318:47-l Hormonal Contraceptives; Dispensing. –
I. In this section, "standing order" means a written and signed protocol authored by one or more physicians licensed under RSA 329:12 or one or more advanced practice registered nurses licensed under RSA 326-B:18. Such agreement shall specify a protocol allowing the pharmacist licensed under RSA 318:18 to dispense hormonal contraceptives under the delegated prescriptive authority of the physician or APRN, specify a mechanism to document screening performed and the prescription in the patient's medical record, and include a plan for evaluating and treating adverse events. Any such prescription shall be regarded as being issued for a legitimate medical purpose in the usual course of professional practice.
II. Licensed pharmacists following standing orders may dispense hormonal contraceptives to persons in this state without a prior prescription.
III. A pharmacist, pharmacy, physician, or APRN issuing or following standing orders shall be prohibited from seeking personal financial benefit by participating in any incentive-based program or accepting any inducement that influences or encourages therapeutic or product changes or the ordering of tests or services.
IV. Prior to dispensing hormonal contraceptives under this section, a pharmacist shall complete an Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) accredited educational training program related to hormonal contraceptives. In addition, pharmacists shall comply with the most current United States Medical Eligibility Criteria (USMEC) for Contraceptive Use as adopted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
V. The pharmacist shall provide each recipient of hormonal contraceptives pursuant to this section with a standardized information sheet written in plain language, which shall include, but is not limited to, the indication for the use of the hormonal contraceptive, the importance of follow-up care, and health care referral information.
VI. The board shall adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, relative to:
(a) Education and training required under paragraph IV.
(b) Content and format of the information sheet required under paragraph V, in consultation with the commissioner of the department of health and human services.
(c) A model statewide protocol, with the consent of the board of medicine, the board of nursing, and the department of health and human services to be used for the purposes of paragraph I.
(d) Other matters necessary to the proper administration of this section.
VII. The board of medicine shall not deny, revoke, suspend, or otherwise take disciplinary action against a physician based on a pharmacist's failure to follow standing orders provided the provisions of this section and the rules adopted under this section are satisfied. The board of nursing shall not deny, revoke, suspend, or otherwise take disciplinary action against an APRN based on a pharmacist's failure to follow standing orders provided the provisions of this section and the rules adopted under this section are satisfied. The board of pharmacy shall not deny, revoke, suspend, or otherwise take disciplinary action against a pharmacist who follows standing orders based on a defect in those standing orders provided the provisions of this section and the rules adopted under this section are satisfied.