COVID-19 Update: Ohio Pharmacy Board issues guidance regarding practice of pharmacy

The Ohio Board of Pharmacy (OBOP) is actively working to modify its rules or formulate temporary guidance and procedures to help combat the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus) and aid in the delivery of pharmacy care to impacted Ohioans and their families.

On March 18, 2020, OBOP issued its “COVID-19 Response Efforts” guidance that “outlines [OBOP’s] COVID-19 guidance and response efforts, including the issuance of waivers to assist our licensees in addressing operational needs.” OBOP will continue to update this document as it releases additional guidance.

OBOP’s new guidance includes

• authorization for remote order entry by all licensed/registered pharmacy personnel
• authorization for compounding and sale of certain alcohol-based hand sanitizer products by Ohio-licensed pharmacies
• authorization for certain reuse of personal protective equipment (PPE) by certain sterile compounders
• automatic exemptions to drug shortage compounding and expansion of the definition of “drug shortage”
• authorization of extension of emergency refills
• authorization for a process to allow pharmacists and pharmacy technicians licensed in other states to work in Ohio pharmacies under the oversight and authority of an existing holder of terminal distributor of dangerous drugs license
• authorization of expedited onboarding of pharmacy trainees, extended renewal dates for registered pharmacy technicians and automatic technician trainee extensions
• authorization of prescribers in an opioid treatment program to temporarily delegate the furnishing of buprenorphine to nurses licensed under ORC 4723
• authorization of limited home delivery of medications by opioid treatment programs
• extension of basic life-support training certifications for pharmacists and pharmacy interns
• authorization of prescribers to delegate the personal furnishing of non-controlled drug samples to nurses licensed under ORC 4723
• authorization for the temporary expansion of the maximum days’ supply of multiple drugs in single-dose containers permitted under OAC 4729-9-23 from 31 to 60 days for residents of long-term care facilities

This guidance flows from a resolution adopted by OBOP on March 2, 2020, with most temporary extensions and rule modifications effective until June 14, 2020.

OBOP will continue to update this summary guidance document as it releases additional guidance over the coming days and weeks.