33-24-156. Telepharmacy practice authorized.

(a) The board pursuant to its rules and regulations may authorize a resident pharmacy licensee to store and dispense prescription drugs as provided in subsection (b) of this section through a telepharmacy located at a site at least ten (10) miles from a licensed pharmacy except this ten (10) mile restriction does not apply:

(i) In counties with a city of fifty thousand (50,000) or more persons as shown in the most recent federal census; or

(ii) To any facility owned or leased by the state or any subdivision of the state; or

(iii) To any facility located in a hospital or clinic setting.

(b) Telepharmacies shall include the following minimum features:

(i) Storage, security and dispensing of prescription drugs only:

(A) In unit of issue packages;

(B) Through a system which dispenses tablets or capsules from an enclosed and lockable cabinet directly into a prescription vial and prints and applies a prescription label to the vial; or

(C) By manually dispensing tablets, capsules or liquids from a stock bottle into a prescription vial and affixing a prescription label to the vial.

(ii) Connection by a secure communication system to the parent pharmacy, with the capability of live video and audio communication with a licensed pharmacist at the parent pharmacy during hours of operation;

(iii) Adequate provision for security, including verification of customer identity and prescription information;

(iv) Automated inventory control using bar codes, radio frequency tags or a similar identification system;

(v) Prominent display of the name, address and toll free telephone number of the parent pharmacy;

(vi) Telepharmacies shall be supervised by a parent pharmacy and a licensed pharmacist and shall be staffed during hours of operation by a licensed pharmacist, certified pharmacy technician or registered pharmacy intern.

(c) A telepharmacy system operated as provided in this act and in accord with rules and regulations of the board is deemed to be operated under the charge of a licensed pharmacist for purposes of W.S. 33-24-113(b).

(d) A licensed pharmacist who supervises a telepharmacy shall complete an inspection of the telepharmacy at a frequency specified by the board of pharmacy. Inspection criteria shall be developed by the state board of pharmacy and all inspection criteria shall be included in the policies and procedures applicable to each telepharmacy site. Inspection reports shall be prepared pursuant to standards adopted by the board of pharmacy and shall be maintained by each telepharmacy until the next state board of pharmacy inspection.