In an emergency rule issued on March 1, 2016, the Missouri State Board of Pharmacy amended its regulations to allow Missouri pharmacies to dispense prescriptions based on a "valid medical evaluation," including a telehealth evaluation. The previous regulations prohibited a pharmacist from filling a prescription if the prescription was written without a physical, in-person examination of the patient. Specifically, the emergency rule: (i) removes the language in the current regulation requiring a "sufficient physical examination and clinical assessment of the patient" before a pharmacist can dispense a prescription; and (ii) eliminates the prohibition on dispensing prescriptions based on an "Internet-based questionnaire, an Internet-based consultation, or a telephonic consultation." Missouri SB579, however, described above, expressly prohibits health care providers from prescribing drugs or other treatment to a patient based solely on an internet request or an internet questionnaire.
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