1. (1) Definitions

   1. (a) "Remote pharmacy work" means performing the practice of pharmacy while not physically located within a permitted pharmacy or facility
   2. (b) "Physical acts in the dispensing process" means the storing, packaging, and/or labeling of prescription drugs

2. (2) General Requirements

   1. (a) Remote pharmacy work may be performed by a pharmacist who is an employee of one of the following:

      1. 1. A pharmacy or facility permitted by the Alabama Board of Pharmacy;
      2. 2. A facility regulated by the Alabama Department of Public Health;
      3. 3. A facility regulated by the Alabama Department of Insurance; or
      4. 4. A physician's office

   2. (b) Pharmacists are allowed to perform remote pharmacy work in a location, with the United States, that is equipped with secure access to the above entity's information system, provided:

      1. 1. The pharmacy or facility shall provide the remote pharmacist with a desktop/laptop computer and the hardware/software needed to ensure a secure network.
      2. 2. Hardware/software - the computer should be directly connected to a router and/or a software platform that provides security monitoring and firewalls to ensure a secure network.
      3. 3. User ID - each user receives a unique user ID and should establish a complex password for identification and audit tracking
      4. 4. Lock out process - If no activity is detected, the system should automatically sign off the user until they go through the sign-on process to re-establish connection
   3. (c) Remote pharmacists shall establish controls to protect the confidentiality and integrity of protected health information by complying with both the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act
   4. (d) Remote pharmacists shall ensure that they are able to perform at the same level of competence, attention, and proficiency as if they were physically present in the above entity and comply with all applicable state and federal laws, rules, and regulations.
   5. (e) If a pharmacist is no longer an employee of the entity as listed in subsection 2(a), he/she shall no longer have access to the entity's information system or be able to perform remote pharmacy work for that employer.

3. (3) Prohibited Activities

   1. (a) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to authorize dispensing of a prescription from a location outside of or other than a permitted pharmacy with the exception of immunizations.
   2. (b) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to authorize a pharmacist to perform physical acts in the dispensing process from a location outside of or other than a permitted pharmacy.
   3. (c) Nothing in this subsection permits hard copy prescriptions to be received outside of the premises of a permitted pharmacy.
   4. (d) No part of the facility's database may be physically or electronically duplicated, downloaded, transferred, or removed from the electronic database.
   5. (e) Nothing in this subsection shall permit a pharmacist to perform remote pharmacy work for more than one location of a permitted pharmacy, facility, or entity without prior compliance with Board Rule 680-X-2-.39.

Author: Alabama State Board of Pharmacy

Statutory Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §34-23-30.

History: New Rule: Published September 29, 2023, effective November 13, 2023. Amended: Published September 30, 2025; effective November 14, 2025.