Physician Dispensing Allowed:
Yes
Overview/Guidelines:
No prescriber shall dispense drugs to patients in his or her office or place of practice unless all of the following conditions are met: (a) The dangerous drugs are dispensed to the prescriber’s own patient, and the drugs are not furnished by a nurse or physician attendant; (b) the dangerous drugs are necessary in the treatment of the condition for which the prescriber is attending the patient; (c) the prescriber does not keep a pharmacy, open shop, or drugstore, advertised or otherwise, for the retailing of dangerous drugs, dangerous devices, or poisons; (d) the prescriber fulfills all of the labeling requirements imposed upon pharmacists, all of the recordkeeping requirements, and all of the packaging requirements of good pharmaceutical practice, including the use of childproof containers; (e) the prescriber does not use a dispensing device unless he or she personally owns the device and the contents of the device, and personally dispenses the dangerous drugs or dangerous devices to the patient packaged, labeled, and recorded in accordance with the law; (f) the prescriber, prior to dispensing, offers to give a written prescription to the patient that the patient may elect to have filled by the prescriber or by any pharmacy; and (g) the prescriber provides the patient with written disclosure that the patient has a choice between obtaining the prescription from the dispensing prescriber or obtaining the prescription at a pharmacy of the patient’s choice.
No prescriber shall dispense drugs to patients in his or her office or place of practice unless all of the following conditions are met: (a) The dangerous drugs are dispensed to the prescriber’s own patient, and the drugs are not furnished by a nurse or physician attendant; (b) the dangerous drugs are necessary in the treatment of the condition for which the prescriber is attending the patient; (c) the prescriber does not keep a pharmacy, open shop, or drugstore, advertised or otherwise, for the retailing of dangerous drugs, dangerous devices, or poisons; (d) the prescriber fulfills all of the labeling requirements imposed upon pharmacists, all of the recordkeeping requirements, and all of the packaging requirements of good pharmaceutical practice, including the use of childproof containers; (e) the prescriber does not use a dispensing device unless he or she personally owns the device and the contents of the device, and personally dispenses the dangerous drugs or dangerous devices to the patient packaged, labeled, and recorded in accordance with the law; (f) the prescriber, prior to dispensing, offers to give a written prescription to the patient that the patient may elect to have filled by the prescriber or by any pharmacy; and (g) the prescriber provides the patient with written disclosure that the patient has a choice between obtaining the prescription from the dispensing prescriber or obtaining the prescription at a pharmacy of the patient’s choice.
Required Documentation:
No dispensing license or registration is required.
Useful Links:
- California Business & Professional Code: Prescriber Dispensing
- California State Board of Pharmacy Website
Mailing Address:
Medical Board of California
2005 Evergreen Street, Suite 1200
Sacramento, CA 95816
Phone: (916) 263-2389
Fax: (916) 263-2387