Iowa Admin. Code r. 657-13.3 - Written agreement

The managing pharmacy and the telepharmacy site shall execute and maintain a current written agreement between the pharmacies. If there is no current written agreement between the pharmacies, the telepharmacy site shall immediately notify the board and shall discontinue operations as a telepharmacy site until a current written agreement between the managing pharmacy and the telepharmacy site is executed.

(1) Contents of agreement. The written agreement between the managing pharmacy and a telepharmacy site shall include, but may not be limited to, the following:

a. Staffing, to include telepharmacy personnel staffing, verifying pharmacist staffing and availability, and on-site pharmacist staffing as needed.

b. Hours of operation of the telepharmacy site and hours of availability of pharmacists at the managing pharmacy.

c. Emergency contact information for the managing pharmacy and the telepharmacy site.

d. A complete description of the audiovisual technology to be utilized to link the managing pharmacy and the telepharmacy site.

e. A provision that, in the event that the telepharmacy personnel is not available at the telepharmacy site, that a verifying pharmacist is not available, or that the audiovisual communication connection between the telepharmacy site and the managing pharmacy is not available, the telepharmacy site shall close pending the availability of telepharmacy personnel, the verifying pharmacist, and the communication link or pending the arrival at the telepharmacy site of a pharmacist to provide on-site pharmacy services.

f. Activities and services to be provided by the managing pharmacy at the telepharmacy site.

g. Identification of contact persons to receive, on behalf of the managing pharmacy and the telepharmacy site, notifications and official communications regarding the written agreement. Identification of contact persons shall include delivery addresses and preferred methods of delivery of the written communications required by this rule and any other communications affecting the written agreement between the managing pharmacy and the telepharmacy.

h. Pharmacy locations, other than the managing pharmacy, where verifying pharmacists may be based or located.

(2) Termination of agreement. A managing pharmacy shall provide written notice to the board and to the telepharmacy site 45 days in advance of the managing pharmacy's intent to terminate the agreement between the telepharmacy site and the managing pharmacy. A telepharmacy site shall provide written notice to the board and to the managing pharmacy 45 days in advance of the telepharmacy site's intent to terminate the agreement between the managing pharmacy and the telepharmacy site.

a. New agreement. A new written agreement between a managing pharmacy and the telepharmacy site, including the filing of a new pharmacy license application identifying the new pharmacist in charge, shall be executed within the 45-day advance notification period.

b. No new agreement. If the telepharmacy site is unable to contract with a new managing pharmacy, the telepharmacy site shall, 30 days prior to the expiration of the 45-day advance notification period, implement the prior notification requirements for closing a telepharmacy site as provided in subrule 13.3(3). The telepharmacy site shall cease operations and close at the end of that 30-day closing notification period unless a new written agreement is executed.

(3) Closing of telepharmacy site. A telepharmacy site that intends to close the telepharmacy site shall provide written notification to the managing pharmacy and the board as provided in subrule 13.3(2). In addition, the telepharmacy site shall provide written notification to the DEA and to patients and shall comply with all requirements for closing a pharmacy as provided in 657-subrule 8.35(7).

(4) Closing of managing pharmacy. A managing pharmacy that intends to close the managing pharmacy shall provide written notification to the telepharmacy site and the board as provided in subrule 13.3(2). In addition, the managing pharmacy shall provide written notification to the DEA and to patients and shall comply with all requirements for closing a pharmacy as provided in 657-subrule 8.35(7). A telepharmacy site that has been managed by the closing pharmacy shall comply with the provisions of subrules 13.3(2) and 13.3(3), as applicable.

Notes

Iowa Admin. Code r. 657-13.3

Adopted by IAB August 2, 2017/Volume XL, Number 3, effective 9/6/2017 Amended by IAB March 23, 2022/Volume XLIV, Number 19, effective 4/27/2022