Florida Board of Pharmacy | The Health Law Firm Blog

Florida Department of Health (DOH) Shuts Down Boca Raton Compounding Pharmacy

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

On October 26, 2012, the Florida Department of Health (DOH) issued an emergency suspension order (ESO) against a Boca Raton compounding pharmacy, according to a number of sources. The DOH in a press release called the conditions in the pharmacy so “deplorable” that nothing short of immediately shutting down the pharmacy would suffice.

Click here to read the press release from the DOH.

State Inspector Finds Feces, Bugs and Much More in Compounding Pharmacy.

On October 12, 2012, a state inspector arrived at the Boca Raton compounding pharmacy for an […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:07-04:00May 15, 2018|Compounding pharmacy, Department of Health, Florida Board of Pharmacy, Legal Defense for Pharmacists, Pharmacist, Pharmacy|

Pharmacies May be Liable for Filling Valid Prescriptions

By Lance O. Leider, J.D.

Florida pharmacies have had their potential liability significantly expanded by the Fifth District Court of Appeal. In its recent decision, Oleckna v. Daytona Discount Pharmacy, the appellate court held that a pharmacy owes a duty to its patients that go beyond following the prescribing physician’s directions and properly dispensing the medication.

The court defined the pharmacy’s duty to use due care in filling a prescription to mean more than what it called “robotic compliance” with the instructions of the prescribing physician.

From the court’s decision and some others from around the state it would seem that Florida pharmacists are now under an obligation to […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:41-04:00May 15, 2018|Florida Board of Pharmacy, Florida Legislature, Legal Defense for Pharmacists, Pharmacist, Pharmacy, Pharmacy Law|

Phony Pharmacist Gets Prison Time for Working at Pharmacies in Central Florida

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

On November 2, 2012, a former Altamonte Springs resident was sentenced to three and a half years in federal prison for fraudulently working as a Central Florida pharmacist from 2000 to 2009, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Click here to read the press release from the DOJ.

I previously blogged about this story when the fake pharmacist pleaded guilty. Click here to read that blog.

Man Allegedly Worked at a CVS and Walgreens in Central Florida.

According to an article in the Orlando Sentinel, the man worked at pharmacies […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:08-04:00May 15, 2018|Department of Health, Florida Board of Pharmacy, Legal Defense for Pharmacists, Pharmacist, Pharmacy, Pharmacy Law|

The 25 Biggest Mistakes Pharmacists Make After Being Notified of a Department of Health Complaint

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

The investigation of a complaint which could lead to the revocation of a pharmacist’s license to practice and the assessment of tens of thousands of dollars in fines, usually starts with a simple letter from the Department of Health (DOH). This is a very serious legal matter and it should be treated as such by the pharmacist who receives it. Yet, in many cases, attorneys are consulted by pharmacists after the entire investigation is over, and they have attempted to represent themselves throughout the case. Often, the mistakes that have been made […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:09-04:00May 15, 2018|Florida Board of Pharmacy, Legal Defense for Pharmacists, Pharmacist, Pharmacy Law|

Terrible Things That Can Happen after Discipline on Your Pharmacist License or Resignation of a Pharmacist License after Notice of Investigation

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

Do you have a pharmacist license in several different states? Do you have a license in more than one health profession? Have you been notified that an investigation has been opened against you? Are you thinking about resigning your pharmacist license or voluntarily relinquishing such a license? Then you must be aware of the following.

First, you should never voluntarily relinquish or resign your license after you know that an investigation has been opened or that disciplinary action has been taken against you. Such a resignation is considered to be a “disciplinary relinquishment” and is […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:13-04:00May 15, 2018|Florida Board of Pharmacy, Pharmacist, Pharmacy, Pharmacy Law|

New Permit Law for Florida Pharmacies that Compound Sterile Products

Lance O. Leider, J.D., The Health Law Firm and George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

The Florida Board of Pharmacy announced a new law which will be required for pharmacies that compound sterile products. Effective September 23, 2013, Rule 64B16-28.100(8), Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.), requires most pharmacies that engage in the preparation of sterile compounded products in Florida to obtain a Special Sterile Compounding Permit. Pharmacies compounding sterile products under their current pharmacy permit may continue to do so, but must obtain the new Special Sterile Compounding Permit on or before March 21, 2014.

Click here […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:15-04:00May 15, 2018|Compounding pharmacy, Florida Board of Pharmacy, Pharmacy, Pharmacy Law|

Drug Quality and Security Act Boosts FDA Regulations Over Compounding Pharmacies

By Lance O. Leider, J.D., The Health Law Firm

On November 18, 2013, the United States Senate voted to increase federal oversight of compounding pharmacies that produce large volumes of mixed drugs. This bill comes in the wake of last year’s meningitis outbreak stemming from unsanitary conditions at the New England Compounding Center (NECC). Click here to read a previous blog on the meningitis outbreak.

This bill does not give the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) absolute authority over compounders, but creates significant safeguards.

This particular piece of legislation passed the House of Representatives in September of 2013, passed in the Senate in November 2013, and President Obama […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:15-04:00May 15, 2018|Compounding pharmacy, Florida Board of Pharmacy, Pharmacy Law|

Compounding Pharmacies Urged to Sign Up for U.S. Food and Drug Administration Oversight

By Lance O. Leider, J.D., The Health Law Firm

It is estimated there are 3,000 compounding pharmacies in the United States, 14 of which have signed up to be regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the Drug Quality and Security Act. On January 8, 2014, the commissioner of the FDA sent thousands of letters to hospitals and other medical providers that may buy medicines from the compounding pharmacies. The letters urged providers to encourage compounding pharmacies to register as producers of sterile drugs in an effort to protect the public. The letters also mentioned last year’s meningitis outbreak stemming from unsanitary conditions at the New England […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:15-04:00May 15, 2018|Compounding pharmacy, Florida Board of Pharmacy, Pharmacy|

Florida Board of Pharmacy Updates Record Retention Rules for Pharmacies

By Lance O. Leider, J.D., The Health Law Firm

At its meeting held on February 12, 2014, the Florida Board of Pharmacy voted to approve language changes to a number of rules. Specifically, those changes were put into effect to establish a uniform four-year retention policy for pharmacy records.

Previously the Board’s rules were not consistent with respect to how long pharmacies were required to retain different types of records.

When approving new rules or changes to existing rules, administrative bodies are required to evaluate the regulatory costs of the changes. In examining these costs the Board found that any financial costs imposed upon small businesses would be balanced by the efficiencies […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:16-04:00May 15, 2018|Florida Board of Pharmacy, Pharmacist, Pharmacy, Pharmacy Law|

Out-of-State Compounding Pharmacies May Need a Permit To Do Business in Florida

By Lance O. Leider, J.D., The Health Law Firm

Beginning on October 1, 2014, out-of-state compounding pharmacies may be required to hold a compounded sterile product permit. That’s because the Regulated Industries Committee of the Florida Senate voted on March 13, 2014, to approve a bill increasing the restrictions on out-of-state compounding pharmacies that ship medications into Florida. These increased regulations would apply to around 300 compounding pharmacies shipping medicine to Florida.

The bill was introduced to increase standards for compounding pharmacies that create medications that are tailored to the needs of individual patients. Currently the bill is out for reference review. Considering that this is a hot issue in Florida […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:16-04:00May 15, 2018|Compounding pharmacy, Florida Board of Pharmacy, Pharmacy, Pharmacy Law|