Section 657.18.2. Definitions.

For the purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply:

“Central fill pharmacy” means a pharmacy contracting with an originating pharmacy, or having the same owner as an originating pharmacy, that provides centralized prescription drug order filling on behalf of the originating pharmacy pursuant to these rules.

“Centralized prescription drug order filling”  or “centralized filling”  means the filling of a prescription drug order by a pharmacy on behalf of another pharmacy. “Centralized filling” does not include the processing or dispensing of a prescription drug order but may include any of the following filling functions:

            1.      Receiving prescription drug orders from the originating pharmacy;

            2.      Interpreting or clarifying prescription drug orders;

            3.      Entering prescription drug order information into a pharmacy’s prescription record system;

            4.      Selecting, counting, and placing the prescribed drug into an appropriate prescription container;

            5.      Affixing the prescription label, including any auxiliary labels, to the prescription container;

            6.      Obtaining refill and substitution authorizations;

            7.      Verifying all filling processes performed by the central fill pharmacy.

“Centralized prescription drug order processing”  or “centralized processing”  means the processing of a prescription drug order by a pharmacy on behalf of another pharmacy. “Centralized processing” does not include the filling or dispensing of a prescription drug order but may include any of the following processing functions:

            1.      Interpreting or clarifying prescription drug orders;

            2.      Entering prescription drug order information into a pharmacy’s prescription record system;

            3.      Interpreting clinical data for prior authorization for dispensing;

            4.      Performing formulary-directed therapeutic interchange.

“Central processing pharmacy” means a pharmacy contracting with an originating pharmacy, or having the same owner as an originating pharmacy, that provides centralized prescription drug order processing on behalf of the originating pharmacy pursuant to these rules.

“DEA” means the U.S. Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration.

“Dispense” means the delivery of a prescription drug or device to an ultimate user or the ultimate user’s agent by or pursuant to the lawful order of a practitioner. “Dispense” includes:

            1.      Receiving the prescription drug order from the patient, the patient’s agent, or the prescriber;

            2.      Delivering the filled prescription to the patient or the patient’s agent;

            3.      Providing drug information concerning a patient’s drug therapy;

            4.      Providing patient counseling;

            5.      Providing medication therapy management.

“Hospital” means a facility licensed pursuant to Iowa Code chapter 135B.

“Hospital pharmacy” means and includes a pharmacy licensed by the board and located within any hospital, health system, institution, or establishment which maintains and operates organized facilities for the diagnosis, care, and treatment of human illnesses to which persons may or may not be admitted for overnight stay at the facility.

“Mail order pharmacy” means a pharmacy located within a United States jurisdiction whose primary business is to dispense a prescription drug or device pursuant to a valid prescription drug order and to deliver the drug or device to a patient, including a patient in this state, via the United States Postal Service, a common carrier, or a delivery service. “Mail order pharmacy” includes a pharmacy that does business via the Internet or other electronic media.

“Medication therapy management” means the review of drug therapy regimens of a patient by a pharmacist for the purpose of evaluating and rendering advice to a practitioner, or for the purpose of evaluating and modifying the drug regimen in accordance with a collaborative drug therapy management protocol pursuant to rule 657—8.34(155A).

“Originating pharmacy” means a pharmacy that receives a prescription drug order from a patient, the patient’s agent, or a prescriber, outsources prescription filling or processing functions to another pharmacy, and ultimately dispenses the prescription drug or device to the patient or the patient’s agent.