SB 22-173

Senate Bill 22-173 in Colorado removes restrictions on telepharmacies, allowing them to operate without needing to be located more than 20 miles from the nearest pharmacy. This bill also requires telepharmacies to register as prescription drug outlets and be situated in areas identified as having a need for such services by health or pharmacy authorities. It ensures that each telepharmacy has a pharmacist manager who oversees its operations either directly or remotely. Since the bill has been signed, these changes are now law, meaning more telepharmacies can open in underserved areas to provide better access to prescription medications.

Official Summary

The act removes telepharmacies from the definition of "other outlet" under current law and removes the geographic restriction requiring that a telepharmacy outlet be located more than 20 miles from the nearest prescription drug outlet or another telepharmacy. The act requires telepharmacies to be registered as "prescription drug outlets", instead of other outlets, and to be located in an area of need. An "area of need" is any health facility licensed or certified by the department of public health and environment or any area where a demonstration of need is approved by the state board of pharmacy (board). A telepharmacy outlet must have a pharmacist manager and must be under the direct charge or control of the pharmacist manager or licensed pharmacist delegate who provides remote supervision to the telepharmacy outlet. The act authorizes the board to adopt limited rules to specify additional enumerated criteria to facilitate the operation of telepharmacy outlets, including, in part, the number of telepharmacy outlets that may be operated by a central pharmacy. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

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