Medical protocol standing order for dispensing of opioid antagonists by licensed pharmacists. Regulations

(a) A prescribing practitioner, as defined in section 20-14c, who is authorized to prescribe an opioid antagonist, as defined in section 17a-714a, and a pharmacy may enter into an agreement for a medical protocol standing order at such pharmacy allowing a pharmacist licensed under part II of this chapter to dispense an opioid antagonist that is (1) administered by an intranasal application delivery system or an auto-injection delivery system, (2) approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration, and (3) dispensed to any person at risk of experiencing an overdose of an opioid drug, as defined in section 20-14o, or to a family member, friend or other person in a position to assist a person at risk of experiencing an overdose of an opioid drug. (b) Any such medical protocol standing order shall be deemed issued for a legitimate medical purpose in the usual course of the prescribing practitioner's professional practice. The pharmacy shall provide the Department of Consumer Protection with a copy of every medical protocol standing order agreement entered into with a prescribing practitioner under this section. (c) A pharmacist may only dispense an opioid antagonist pursuant to a medical protocol standing order if the pharmacist has been trained and certified as part of a program approved by the Commissioner of Consumer Protection. (d) A pharmacist who dispenses an opioid antagonist pursuant to a medical protocol standing order shall (1) provide appropriate training regarding the administration of such opioid antagonist to the person to whom the opioid antagonist is dispensed, (2) maintain a record of such dispensing and the training required pursuant to this chapter, and (3) send a copy of the record of such dispensing to the prescribing practitioner who entered into an agreement for a medical protocol standing order with the pharmacy. (e) A pharmacist who dispenses an opioid antagonist in accordance with the provisions of this section shall be deemed not to have violated any standard of care for a pharmacist. (f) The commissioner may adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, to implement the provisions of this section.