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Recent Ohio Board of Pharmacy Guidance for MedSpas and IV Therapy Clinics

Client Alert

Compliance is vital when operating a MedSpa that holds a Terminal Distributor of Dangerous Drugs (“TDDD”) license or an IV Therapy Clinic. The Ohio Board of Pharmacy (“BOP”) regularly conducts inspections to confirm compliance, and has recently released guidance regarding MedSpas, IV Therapy Clinics, and TDDD licenses. Understanding BOP guidance and implementing appropriate changes can help ensure that your practice is ready for a potential BOP inspection. The following gives insight into the recent BOP guidance.

GLP-1 Guidance:

  • Currently, compounding copies of Tirzepatide and Semaglutide is prohibited.  
  • Retatrutide and Cagrilintide are not permitted to be used in compounding and are not components of any FDA-approved drugs. The BOP states that “all inventory containing Retatrutide or Cagrilintide must be disposed of immediately.”  
  • If a drug is commercially available, it cannot be copied through compounding. There is an exception if the drug is not commercially available, or if the compounded drug “includes a change, made for an identified individual patient, which produces for that patient a significant difference, as determined by the prescribing practitioner, between the compounded drug and the commercially available product.” The asserted change must be sufficiently documented on the prescription or order.

Compounded Drug Guidance:

  • Prescribers must inspect and approve the compounding process.
  • Using protocols or standing orders for the recommendation, compounding, and administration of IV medication is not authorized.
  • Compounded drug preparation must be appropriately labeled, and should list patient identification information, the name and quantity of each ingredient, the date and time prepared, the beyond use date, and the name and initials of the person who prepared the compounded drug preparation.
  • Compounded drug preparation that is not used by the beyond use date cannot be administered to patients and must be appropriately disposed.
  • Needles used for compounding should never be used for patient administration.

TDDD License Guidance:  

  • In general, practices engaged in drug compounding are required to have a valid and current TDDD license.
  • Before purchasing dangerous drugs, a terminal distributor must verify that a drug wholesaler is licensed to engage in the sale of dangerous drugs in accordance with ORC 4729.52, or that the seller is licensed to engage in the occasional sale or distribution of dangerous drugs at wholesale in accordance with OAC Rule 4729:5-3-09.  
  • Any change in the ownership, business or trade name, category, or address of a TDDD requires a new application, required fee, and license. The new application and required fee must be submitted within thirty days of any change in the ownership, business or trade name, category, or address.
  • Records of dangerous drug administration must be maintained for at least three years from the date of last administration.   
  • Controlled substances must be stored in a securely locked, substantially constructed cabinet or safe. The cabinet or safe cannot be in an area readily accessible to the public, must remain locked and secured when not in use, and must be stored in an area with a physical barrier and suitable locks during non-business hours. The method of accessing the cabinet or safe should prevent unauthorized access.  

To learn more about MedSpa, IV Therapy Clinic, and TDDD license compliance, please contact BMD Member Jeana Singleton at jmsingleton@bmdllc.com or 330-253-2001.


The Second Wave of UnitedHealthcare's Prior Authorization Cuts Started in November

In August 2023, UnitedHealthcare released its plan to eliminate roughly one-fifth of its then-current prior authorization requirements. The first round of prior authorization cuts took effect on September 1, 2023. In that round, UnitedHealthcare eliminated the necessity for some prior authorizations for UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage, UnitedHealthcare commercial, UnitedHealthcare Oxford and UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange plan members. The second and final round of prior authorization cuts began on November 1, 2023. The November 2023 Prior Authorization Cuts apply to the same plans as well as community plans (i.e., Medicaid managed care plans).

Legal Uncertainties Remain Following Passage of Issue 1 in Ohio

In the November 2023 General Election, Ohio voters passed Issue 1 which, among other things, “[e]stablish[es] in the Constitution of the State of Ohio an individual right to one’s own reproductive medical treatment, including but not limited to abortion”. Despite passage of Issue 1, questions persist about how its codification on December 7 affects previously passed legislation restricting abortion and related pending court cases.

NLRB Issues Final Rule on Joint-Employer Status

On October 26, 2023, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued its final rule on determining joint-employer status, departing from its prior 2020 standard. The final rule provides that two or more entities may be considered “joint employers” if each entity has an employment relationship with employees and if the entities share or codetermine one or more employees’ essential terms and conditions of employment. The final rule goes into effect on December 26, 2023, and will only be applied to cases filed after the effective date.

WEBINAR SERIES RECAP | Employment & Labor

BMD Partner and Co-Chair of the Employment & Labor Law Group, Bryan Meek, presented this four-part webinar series on trending topics in employment law.

Ohio Legalizes Recreational Marijuana; What’s Next for Ohio Employers?