Board Meetings will continue to take place at their current location within Penn Center (2601 N 3rd St) until further notice.
On Thursday June 22, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) published a final rule, amending the regulations regarding DEA Form 106. Learn more.
Coronavirus Information
DA - Temporary Policy Regarding Non-Standard PPE Practices for Sterile Compounding
Learn more about the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
Information for telemedicine during the coronavirus emergency.
Message from DEA regarding COVID-19 (PDF)
Targeted Distribution of PPE
On April 8, 2020, Governor Wolf Signed an order to provide targeted distribution of COVID-19 PPE and supplies to hospitals. The order requires private, public and quasi-public health care providers and facilities submit current inventory quantities of PPE, pharmaceuticals and other medical resources to PEMA by April 16, 2020. The survey link can be accessed hereOpens In A New Window.
Additionally, a FAQ regarding this topic can be found here..
State Board of Pharmacy
The Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs (BPOA) received reports that persons pretending to be from one of the health-related boards are contacting both active and inactive licensees. The scammers are altering the information that appears on caller ID to show the State Board phone number and name (spoofing). The scammers are known to be aggressively accusing licensees of drug trafficking and/or money laundering and sending emails and text messages indicated the license has been suspended. In addition, the scammers are sending facsimiles to licensees on forged letterhead, originating from a fake phone number.
BPOA reminds licensees and applicants of the following:
· We will NOT text, call or fax you a suspension notification. The Department initiates disciplinary action through an administrative process. If you are the subject of an investigation or disciplinary action, you will receive notice by certified mail and/or personal service.
· We will NOT engage you in a 3-way call with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
· We will NOT ask you to receive faxes from a specific retailer for a fee.
· Do NOT give your personal or financial information over the phone, by text message or fax, including your zip code.
· We will NEVER request payment for any service or civil penalty by wire, gift cards or transfer to a foreign country.
· We WILL provide you with a contact name and phone number if you are the subject of an investigation or disciplinary action.
· CONTACT the Board office if you are not sure if a communication pertaining to your licensure status is legitimate.
· CONTACT your local police department or the Pennsylvania State Police if you believe you have been the victim of a scam.
· REPORT any email or online scam attempts to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) Internet Crime Complaint Center(IC3) | Home Page
Announcement for Pharmacist License Applicants
At the June 28, 2018
Pennsylvania State Board of Pharmacy (Board) Meeting, the Board voted to waive
the requirement that Pharm.D. graduates of schools of pharmacy accredited by
the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) earn at least 500
intern hours outside of their academic program. This means that the 1,500
intern hours required for licensure as a pharmacist may be earned through an
ACPE-accredited school of pharmacy’s Pharm.D. program and these graduates are
no longer required to earn 500 intern hours outside of the school’s academic
program.
United States Pharmacopoeia (USP) (Rev. 12/19)
At the October 22, 2019 Pennsylvania State Board of Pharmacy (Board) Meeting, the Board discussed issues related to USP’s decision to delay implementation of the revisions to chapters 795 and 797 pending resolution of appeals. The following decisions were approved by the Board and placed on record:
- The Board is enforcing USP 795 and 797 as currently written. Board Regulation Section 27.601 was finalized on June 22, 2019 and requires compliance with section 503a of the federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, federal regulations promulgated thereunder and the current version of the USP chapters governing compounding.
- The Board is delaying the enforcement of USP 800 until the appeals of certain provisions of the revised USP 795 and 797 are resolved. While enforcement of USP 800 is being delayed, pharmacies should do their best to comply with the requirements of USP 800, including the sections related to the handling of hazardous medications, as these requirements will be enforced at some time in the future, dependent on resolution of the appeals of the revised USP 795 and 797.
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The Board voted to adopt the following position and will be amending its regulations to reflect this information:
The definition of "compounding" does not include the unencumbered flavoring of conventionally manufactured medications provided that the flavors used are inert, tested and do not alter a medication’s concentration beyond USP’s accepted level of variance.
Note: Please refer to the following links for additional information on USP 800 and its scope (i.e. it would be applicable only when a practitioner is engaged in compounding):
https://www.usp.org/sites/default/files/usp/document/our-work/compounding/usp-800-context-for-implementation-fs.pdf
https://www.usp.org/sites/default/files/usp/document/our-work/compounding/faqs-usp-800.pdf
Please note that neither the Board/Commission, nor its staff or counsel, are permitted to provide legal advice or advisory opinions, including interpretations of the law or regulations, or any indication as to how the Board would vote on any given case or scenario. You are invited to contact a private attorney or professional organization for advice or guidance.