Pharmacy

The Rhode Island General Assembly made changes to the pharmacy statutes during the 2023 legislative session, and some of the changes are related to licensing for pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacy interns. The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) will implement the licensing related changes with the 2024 license renewal cycle. Following is a summary of the licensing-related changes for each license type.

Pharmacists

• Any pharmacist license issued or renewed during the 2024 renewal cycle and beyond will be valid for two years. So that RIDOH’s licensing cycle can sync with State law, all renewals will be valid through December 31, 2026 (30 months), and the licensing renewal fee will be $280.
• After 2024, the pharmacist license renewal fee will be $250, and licenses will expire on December 31 of even years.
• Pharmacists must continue to complete 15 hours of continuing education each calendar year (January 1 to December 31) in compliance with the regulations for Pharmacists, Pharmacies, and Manufacturers, Wholesalers, and Distributors (Section 1.4.17).

Pharmacy Technicians

• Any pharmacy technician license issued or renewed during the 2024 renewal cycle and beyond will be valid for two years. So that RIDOH’s licensing schedule can sync with State law, all renewals will be valid through December 31, 2026 (30 months).
• The licensing renewal fee for pharmacy technicians will not change ($25), and licenses will expire on December 31 of even years.
• Pharmacy Technicians II must continue to complete 10 hours of continuing education each calendar year (January 1 to December 31) in compliance with the regulations for Pharmacists, Pharmacies, and Manufacturers, Wholesalers, and Distributors (Section 1.12.1(J)).

Pharmacy Interns

• To sync with State law, for five years, as long as the intern is an actively matriculating pharmacy student. It is the responsibility of the pharmacy intern and/or the college of pharmacy to inform RIDOH of any changes in a pharmacy student’s status.
• The pharmacy intern licensing fee is $70.

General Licensing Information

• If you have never been licensed, apply. Make sure that you have completed the requirements and submit all the necessary paperwork.
• If you are licensed in another state you must take the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE) for Rhode Island as administered by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy and apply for a license for pharmacists new to Rhode Island. Use this study guide list for the MPJE as a helpful resource. more
• Rhode Island will no longer report exam score result information for the MPJE or NAPLEX examinations to candidates applying for a license in the State. Scores will be available to candidates via the on-line portal of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) website.

Continuing Education/Training

• All immunizing pharmacists must complete one hour of training about immunizations each year to renew their license. Pharmacists, except for those who graduated in the past year, must complete at least fifteen hours (1.5 continuing education units) of continuing education courses sponsored by a recognized provider, annually. At least five hours of those hours must be in a classroom setting. Pharmacists must sign affidavits attesting to the completion of these requirements as part of the license renewal.
• Certificates of continuing education courses must be retained and safeguarded by each pharmacist for review by the Department, if requested, for two years following the date of completion of the course.
• In emergency or hardship cases, a licensed pharmacist may apply to the State Pharmacy Board for an exemption from these requirements.

Screen all patients and caregivers.

• Check a patient’s electronic health record (EHR) and ask the patient about previous naloxone use.
• Check Rhode Island’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) for clinical alerts and evidence of high-dose opioids (i.e., more than 50 oral Morphine Milligram Equivalents (MMEs) per day), long-acting opioid use, or opioid use for longer than 90 days.
• Screen all patients for a history or diagnosis of Substance Use Disorder (SUD), Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), mental health conditions, respiratory or neurologic conditions that affect breathing, harmful use or misuse of opioids, and/or opioid overdose.
• Screen patients for use of Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) to treat OUD.
• Screen all patients to identify use of opioids in combination with benzodiazepines, alcohol, anti-depressants, and/or sedatives.

Educate yourself, patients, and staff.

• Ask caregivers if they feel comfortable administering naloxone during an overdose in case a friend or loved one is experiencing a bad reaction to an opioid.
• Tell patients who are taking opioids about the potential for bad reactions that make breathing slow down or stop, leading to an overdose.
• Emphasize to patients that naloxone is an antidote and can save a life, just like a seatbelt or fire extinguisher.
• Tell patients and caregivers about what to expect after giving someone naloxone.
• Include a conversation about the importance of having naloxone on-hand as a standard part of opioid safety messages.
• Ensure all office staff know where to locate and how to use naloxone in case of an overdose.
• Review the signs and symptoms of opioid overdose and the legal protections under Rhode Island’s Good Samaritan Law.
• Sign and display these pledges on opioid safety.
• Print, hang, and distribute educational materials about naloxone.

Promote increased access to naloxone.

• Join the US Surgeon General and be a role model. Purchase and carry naloxone. Incorporate naloxone co-prescribing in EHRs, office protocols, and electronic prescribing systems.
• Co-prescribe naloxone to patients who are currently being prescribed syringes and needles.
• Stock naloxone in the office for emergency use and for direct dispensing to patients.
• Remind patients and staff that pharmacists can dispense naloxone and bill insurance companies without a prescription from a healthcare provider.
• If cost is a barrier for patients, help them enroll in a health insurance plan.

Register with the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) . Check the PDMP each time you dispense/prescribe a controlled substance to help prevent fraudulent prescriptions from being filled. This will also help identify suspected pharmacy/doctor "shopping." More

Contact us for PDMP support.

• Retail Pharmacies must report Schedule II, III, IV and V controlled substance prescriptions dispensed to patients, including veterinary patients, to the PDMP within one business day.
• Institutional Pharmacies must report Schedule II, III, and IV controlled substance prescriptions dispensed to patients only on an outpatient basis.
• Non-Resident Pharmacies must report Schedule II, III, and IV controlled substance prescriptions dispensed, mailed or otherwise sent to patients, including veterinary patients, to the PDMP .