseases. The commissioner may modify state drug labeling requirements, and medical screening criteria and documentation, where time is critical and limited labeling and screening are most likely to ensure legend drugs reach the maximum number of persons in a timely fashion so as to reduce morbidity and mortality.

(c) A licensed practitioner that dispenses for profit a legend drug that is to be administered orally, is ordinarily dispensed by a pharmacist, and is not a vaccine, must file with the practitioner's licensing board a statement indicating that the practitioner dispenses legend drugs for profit, the general circumstances under which the practitioner dispenses for profit, and the types of legend drugs generally dispensed. It is unlawful to dispense legend drugs for profit after July 31, 1990, unless the statement has been filed with the appropriate licensing board. For purposes of this paragraph, "profit" means (1) any amount received by the practitioner in excess of the acquisition cost of a legend drug for legend drugs that are purchased in prepackaged form, or (2) any amount received by the practitioner in excess of the acquisition cost of a legend drug plus the cost of making the drug available if the legend drug requires compounding, packaging, or other treatment. The statement filed under this paragraph is public data under section 13.03. This paragraph does not apply to a licensed doctor of veterinary medicine or a registered pharmacist. Any person other than a licensed practitioner with the authority to prescribe, dispense, and administer a legend drug under paragraph (a) shall not dispense for profit. To dispense for profit does not include dispensing by a community health clinic when the profit from dispensing is used to meet operating expenses.

(d) A prescription or drug order for the following drugs is not valid, unless it can be established that the prescription or order was based on a documented patient evaluation, including an examination, adequate to establish a diagnosis and identify underlying conditions and contraindications to treatment:

(1) controlled substance drugs listed in section 152.02, subdivisions 3 to 5;

(2) drugs defined by the Board of Pharmacy as controlled substances under section 152.02, subdivisions 7, 8, and 12;

(3) muscle relaxants;

(4) centrally acting analgesics with opioid activity;

(5) drugs containing butalbital; or

(6) phoshodiesterase type 5 inhibitors when used to treat erectile dysfunction.

(e) For the purposes of paragraph (d), the requirement for an examination shall be met if an in-person examination has been completed in any of the following circumstances:

(1) the prescribing practitioner examines the patient at the time the prescription or drug order is issued;

(2) the prescribing practitioner has performed a prior examination of the patient;

(3) another prescribing practitioner practicing within the same group or clinic as the prescribing practitioner has examined the patient;

(4) a consulting practitioner to whom the prescribing practitioner has referred the patient has examined the patient; or

(5) the referring practitioner has performed an examination in the case of a consultant practitioner issuing a prescription or drug order when providing services by means of telemedicine.

(f) Nothing in paragraph (d) or (e) prohibits a licensed practitioner from prescribing a drug through the use of a guideline or protocol pursuant to paragraph (a).

(g) Nothing in this chapter prohibits a licensed practitioner from issuing a prescription or dispensing a legend drug in accordance with the Expedited Partner Therapy in the Management of Sexually Transmitted Diseases guidance document issued by the United States Centers for Disease Control.

(h) Nothing in paragraph (d) or (e) limits prescription, administration, or dispensing of legend drugs through a public health clinic or other distribution mechanism approved by the commissioner of health or a board of health in order to prevent, mitigate, or treat a pandemic illness, infectious disease outbreak, or intentional or accidental release of a biological, chemical, or radiological agent.

(i) No pharmacist employed by, under contract to, or working for a pharmacy licensed under section 151.19, subdivision 1, may dispense a legend drug based on a prescription that the pharmacist knows, or would reasonably be expected to know, is not valid under paragraph (d).

(j) No pharmacist employed by, under contract to, or working for a pharmacy licensed under section 151.19, subdivision 2, may dispense a legend drug to a resident of this state based on a prescription that the pharmacist knows, or would reasonably be expected to know, is not valid under paragraph (d).

Subd. 2a.Delegation.

A supervising physician may delegate to a physician assistant who is registered with the Board of Medical Practice and certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants and who is under the supervising physician's supervision, the authority to prescribe, dispense, and administer legend drugs and medical devices, subject to the requirements in chapter 147A and other requirements established by the Board of Medical Practice in rules.

Subd. 3.Veterinarians.

A licensed doctor of veterinary medicine, in the course of professional practice only and not for use by a human being, may personally prescribe, administer, and dispense a legend drug, and may cause the same to be administered or dispensed by an assistant under the doctor's direction and supervision.

Subd. 4.Research.

Any qualified person may use legend drugs in the course of a bona fide research project, but cannot administer or dispense such drugs to human beings unless such drugs are prescribed, dispensed, and administered by a person lawfully authorized to do so.

Subd. 5.Exclusion for course of practice.

Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit the sale to, or the possession of, a legend drug by licensed drug wholesalers, licensed manufacturers, registered pharmacies, local detoxification centers, licensed hospitals, bona fide hospitals wherein animals are treated, or licensed pharmacists and licensed practitioners while acting within the course of their practice only.

Subd. 6.Exclusion for course of employment.

(a) Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit the possession of a legend drug by an employee, agent, or sales representative of a registered drug manufacturer, or an employee or agent of a registered drug wholesaler, or registered pharmacy, while acting in the course of employment.

(b) Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit the following entities from possessing a legend drug for the purpose of disposing of the legend drug as pharmaceutical waste:

(1) a law enforcement officer;

(2) a hazardous waste transporter licensed by the Department of Transportation;

(3) a facility permitted by the Pollution Control Agency to treat, store, or dispose of hazardous waste, including household hazardous waste;

(4) a facility licensed by the Pollution Control Agency or a metropolitan county as a very small quantity generator collection program or a minimal generator;

(5) a county that collects, stores, transports, or disposes of a legend drug pursuant to a program in compliance with applicable federal law or a person authorized by the county to conduct one or more of these activities; or

(6) a sanitary district organized under chapter 115, or a special law.

Subd. 7.Exclusion for prescriptions.

(a) Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit the possession of a legend drug by a person for that person's use when it has been dispensed to the person in accordance with a valid prescription issued by a practitioner.

(b) Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit a person, for whom a legend drug has been dispensed in accordance with a written or oral prescription by a practitioner, from designating a family member, caregiver, or other individual to handle the legend drug for the purpose of assisting the person in obtaining or administering the drug or sending the drug for destruction.

(c) Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit a person for whom a prescription drug has been dispensed in accordance with a valid prescription issued by a practitioner from transferring the legend drug to a county that collects, stores, transports, or disposes of a legend drug pursuant to a program in compliance with applicable federal law or to a person authorized by the county to conduct one or more of these activities.

Subd. 8.Misrepresentation.

It is unlawful for a person to procure, attempt to procure, possess, or control a legend drug by any of the following means:

(1) deceit, misrepresentation, or subterfuge;

(2) using a false name; or

(3) falsely assuming the title of, or falsely representing a person to be a manufacturer, wholesaler, pharmacist, practitioner, or other authorized person for the purpose of obtaining a legend drug.

Subd. 9.Exclusion for course of laboratory employment.

Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit the possession of a legend drug by an employee or agent of a registered analytical laboratory while acting in the course of laboratory employment.

Subd. 10.Purchase of drugs and other agents by commissioner of health.

The commissioner of health, in preparation for and in carrying out the duties of sections 144.05, 144.4197, and 144.4198, may purchase, store, and distribute antituberculosis drugs, biologics, vaccines, antitoxins, serums, immunizing agents, antibiotics, antivirals, antidotes, other pharmaceutical agents, and medical supplies to treat and prevent communicable disease.

Subd. 11.Complaint reporting.

The Board of Pharmacy shall report on a quarterly basis to the Board of Optometry any complaints received regarding the prescription or administration of legend drugs under section 148.576.

History:

1969 c 933 s 18; 1973 c 639 s 9; 1974 c 369 s 1; 1976 c 222 s 93,94; 1976 c 338 s 6; 1986 c 444; 1988 c 440 s 2; 1988 c 550 s 19; 1990 c 489 s 1; 1990 c 524 s 2; 1991 c 30 s 11; 1991 c 106 s 6; 1993 c 121 s 11; 1994 c 389 s 4,5; 1995 c 69 s 2; 1995 c 205 art 2 s 6; 1996 c 305 art 1 s 43; 2002 c 362 s 4; 2003 c 62 s 7; 2007 c 103 s 3; 2007 c 147 art 12 s 7; 2008 c 321 s 4,5; 2009 c 41 s 8,9; 2009 c 161 s 1; 2010 c 223 s 1,2

151.38 EMBARGOES.

(1) Whenever a duly authorized agent of the board finds or has probable cause to believe that any drug or medicine is adulterated, or so misbranded as to be dangerous or fraudulent, or is being sold, delivered, or offered for sale in violation of section 151.361, the agent shall affix thereto an appropriate marking, giving notice that the article is, or is suspected of being, adulterated, misbranded or sold, delivered, or offered for sale in violation of section 151.361 and has been embargoed, and warning that it is unlawful for any person to remove or dispose of the embargoed article by sale or otherwise without permission from the agent or the court.

(2) When an embargoed article has been found by the agent to be adulterated or misbranded, or is being sold, delivered, or offered for sale in violation of section 151.361, the board shall, within 30 days, petition the district court in whose jurisdiction the article is embargoed for an order of condemnation. When an embargoed article is not so found by the agent , the agent shall remove the marking.

(3) If the court finds that an embargoed article is adulterated or misbranded, or is being sold, delivered, or offered for sale in violation of section 151.361, the article shall be destroyed at the expense of the claimant thereof, who shall also pay all court costs and fees, storage and other proper expenses. If the adulteration or misbranding, or lack of manufacturer disclosure as required by section 151.361 can be corrected by proper labeling or processing of the article, or by filing the proper documents with the court, the court, after the costs, fees, and expenses have been paid and a sufficient bond has been executed, may order that the article be delivered to the claimant for labeling, processing or filing under supervision of an agent of the board. The expense of the supervision shall be paid by claimant. The bond shall be returned to the claimant on the representation to the court by the board that the article is no longer in violation of this chapter and that the expenses of supervision have been paid.

History:

1969 c 933 s 19; 1975 c 101 s 5; 1986 c 444

151.39 DISTRESSED DRUGS.

Subdivision 1.Definition.

Distressed drugs shall mean drugs or medicines which have been subjected to accident, fire, flood, adverse temperatures, or other physical influences which could affect the potency, quality, purity, or efficacy of such drug or medicine could otherwise cause the drug or medicine to be adulterated or misbranded within the meaning of the provisions of this chapter.

Subd. 2.Prohibition.

No person shall sell, barter, vend, give away, or exchange distressed drugs until the board has determined that such drugs are not adulterated or misbranded within the meaning of this chapter.

Subd. 3.Notification.

Every person who owns or controls distressed drugs shall immediately notify the board of the existence of such drugs and the location thereof and the board shall promptly cause an inspection and examination to be made of such drugs.

Subd. 3a.Importation.

No person may import distressed drugs into this state without notification to the board of the source, destination, kind and quantity of such drugs. Such drugs may not be sold or offered for sale without written approval of the board. The board shall grant such approval when the applicant has clearly demonstrated that such distressed drugs were inspected on the site within a reasonable period after the occurrence set forth in subdivision 1 by an agency of the foreign state satisfactory to the board and the furnishing of a written certification by such agency in such form as is satisfactory to the board indicating that there is no reasonable cause to believe the drugs are not adulterated or misbranded. Nothing herein shall be construed to prevent the board from exerting its authority and rights set forth in section 151.38 after such drugs have entered this state.

Subd. 4.Board certification.

The board shall, within 30 days of such notification, indicate whether or not it has probable cause to believe that such drugs are adulterated or misbranded within the meaning of this chapter. If the board determines that no such probable cause exists, it shall furnish the owner or person having control of such drugs a written certificate to that effect. If the board has probable cause to believe that the drugs are adulterated or misbranded, it shall follow the procedure set forth in section 151.38.

History:

1969 c 933 s 20; 1971 c 24 s 14; 1973 c 639 s 10; 1986 c 444

151.40 POSSESSION AND SALE OF HYPODERMIC SYRINGES AND NEEDLES.

Subdivision 1.Generally.

Except as otherwise provided in subdivision 2, it is unlawful for any person to possess, control, manufacture, sell, furnish, dispense, or otherwise dispose of hypodermic syringes or needles or any instrument or implement which can be adapted for subcutaneous injections, except by the following persons when acting in the course of their practice or employment: licensed practitioners, registered pharmacies and their employees or agents, licensed pharmacists, licensed doctors of veterinary medicine or their assistants, registered nurses, registered medical technologists, medical interns, licensed drug wholesalers, their employees or agents, licensed hospitals, licensed nursing homes, bona fide hospitals where animals are treated, licensed morticians, syringe and needle manufacturers, their dealers and agents, persons engaged in animal husbandry, clinical laboratories, persons engaged in bona fide research or education or industrial use of hypodermic syringes and needles provided such persons cannot use hypodermic syringes and needles for the administration of drugs to human beings unless such drugs are prescribed, dispensed, and administered by a person lawfully authorized to do so, persons who administer drugs pursuant to an order or direction of a licensed doctor of medicine or of a licensed doctor of osteopathy duly licensed to practice medicine.

Subd. 2.Sales of limited quantities of clean needles and syringes.

(a) A registered pharmacy or its agent or a licensed pharmacist may sell, without a prescription, unused hypodermic needles and syringes in quantities of ten or fewer, provided the pharmacy or pharmacist complies with all of the requirements of this subdivision.

(b) At any location where hypodermic needles and syringes are kept for retail sale under this subdivision, the needles and syringes shall be stored in a manner that makes them available only to authorized personnel and not openly available to customers.

(c) No registered pharmacy or licensed pharmacist may advertise to the public the availability for retail sale, without a prescription, of hypodermic needles or syringes in quantities of ten or fewer.

(d) A registered pharmacy or licensed pharmacist that sells hypodermic needles or syringes under this subdivision may give the purchaser the materials developed by the commissioner of health under section 325F.785.

(e) A registered pharmacy or licensed pharmacist that sells hypodermic needles or syringes must certify to the commissioner of health participation in an activity, including but not limited to those developed under section 325F.785, that supports proper disposal of used hypodermic needles or syringes.

History:

1969 c 933 s 21; 1976 c 222 s 95; 1986 c 444; 1997 c 203 art 2 s 17

151.41 [Repealed, 1981 c 323 s 4; 1983 c 312 art 1 s 27]

LONG-TERM CARE RESIDENT ACCESS TO PHARMACEUTICALS ACT

151.415 LONG-TERM CARE RESIDENT ACCESS TO PHARMACEUTICALS ACT.

Subdivision 1.Title; citation.

This section may be cited as the "Long-Term Care Resident Access to Pharmaceuticals Act."

Subd. 2.Definitions.

For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the meanings given them unless otherwise provided by text:

(a) "Board" means the Board of Pharmacy.

(b) "Contract pharmacy" means a pharmacy, licensed under this chapter, which is under contract to a long-term care facility.

(c) "Long-term care facility" means a nursing home licensed under sections 144A.02 to 144A.10, or a boarding care home licensed under sections 144.50 to 144.56. Facilities not certified under title XIX of the federal Social Security Act are not included in this definition.

(d) "Original dispensing pharmacy" shall mean a pharmacy, licensed in any state in the United States, which dispenses drugs in bulk prescription containers to a person who is a resident in a long-term care facility.

Subd. 3.Authorization to administer and repackage drugs.

(a) A contract pharmacist or pharmacy may repackage a resident's prescription drugs, which have been lawfully dispensed from bulk prescription containers by an original dispensing pharmacy, into a unit-dose system compatible with the system used by the long-term care facility.

(b) A long-term care facility may administer drugs to residents of the facility that have been repackaged according to this subdivision. The contract pharmacy shall notify the long-term care facility whenever medications have been dispensed according to this subdivision and must certify that the repackaging and dispensing has been done in accordance with this subdivision.

(c) Drugs may be dispensed for a resident of a long-term care facility according to this subdivision, provided that:

(1) the drug is dispensed by the original dispensing pharmacy according to a current, valid prescription;

(2) the original bulk prescription container for the resident is delivered by the original dispensing pharmacy directly to the contract pharmacist or pharmacy;

(3) the contract pharmacist or pharmacy verifies the name and strength of the drug, the name of the manufacturer of the drug, the manufacturer's lot or control number, the manufacturer's expiration date for the drug, and the date the drug was dispensed by the original dispensing pharmacy;

(4) the contract pharmacist or pharmacy verifies the validity and accuracy of the current prescription order;

(5) the contract pharmacist or pharmacy repackages the drug in board-approved unit-dose packaging, with labeling that complies with Minnesota Rules, part 6800.6300, and that identifies that the drug has been repackaged according to this section;

(6) the resident for whom the medication is repackaged obtains medications from or receives medications at a discounted rate from the original dispensing pharmacy under the resident's state or federal health assistance program or a private health insurance plan; and

(7) the resident for whom the medication is to be repackaged, or the resident's authorized representative, has signed an informed consent form provided by the facility which includes an explanation of the repackaging process and which notifies the resident of the immunities from liability provided in this section.

Subd. 4.Maintenance of records.

For each drug repackaged by a contract pharmacy under this section, the contract pharmacy shall maintain a record for at least two years of the following information:

(1) the name, manufacturer, manufacturer's lot number, manufacturer's expiration date, and quantity of the drug prescribed;

(2) the name and address of the resident for whom the drug was repackaged;

(3) the name and address or other identifier of the prescriber;

(4) the date the prescription was issued and the date the drug was repackaged;

(5) the date the repackaged drug was delivered to the long-term care facility;

(6) the directions for use;

(7) a copy of the label that was affixed to the repackaged drug;

(8) the initials of the packager;

(9) the initials of the supervising pharmacist; and

(10) the name and business address of the original dispensing pharmacy.

Subd. 5.Duties of the original dispensing pharmacy.

Upon request of the resident, the resident's authorized representative, or a contract pharmacy or licensed health care facility acting on behalf of the resident, the original dispensing pharmacy is required to deliver medications dispensed for the resident directly to the contract pharmacist or pharmacy. The original dispensing pharmacy is further required to provide the contract pharmacist or pharmacy with the name and strength of the drug, the name of the manufacturer of the drug, the manufacturer's lot or control number, the manufacturer's expiration date for the drug, and the date the drug was dispensed.

Subd. 6.Redispensing of returned drugs prohibited.

Unused drugs repackaged according to this section that are returned to any pharmacy shall not be redispensed.

Subd. 7.Immunity from civil liability.

(a) A contract pharmacist or pharmacy and its employees or agents repackaging a drug acquired from an original dispensing pharmacy shall be immune from civil liability arising from harm caused by the drug due to acts or omissions of other persons outside of the contract pharmacist or pharmacy if the contract pharmacist or pharmacy properly repackages the drug according to this section.

(b) A long-term care facility and the facility's employees or agents who properly administer a drug repackaged by a contract pharmacist or pharmacy under this section shall be immune from civil liability arising from harm caused by the drug due to acts or omissions of other persons outside the long-term care facility.

Subd. 8.Handling fee.

A contract pharmacist or pharmacy may charge a monthly fee of no more than 250 percent of the medical assistance program dispensing fee for each drug repackaged according to this section, but no more than $100 per month for each individual resident.

History:

2007 c 147 art 11 s 5

WHOLESALE DRUG DISTRIBUTION LICENSING ACT

151.42 CITATION.

Sections 151.42 to 151.51 may be cited as the "Wholesale Drug Distribution Licensing Act of 1990."

History:

1990 c 568 art 2 s 20

151.43 SCOPE.

Sections 151.42 to 151.51 apply to any person, partnership, corporation, or business firm engaging in the wholesale distribution of prescription drugs within the state.

History:

1990 c 526 s 6; 1990 c 568 art 2 s 21

151.44 DEFINITIONS.

As used in sections 151.43 to 151.51, the following terms have the meanings given in paragraphs (a) to (h):

(a) "Wholesale drug distribution" means distribution of prescription or nonprescription drugs to persons other than a consumer or patient or reverse distribution of such drugs, but does not include:

(1) a sale between a division, subsidiary, parent, affiliated, or related company under the common ownership and control of a corporate entity;

(2) the purchase or other acquisition, by a hospital or other health care entity that is a member of a group purchasing organization, of a drug for its own use from the organization or from other hospitals or health care entities that are members of such organizations;

(3) the sale, purchase, or trade of a drug or an offer to sell, purchase, or trade a drug by a charitable organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended through December 31, 1988, to a nonprofit affiliate of the organization to the extent otherwise permitted by law;

(4) the sale, purchase, or trade of a drug or offer to sell, purchase, or trade a drug among hospitals or other health care entities that are under common control;

(5) the sale, purchase, or trade of a drug or offer to sell, purchase, or trade a drug for emergency medical reasons;

(6) the sale, purchase, or trade of a drug, an offer to sell, purchase, or trade a drug, or the dispensing of a drug pursuant to a prescription;

(7) the transfer of prescription or nonprescription drugs by a retail pharmacy to another retail pharmacy to alleviate a temporary shortage;

(8) the distribution of prescription or nonprescription drug samples by manufacturers representatives; or

(9) the sale, purchase, or trade of blood and blood components.

(b) "Wholesale drug distributor" means anyone engaged in wholesale drug distribution including, but not limited to, manufacturers; repackers; own-label distributors; jobbers; brokers; warehouses, including manufacturers' and distributors' warehouses, chain drug warehouses, and wholesale drug warehouses; independent wholesale drug traders; and pharmacies that conduct wholesale drug distribution. A wholesale drug distributor does not include a common carrier or individual hired primarily to transport prescription or nonprescription drugs.

(c) "Manufacturer" means anyone who is engaged in the manufacturing, preparing, propagating, compounding, processing, packaging, repackaging, or labeling of a prescription drug.

(d) "Prescription drug" means a drug required by federal or state law or regulation to be dispensed only by a prescription, including finished dosage forms and active ingredients subject to United States Code, title 21, sections 811 and 812.

(e) "Blood" means whole blood collected from a single donor and processed either for transfusion or further manufacturing.

(f) "Blood components" means that part of blood separated by physical or mechanical means.

(g) "Reverse distribution" means the receipt of prescription or nonprescription drugs received from or shipped to Minnesota locations for the purpose of returning the drugs to their producers or distributors.

(h) "Reverse distributor" means a person engaged in the reverse distribution of drugs.

History:

1990 c 526 s 7; 1990 c 568 art 2 s 22; 2010 c 223 s 3

151.45 WHOLESALE DRUG DISTRIBUTOR ADVISORY TASK FORCE.

The board shall appoint a Wholesale Drug Distributor Advisory Task Force composed of five members, to be selected and to perform duties and responsibilities as follows:

(a) One member shall be a pharmacist who is neither a member of the board nor a board employee.

(b) Two members shall be representatives of wholesale drug distributors as defined in section 151.44, paragraph (b).

(c) One member shall be a representative of drug manufacturers.

(d) One member shall be a public member as defined by section 214.02.

(e) The advisory task force shall review and make recommendations to the board on the merit of all rules dealing with wholesale drug distributors and drug manufacturers that are proposed by the board; and no rule affecting wholesale drug distributors proposed by the board shall be adopted without first being submitted to the task force for review and comment.

(f) In making advisory task force appointments, the board shall consider recommendations received from each of the wholesale drug distributor, pharmacist, and drug manufacturer classes cited in paragraphs (a) to (c), and shall adopt rules that provide for solicitation of the recommendations.

History:

1990 c 526 s 8; 1990 c 568 art 2 s 23

151.46 PROHIBITED DRUG PURCHASES OR RECEIPT.

It is unlawful for any person to knowingly purchase or receive a prescription drug from a source other than a person or entity licensed under the laws of the state, except where otherwise provided. Licensed wholesale drug distributors other than pharmacies shall not dispense or distribute prescription drugs directly to patients. A person violating the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor.

History:

1990 c 526 s 9; 1990 c 568 art 2 s 24

151.461 GIFTS TO PRACTITIONERS PROHIBITED.

It is unlawful for any manufacturer or wholesale drug distributor, or any agent thereof, to offer or give any gift of value to a practitioner. A medical device manufacturer that distributes drugs as an incidental part of its device business shall not be considered a manufacturer, a wholesale drug distributor, or agent under this section. As used in this section, "gift" does not include:

(1) professional samples of a drug provided to a prescriber for free distribution to patients;

(2) items with a total combined retail value, in any calendar year, of not more than $50;

(3) a payment to the sponsor of a medical conference, professional meeting, or other educational program, provided the payment is not made directly to a practitioner and is used solely for bona fide educational purposes;

(4) reasonable honoraria and payment of the reasonable expenses of a practitioner who serves on the faculty at a professional or educational conference or meeting;

(5) compensation for the substantial professional or consulting services of a practitioner in connection with a genuine research project;

(6) publications and educational materials; or

(7) salaries or other benefits paid to employees.

History:

1993 c 345 art 5 s 11

151.47 WHOLESALE DRUG DISTRIBUTOR LICENSING REQUIREMENTS.

Subdivision 1.Requirements.

All wholesale drug distributors are subject to the requirements in paragraphs (a) to (f).

(a) No person or distribution outlet shall act as a wholesale drug distributor without first obtaining a license from the board and paying the required fee.

(b) No license shall be issued or renewed for a wholesale drug distributor to operate unless the applicant agrees to operate in a manner prescribed by federal and state law and according to the rules adopted by the board.

(c) The board may require a separate license for each facility directly or indirectly owned or operated by the same business entity within the state, or for a parent entity with divisions, subsidiaries, or affiliate companies within the state, when operations are conducted at more than one location and joint ownership and control exists among all the entities.

(d) As a condition for receiving and retaining a wholesale drug distributor license issued under sections 151.42 to 151.51, an applicant shall satisfy the board that it has and will continuously maintain:

(1) adequate storage conditions and facilities;

(2) minimum liability and other insurance as may be required under any applicable federal or state law;

(3) a viable security system that includes an after hours central alarm, or comparable entry detection capability; restricted access to the premises; comprehensive employment applicant screening; and safeguards against all forms of employee theft;

(4) a system of records describing all wholesale drug distributor activities set forth in section 151.44 for at least the most recent two-year period, which shall be reasonably accessible as defined by board regulations in any inspection authorized by the board;

(5) principals and persons, including officers, directors, primary shareholders, and key management executives, who must at all times demonstrate and maintain their capability of conducting business in conformity with sound financial practices as well as state and federal law;

(6) complete, updated information, to be provided to the board as a condition for obtaining and retaining a license, about each wholesale drug distributor to be licensed, including all pertinent corporate licensee information, if applicable, or other ownership, principal, key personnel, and facilities information found to be necessary by the board;

(7) written policies and procedures that assure reasonable wholesale drug distributor preparation for, protection against, and handling of any facility security or operation problems, including, but not limited to, those caused by natural disaster or government emergency, inventory inaccuracies or product shipping and receiving, outdated product or other unauthorized product control, appropriate disposition of returned goods, and product recalls;

(8) sufficient inspection procedures for all incoming and outgoing product shipments; and

(9) operations in compliance with all federal requirements applicable to wholesale drug distribution.

(e) An agent or employee of any licensed wholesale drug distributor need not seek licensure under this section.

(f) A wholesale drug distributor shall file with the board an annual report, in a form and on the date prescribed by the board, identifying all payments, honoraria, reimbursement or other compensation authorized under section 151.461, clauses (3) to (5), paid to practitioners in Minnesota during the preceding calendar year. The report shall identify the nature and value of any payments totaling $100 or more, to a particular practitioner during the year, and shall identify the practitioner. Reports filed under this provision are public data.

Subd. 2.Requirements must conform with federal law.

All requirements set forth in this section shall conform to wholesale drug distributor licensing guidelines formally adopted by the United States Food and Drug Administration; and in case of conflict between a wholesale drug distributor licensing requirement imposed by the board and a Food and Drug Administration wholesale drug distributor guideline, the latter shall control.

History:

1990 c 526 s 10; 1990 c 568 art 2 s 25; 1993 c 345 art 5 s 12

151.48 OUT-OF-STATE WHOLESALE DRUG DISTRIBUTOR LICENSING.

(a) It is unlawful for an out-of-state wholesale drug distributor to conduct business in the state without first obtaining a license from the board and paying the required fee.

(b) Application for an out-of-state wholesale drug distributor license under this section shall be made on a form furnished by the board.

(c) No person acting as principal or agent for any out-of-state wholesale drug distributor may sell or distribute drugs in the state unless the distributor has obtained a license.

(d) The board may adopt regulations that permit out-of-state wholesale drug distributors to obtain a license on the basis of reciprocity to the extent that an out-of-state wholesale drug distributor:

(1) possesses a valid license granted by another state under legal standards comparable to those that must be met by a wholesale drug distributor of this state as prerequisites for obtaining a license under the laws of this state; and

(2) can show that the other state would extend reciprocal treatment under its own laws to a wholesale drug distributor of this state.

History:

1990 c 526 s 11; 1990 c 568 art 2 s 26; 1995 c 234 art 9 s 2

151.49 LICENSE RENEWAL APPLICATION PROCEDURES.

Application blanks for renewal of a license required by sections 151.42 to 151.51 shall be mailed to each licensee on or before the first day of the month prior to the month in which the license expires and, if application for renewal of the license with the required fee is not made before the expiration date, the existing license or renewal shall lapse and become null and void upon the date of expiration.

History:

1990 c 526 s 12; 1990 c 568 art 2 s 27

151.50 RULES.

The board shall adopt rules to carry out the purposes and enforce the provisions of sections 151.42 to 151.51. All rules adopted under this section shall conform to wholesale drug distributor licensing guidelines formally adopted by the United States Food and Drug Administration; and in case of conflict between a rule adopted by the board and a Food and Drug Administration wholesale drug distributor guideline, the latter shall control.

History:

1990 c 526 s 13; 1990 c 568 art 2 s 28

151.51 BOARD ACCESS TO WHOLESALE DRUG DISTRIBUTOR RECORDS.

Wholesale drug distributors may keep records at a central location apart from the principal office of the wholesale drug distributor or the location at which the drugs were stored and from which they were shipped, provided that the records shall be made available for inspection within two working days of a request by the board. The records may be kept in any form permissible under federal law applicable to prescription drugs record keeping.

History:

1990 c 526 s 14; 1990 c 568 art 2 s 29

CANCER DRUG REPOSITORY PROGRAM

151.55 CANCER DRUG REPOSITORY PROGRAM.

Subdivision 1.Definitions.

(a) For the purposes of this section, the terms defined in this subdivision have the meanings given.

(b) "Board" means the Board of Pharmacy.

(c) "Cancer drug" means a prescription drug that is used to treat:

(1) cancer or the side effects of cancer; or

(2) the side effects of any prescription drug that is used to treat cancer or the side effects of cancer.

(d) "Cancer drug repository" means a medical facility or pharmacy that has notified the board of its election to participate in the cancer drug repository program.

(e) "Cancer supply" or "supplies" means prescription and nonprescription cancer supplies needed to administer a cancer drug.

(f) "Dispense" has the meaning given in section 151.01, subdivision 30.

(g) "Distribute" means to deliver, other than by administering or dispensing.

(h) "Donor" means an individual and not a drug manufacturer or wholesale drug distributor who donates a cancer drug or supply according to the requirements of the cancer drug repository program.

(i) "Medical facility" means an institution defined in section 144.50, subdivision 2.

(j) "Medical supplies" means any prescription and nonprescription medical supply needed to administer a cancer drug.

(k) "Pharmacist" has the meaning given in section 151.01, subdivision 3.

(l) "Pharmacy" means any pharmacy registered with the Board of Pharmacy according to section 151.19, subdivision 1.

(m) "Practitioner" has the meaning given in section 151.01, subdivision 23.

(n) "Prescription drug" means a legend drug as defined in section 151.01, subdivision 17.

(o) "Side effects of cancer" means symptoms of cancer.

(p) "Single-unit-dose packaging" means a single-unit container for articles intended for administration as a single dose, direct from the container.

(q) "Tamper-evident unit dose packaging" means a container within which a drug is sealed so that the contents cannot be opened without obvious destruction of the seal.

Subd. 2.Establishment.

The Board of Pharmacy shall establish and maintain a cancer drug repository program, under which any person may donate a cancer drug or supply for use by an individual who meets the eligibility criteria specified under subdivision 4. Under the program, donations may be made on the premises of a medical facility or pharmacy that elects to participate in the program and meets the requirements specified under subdivision 3.

Subd. 3.Requirements for participation by pharmacies and medical facilities.

(a) To be eligible for participation in the cancer drug repository program, a pharmacy or medical facility must be licensed and in compliance with all applicable federal and state laws and administrative rules.

(b) Participation in the cancer drug repository program is voluntary. A pharmacy or medical facility may elect to participate in the cancer drug repository program by submitting the following information to the board, in a form provided by the board:

(1) the name, street address, and telephone number of the pharmacy or medical facility;

(2) the name and telephone number of a pharmacist who is employed by or under contract with the pharmacy or medical facility, or other contact person who is familiar with the pharmacy's or medical facility's participation in the cancer drug repository program; and

(3) a statement indicating that the pharmacy or medical facility meets the eligibility requirements under paragraph (a) and the chosen level of participation under paragraph (c).

(c) A pharmacy or medical facility may fully participate in the cancer drug repository program by accepting, storing, and dispensing or administering donated drugs and supplies, or may limit its participation to only accepting and storing donated drugs and supplies. If a pharmacy or facility chooses to limit its participation, the pharmacy or facility shall distribute any donated drugs to a fully participating cancer drug repository according to subdivision 8.

(d) A pharmacy or medical facility may withdraw from participation in the cancer drug repository program at any time upon notification to the board. A notice to withdraw from participation may be given by telephone or regular mail.

Subd. 4.Individual eligibility requirements.

Any Minnesota resident who is diagnosed with cancer is eligible to receive drugs or supplies under the cancer drug repository program. Drugs and supplies shall be dispensed or administered according to the priority given under subdivision 6, paragraph (d).

Subd. 5.Donations of cancer drugs and supplies.

(a) Any one of the following persons may donate legally obtained cancer drugs or supplies to a cancer drug repository, if the drugs or supplies meet the requirements under paragraph (b) or (c) as determined by a pharmacist who is employed by or under contract with a cancer drug repository:

(1) an individual who is 18 years old or older; or

(2) a pharmacy, medical facility, drug manufacturer, or wholesale drug distributor, if the donated drugs have not been previously dispensed.

(b) A cancer drug is eligible for donation under the cancer drug repository program only if the following requirements are met:

(1) the donation is accompanied by a cancer drug repository donor form described under paragraph (d) that is signed by the person making the donation or that person's authorized representative;

(2) the drug's expiration date is at least six months later than the date that the drug was donated;

(3) the drug is in its original, unopened, tamper-evident unit dose packaging that includes the drug's lot number and expiration date. Single-unit dose drugs may be accepted if the single-unit-dose packaging is unopened; and

(4) the drug is not adulterated or misbranded.

(c) Cancer supplies are eligible for donation under the cancer drug repository program only if the following requirements are met:

(1) the supplies are not adulterated or misbranded;

(2) the supplies are in their original, unopened, sealed packaging; and

(3) the donation is accompanied by a cancer drug repository donor form described under paragraph (d) that is signed by the person making the donation or that person's authorized representative.

(d) The cancer drug repository donor form must be provided by the board and shall state that to the best of the donor's knowledge the donated drug or supply has been properly stored and that the drug or supply has never been opened, used, tampered with, adulterated, or misbranded. The board shall make the cancer drug repository donor form available on the Board of Pharmacy's Web site.

(e) Controlled substances and drugs and supplies that do not meet the criteria under this subdivision are not eligible for donation or acceptance under the cancer drug repository program.

(f) Drugs and supplies may be donated on the premises of a cancer drug repository to a pharmacist designated by the repository. A drop box may not be used to deliver or accept donations.

(g) Cancer drugs and supplies donated under the cancer drug repository program must be stored in a secure storage area under environmental conditions appropriate for the drugs or supplies being stored. Donated drugs and supplies may not be stored with nondonated inventory.

Subd. 6.Dispensing requirements.

(a) Drugs and supplies must be dispensed by a licensed pharmacist pursuant to a prescription by a practitioner or may be dispensed or administered by a practitioner according to the requirements of chapter 151 and within the practitioner's scope of practice.

(b) Cancer drugs and supplies shall be visually inspected by the pharmacist or practitioner before being dispensed or administered for adulteration, misbranding, and date of expiration. Drugs or supplies that have expired or appear upon visual inspection to be adulterated, misbranded, or tampered with in any way may not be dispensed or administered.

(c) Before a cancer drug or supply may be dispensed or administered to an individual, the individual must sign a cancer drug repository recipient form provided by the board acknowledging that the individual understands the information stated on the form. The form shall include the following information:

(1) that the drug or supply being dispensed or administered has been donated and may have been previously dispensed;

(2) that a visual inspection has been conducted by the pharmacist or practitioner to ensure that the drug has not expired, has not been adulterated or misbranded, and is in its original, unopened packaging; and

(3) that the dispensing pharmacist, the dispensing or administering practitioner, the cancer drug repository, the Board of Pharmacy, and any other participant of the cancer drug repository program cannot guarantee the safety of the drug or supply being dispensed or administered and that the pharmacist or practitioner has determined that the drug or supply is safe to dispense or administer based on the accuracy of the donor's form submitted with the donated drug or supply and the visual inspection required to be performed by the pharmacist or practitioner before dispensing or administering.

The board shall make the cancer drug repository form available on the Board of Pharmacy's Web site.

(d) Drugs and supplies shall only be dispensed or administered to individuals who meet the eligibility requirements in subdivision 4 and in the following order of priority:

(1) individuals who are uninsured;

(2) individuals who are enrolled in medical assistance, general assistance medical care, MinnesotaCare, Medicare, or other public assistance health care; and

(3) all other individuals who are otherwise eligible under subdivision 4 to receive drugs or supplies from a cancer drug repository.

Subd. 7.Handling fees.

A cancer drug repository may charge the individual receiving a drug or supply a handling fee of no more than 250 percent of the medical assistance program dispensing fee for each cancer drug or supply dispensed or administered.

Subd. 8.Distribution of donated cancer drugs and supplies.

(a) Cancer drug repositories may distribute drugs and supplies donated under the cancer drug repository program to other repositories if requested by a participating repository.

(b) A cancer drug repository that has elected not to dispense donated drugs or supplies shall distribute any donated drugs and supplies to a participating repository upon request of the repository.

(c) If a cancer drug repository distributes drugs or supplies under paragraph (a) or (b), the repository shall complete a cancer drug repository donor form provided by the board. The completed form and a copy of the donor form that was completed by the original donor under subdivision 5 shall be provided to the fully participating cancer drug repository at the time of distribution.

Subd. 9.Resale of donated drugs or supplies.

Donated drugs and supplies may not be resold.

Subd. 10.Record-keeping requirements.

(a) Cancer drug repository donor and recipient forms shall be maintained for at least five years.

(b) A record of destruction of donated drugs and supplies that are not dispensed under subdivision 6 shall be maintained by the dispensing repository for at least five years. For each drug or supply destroyed, the record shall include the following information:

(1) the date of destruction;

(2) the name, strength, and quantity of the cancer drug destroyed;

(3) the name of the person or firm that destroyed the drug; and

(4) the source of the drugs or supplies destroyed.

Subd. 11.Liability.

(a) The manufacturer of a drug or supply is not subject to criminal or civil liability for injury, death, or loss to a person or to property for causes of action described in clauses (1) and (2). A manufacturer is not liable for:

(1) the intentional or unintentional alteration of the drug or supply by a party not under the control of the manufacturer; or

(2) the failure of a party not under the control of the manufacturer to transfer or communicate product or consumer information or the expiration date of the donated drug or supply.

(b) A medical facility or pharmacy participating in the program, a pharmacist dispensing a drug or supply pursuant to the program, a practitioner dispensing or administering a drug or supply pursuant to the program, or a donor of a cancer drug or supply as defined in subdivision 1 is immune from civil liability for an act or omission that causes injury to or the death of an individual to whom the cancer drug or supply is dispensed and no disciplinary action shall be taken against a pharmacist or practitioner so long as the drug or supply is donated, accepted, distributed, and dispensed according to the requirements of this section. This immunity does not apply if the act or omission involves reckless, wanton, or intentional misconduct, or malpractice unrelated to the quality of the cancer drug or supply.

History:

1Sp2005 c 4 art 5 s 2

RETURN OF UNUSED DRUGS

151.56 COUNTY RETURN OF UNUSED DRUGS OR MEDICAL DEVICES.

Notwithstanding Minnesota Rules, part 6800.2700, pharmacies may accept returns of and redispense unopened, unused drugs in board-approved unit dose packaging and medical devices from county jails and juvenile correctional facilities. In order to return unused drugs and medical devices, the county jail or juvenile correctional facility must have a correctional employee trained in the delivery and storage of medications on hand 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and the medication must be stored in a secured locked storage locker.

History:

2007 c 103 s 4; 2008 c 321 s 6