Senator Brad Farrin from Somerset County has proposed legislation, LD 239, aimed at improving access to prescription medications in rural Maine communities by allowing pharmacies to set up remote dispensaries. The proposal would allow pharmacists to oversee the distribution of prescription drugs without being physically present. This comes as Maine has seen a decline in the number of pharmacies, especially in rural areas, leading to a lack of access to essential medications.
The Maine Medical Association supports the bill, citing a 10% closure rate of pharmacies in Maine over the past decade, with a steeper decline in rural areas like Washington County. The proposal would address the need for access to acute medications, such as antibiotics, which are not easily accessible in rural communities.
The remote dispensing sites would be overseen by licensed pharmacists, who would still be responsible for labeling and dispensing prescriptions, but could do so remotely. The Board of Pharmacy would establish rules for these sites, including minimum staffing levels and locations based on a proven lack of access to retail pharmacies.
While the Maine Pharmacy Association and Maine Society of Health System Pharmacists did not take a stance on the bill, they suggested utilizing the existing Rural Health Center Pharmacy license for dispensing medications in rural areas. Jonathan Busko, an EMS and emergency medicine physician, emphasized the need for regulations regarding remote dispensing site pharmacies to improve access to pharmaceuticals in rural communities.
Overall, the proposal aims to address the critical need for improving access to prescription medicines in rural areas while maintaining patient safety and compliance with state and federal pharmacy regulations. Further developments on the bill will depend on the rules set by the Board of Pharmacy.
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