section .2400 - DISPENSING IN HEALTH DEPARTMENT

21 NCAC 46 .2401             MEDICATION IN HEALTH DEPARTMENTS

A registered nurse employed by a local health department may dispense prescription drugs or devices under the following conditions:

(1)           Drugs or devices may be dispensed only to health department patients, with the exception of:

(a)           opioid antagonists, which may be dispensed either to health department patients or to others as permitted by G.S. 90-12.7; and

(b)           epinephrine auto-injectors, which may be dispensed either to health department patients or to school personnel as permitted by G.S. 115C-375.2A;

(2)           No drugs or devices may by dispensed except at health department clinics;

(3)           The health department shall secure the services of a pharmacist-manager who shall be responsible for compliance with all statutes, rules, and regulations governing the practice of pharmacy and dispensing of drugs at the health department;

(4)           Only the general categories of drugs or devices listed in Rule .2403 of this Section may be dispensed by a health department registered nurse; and

(5)           All drugs or devices dispensed pursuant to G.S. 90-85.34A and the rules of this Section shall be packaged, labeled, and otherwise dispensed in compliance with state and federal law, and records of dispensing shall be kept in compliance with state and federal law. The pharmacist-manager shall verify the accuracy of the records at least weekly, and where health department personnel dispense to 30 or more patients in a 24-hour period per dispensing site, the pharmacist-manager shall verify the accuracy of the records within 24 hours after dispensing occurs.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 90-12.7; 90-85.6; 90-85.34A; 115C-375.2A;

Eff. March 1, 1987;

Amended Eff. September 1, 2016; January 1, 2015; August 1, 2014; May 1, 1989;

Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. October 3, 2017.