Compliance Packaging
Effective Dec 6, 2024Mass. Register #1536MGL c. 94C, §§ 6, 19B, 19C MGL c. 112, § 30 MGL c. 112, § 42ABoard of Registration in Pharmacy
(1) A pharmacy or pharmacist may utilize compliance packaging, including oral-liquid-single-dose packaging, single-drug-single-dose packaging, and multi-drug-single-dose packaging provided the following requirements are met:
- (a) The pharmacy designates a space that allows for the orderly placement of equipment, materials, and medications, for the proper preparation of the compliance packaging, and for the prevention of cross contamination.
- (b) The pharmacy maintains policies and procedures pertaining to each type of compliance packaging utilized that include cleaning, labeling, dispensing, proper hand hygiene, quarantine, and reverse distribution.
- (c) The compliance packaging does not conflict with the USP-DI monograph or FDA-approved labeling.
- (d) The medications are compatible with packaging components and with each other.
- (e) The compliance packaging is designed to prevent the container from being re-closed, to show evidence of having been opened, and in such a manner that the label cannot be altered or removed.
- (f) A licensee may not place a quantity of drugs in compliance packaging that exceeds the capacity of the container or that may cause damage to the individual dosage forms.
- (g) The compliance packaging must adhere to USP requirements for containers and packaging.
- (h) A licensee may not place more than one commercially available medication into an oral-liquid-single-dose package unless compounded pursuant to a prescription.
(2) Single-drug-single-dose Packaging.
- (a) A pharmacy or pharmacist may utilize single-drug-single-dose packaging for solid oral dosage forms.
- (b) If a pharmacy or pharmacist places a medication in a single-drug-single-dose package prior to the receipt of a patient specific prescription, the pharmacy and pharmacist shall properly label the package and utilize a bar-code scanning or similar technology to ensure proper identification of the pre-packaged medication at the time of dispensing.
(3) Multi-drug-single-dose Packaging. A pharmacy or pharmacist may utilize multi-drug-single-dose packaging for solid oral dosage forms provided the following requirements are met:
- (a) A licensee may not dispense more than a 60-day supply of medication in a multi-drug-single-dose package.
- (b) A licensee may not dispense Schedules II or III controlled substances in a multi-drug-single-dose package.
- (c) A licensee may not dispense medications to be taken on an as needed basis in a multi-drug-single-dose package.
(4) Return and Repackaging of Multi-drug-single-dose Packaging.
(a) A pharmacy or pharmacist may accept a return of a multi-drug-single-dose package that the pharmacy previously dispensed for the purpose of repackaging and re-dispensing to that same patient.
- 1. If a patient's medication was discontinued, a pharmacy may remove the discontinued drug(s) from the multi-drug-single-dose package and re-dispense the remaining medications in the multi-drug-single-dose package to the same patient.
- 2. If a patient's drug therapy changed, a pharmacy may remove the discontinued drug(s) from the multi-drug-single-dose package(s) and may add a new medication(s) to the multi-drug-single-dose package and re-dispense the multi-drug-single-dose package to the same patient.
- 3. A pharmacy shall label the multi-drug-single-dose package in accordance with 247 CMR 9.08(5) prior to re-dispensing.
- 4. A pharmacy shall implement policies and procedures pertaining to security and accountability of controlled substances during return and repackaging.
- (b) A licensee may not return any medication removed from a multi-drug-single-dose package to inventory. A licensee may not dispense any medication removed from a multi-drug-single-dose package to any patient other than the patient who returned the multi-drug-single-dose package.
- (c) A pharmacy shall maintain a record that accounts for and documents any repackaging, removal, or re-dispensing of any medication it previously dispensed in a multi-drug-single-dose package. The record shall identify the pharmacist making the change.
(5) A licensee shall label each oral-liquid-single dose, single-drug-single-dose, and multi-drug-single-dose package with the following information:
- (a) information required by M.G.L. c. 94C, § 21 and USP for each medication in the package;
- (b) the name, strength, physical description, and total quantity of each drug dispensed;
- (c) the dispensing or preparation date;
- (d) a beyond-use date, which may not exceed the shortest expiration date on the original manufacturer's container or 60 days, for each drug contained in a multi-drug-single-dose package; and
- (e) the telephone number of the pharmacy.
- (6) If the compliance package has removable cells, a pharmacy shall label each cell with a label of sufficient size to properly and clearly label each cell with each drug name and strength.