HB1736: Wholesale distributors; notice to Board of Pharmacy when ceasing distribution of certain drugs.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §§ 54.1-3435 and 54.1-3435.01 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 54.1-3435. License to act as wholesale distributor; renewal; fee.
A. It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in the
wholesale distribution of prescription drugs in this the
Commonwealth without a valid unrevoked license issued by the Board. The
applicant for licensure as a wholesale distributor, as defined in § 54.1-3401,
in this the Commonwealth shall apply to the Board for a license,
using such forms as the Board may furnish; renew such license using such forms
as the Board may furnish, if granted, annually on a date determined by the
Board in regulation; notify the Board within thirty 30 days of
any substantive change in the information reported on the application form
previously submitted to the Board; and remit a fee as determined by the Board.
B. A wholesale distributor that ceases distribution of Schedule II through V drugs to a pharmacy, licensed physician dispenser, or licensed physician dispensing facility located in the Commonwealth due to suspicious orders of controlled substances shall notify the Board within five days of the cessation. For the purposes of this section, "suspicious orders of controlled substances" means, relative to the pharmacy's, licensed physician dispenser's, or licensed physician dispensing facility's order history and the order history of similarly situated pharmacies, licensed physician dispensers, or licensed physician dispensing facilities, (i) orders of unusual size, (ii) orders deviating substantially from a normal pattern, and (iii) orders of unusual frequency.
C. A wholesale distributor shall be immune from civil liability for giving notice in accordance with subsection B unless the notice was given in bad faith or with malicious intent.
D. The Board shall not impose any disciplinary or enforcement action against any licensee or permit holder solely on the basis of a notice received from a wholesale distributor pursuant to subsection B.
E. The Board may promulgate such regulations relating to the storage, handling, and distribution of prescription drugs by wholesale distributors as it deems necessary to implement this section, to prevent diversion of prescription drugs, and to protect the public.
§ 54.1-3435.01. Registration of nonresident wholesale distributors; renewal; fee.
A. Any person located outside this the
Commonwealth who engages in the wholesale distribution of prescription drugs
into this the Commonwealth shall be registered with the Board.
The applicant for registration as a nonresident wholesale distributor shall
apply to the Board using such forms as the Board may furnish; renew such
registration, if granted, using such forms as the Board may furnish, annually
on a date determined by the Board in regulation; notify the Board within
thirty 30 days of any substantive change in the information
previously submitted to the Board; and remit a fee, which shall be the fee
specified for wholesale distributors located within the Commonwealth.
B. The nonresident wholesale distributor shall at all times maintain a valid, unexpired license, permit, or registration in the state in which it is located and shall furnish proof of such upon application and at each renewal.
C. Records of prescription drugs distributed into this
the Commonwealth shall be maintained in such a manner that they are readily
retrievable from records of distributions into other jurisdictions and shall be
provided to the Board, its authorized agent, or any agent designated by the Superintendent
of the Department of State Police upon request within seven days of receipt
of such request.
D. A nonresident wholesale distributor that ceases distribution of Schedule II through V drugs to a pharmacy, licensed physician dispenser, or licensed physician dispensing facility located in the Commonwealth due to suspicious orders of controlled substances shall notify the Board within five days of the cessation. For the purposes of this section, "suspicious orders of controlled substances" means, relative to the pharmacy's, licensed physician dispenser's, or licensed physician dispensing facility's order history and the order history of similarly situated pharmacies, licensed physician dispensers, or licensed physician dispensing facilities, (i) orders of unusual size, (ii) orders deviating substantially from a normal pattern, and (iii) orders of unusual frequency.
E. A nonresident wholesale distributor shall be immune from civil liability for giving notice in accordance with subsection D unless the notice was given in bad faith or with malicious intent.
F. The Board shall not impose any disciplinary or enforcement action against any licensee or permit holder solely on the basis of a notice received from a nonresident wholesale distributor pursuant to subsection D.
G. This section shall not apply to persons who
distribute prescription drugs directly to a licensed wholesale distributor
located within this the Commonwealth.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §§ 54.1-3435 and 54.1-3435.01 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 54.1-3435. License to act as wholesale distributor; renewal; fee.
A. It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in the
wholesale distribution of prescription drugs in this the
Commonwealth without a valid unrevoked license issued by the Board. The
applicant for licensure as a wholesale distributor, as defined in § 54.1-3401,
in this the Commonwealth shall apply to the Board for a license,
using such forms as the Board may furnish; renew such license using such forms
as the Board may furnish, if granted, annually on a date determined by the
Board in regulation; notify the Board within thirty 30 days of
any substantive change in the information reported on the application form
previously submitted to the Board; and remit a fee as determined by the Board.
B. A wholesale distributor that ceases distribution of Schedule II through V drugs to a pharmacy, licensed physician dispenser, or licensed physician dispensing facility located in the Commonwealth due to suspicious orders of controlled substances shall notify the Board within five days of the cessation. For the purposes of this section, "suspicious orders of controlled substances" means, relative to the pharmacy's, licensed physician dispenser's, or licensed physician dispensing facility's order history and the order history of similarly situated pharmacies, licensed physician dispensers, or licensed physician dispensing facilities, (i) orders of unusual size, (ii) orders deviating substantially from a normal pattern, and (iii) orders of unusual frequency.
C. A wholesale distributor shall be immune from civil liability for giving notice in accordance with subsection B unless the notice was given in bad faith or with malicious intent.
D. The Board shall not impose any disciplinary or enforcement action against any licensee or permit holder solely on the basis of a notice received from a wholesale distributor pursuant to subsection B.
E. The Board may promulgate such regulations relating to the storage, handling, and distribution of prescription drugs by wholesale distributors as it deems necessary to implement this section, to prevent diversion of prescription drugs, and to protect the public.
§ 54.1-3435.01. Registration of nonresident wholesale distributors; renewal; fee.
A. Any person located outside this the
Commonwealth who engages in the wholesale distribution of prescription drugs
into this the Commonwealth shall be registered with the Board.
The applicant for registration as a nonresident wholesale distributor shall
apply to the Board using such forms as the Board may furnish; renew such
registration, if granted, using such forms as the Board may furnish, annually
on a date determined by the Board in regulation; notify the Board within
thirty 30 days of any substantive change in the information
previously submitted to the Board; and remit a fee, which shall be the fee
specified for wholesale distributors located within the Commonwealth.
B. The nonresident wholesale distributor shall at all times maintain a valid, unexpired license, permit, or registration in the state in which it is located and shall furnish proof of such upon application and at each renewal.
C. Records of prescription drugs distributed into this
the Commonwealth shall be maintained in such a manner that they are readily
retrievable from records of distributions into other jurisdictions and shall be
provided to the Board, its authorized agent, or any agent designated by the Superintendent
of the Department of State Police upon request within seven days of receipt
of such request.
D. A nonresident wholesale distributor that ceases distribution of Schedule II through V drugs to a pharmacy, licensed physician dispenser, or licensed physician dispensing facility located in the Commonwealth due to suspicious orders of controlled substances shall notify the Board within five days of the cessation. For the purposes of this section, "suspicious orders of controlled substances" means, relative to the pharmacy's, licensed physician dispenser's, or licensed physician dispensing facility's order history and the order history of similarly situated pharmacies, licensed physician dispensers, or licensed physician dispensing facilities, (i) orders of unusual size, (ii) orders deviating substantially from a normal pattern, and (iii) orders of unusual frequency.
E. A nonresident wholesale distributor shall be immune from civil liability for giving notice in accordance with subsection D unless the notice was given in bad faith or with malicious intent.
F. The Board shall not impose any disciplinary or enforcement action against any licensee or permit holder solely on the basis of a notice received from a nonresident wholesale distributor pursuant to subsection D.
G. This section shall not apply to persons who
distribute prescription drugs directly to a licensed wholesale distributor
located within this the Commonwealth.
HOUSE BILL NO. 1736
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §§ 54.1-3435 and 54.1-3435.01 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 54.1-3435. License to act as wholesale distributor; renewal; fee.
A. It
shall be unlawful for any person to engage in the wholesale distribution of
prescription drugs in this the Commonwealth without a
valid unrevoked license issued by the Board. The applicant for licensure as a wholesale
distributor, as defined in § 54.1-3401, in this the Commonwealth shall apply
to the Board for a license, using such forms as the Board may furnish; renew
such license using such forms as the Board may furnish, if granted, annually on
a date determined by the Board in regulation; notify the Board within thirty 30
days of any substantive change in the information reported on the application
form previously submitted to the Board; and remit a fee as determined by the
Board.
B. A wholesale distributor that ceases distribution of controlled substances to a licensed or permitted dispenser located in the Commonwealth due to suspicious ordering of controlled substances by the dispenser shall notify the Board of Pharmacy of the cessation of distribution to the dispenser within five days of notifying the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration of the suspicious order pursuant to 21 C.F.R. § 1301.74. For the purpose of this subsection, "suspicious ordering" means placing of orders of unusual size, orders that deviate substantially from a normal pattern, and orders of unusual frequency. A wholesale distributor that, in good faith and without malicious intent, reports cessation of distribution due to suspicious ordering in accordance with this subsection shall be immune from civil liability resulting therefrom.
C. The Board may promulgate such regulations relating to the storage, handling, and distribution of prescription drugs by wholesale distributors as it deems necessary to implement this section, to prevent diversion of prescription drugs, and to protect the public.
§ 54.1-3435.01. Registration of nonresident wholesale distributors; renewal; fee.
A. Any person located outside this the Commonwealth who engages in
the wholesale distribution of prescription drugs into this the Commonwealth shall be
registered with the Board. The applicant for registration as a nonresident
wholesale distributor shall apply to the Board using such forms as the Board
may furnish; renew such registration, if granted, using such forms as the Board
may furnish, annually on a date determined by the Board in regulation; notify
the Board within thirty 30 days of any substantive
change in the information previously submitted to the Board; and remit a fee,
which shall be the fee specified for wholesale distributors located within the
Commonwealth.
B. The nonresident wholesale distributor shall at all times maintain a valid, unexpired license, permit, or registration in the state in which it is located and shall furnish proof of such upon application and at each renewal.
C. Records of prescription drugs distributed into this the
Commonwealth shall be maintained in such a manner that they are readily
retrievable from records of distributions into other jurisdictions and shall be
provided to the Board, its authorized agent, or any agent designated by the
Superintendent of the Department of State Police upon request within seven days
of receipt of such request.
D. A nonresident wholesale distributor that ceases distribution of controlled substances to a licensed or permitted dispenser located in the Commonwealth due to suspicious ordering of controlled substances by the dispenser shall notify the Board of Pharmacy of the cessation of distribution to the dispenser within five days of notifying the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration of the suspicious order pursuant to 21 C.F.R. § 1301.74. For the purpose of this subsection, "suspicious ordering" means placing of orders of unusual size, orders that deviate substantially from a normal pattern, and orders of unusual frequency. A nonresident wholesale distributor that, in good faith and without malicious intent, reports cessation of distribution due to suspicious ordering in accordance with this subsection shall be immune from civil liability resulting therefrom.
E. This section shall not apply to persons who distribute prescription drugs directly to a licensed wholesale distributor located within this Commonwealth.