Section 657.18.5. Patient notification and authorization.

       18.5(1) Prior notification and authorization. A pharmacy that outsources prescription drug order filling or prescription drug order processing to another pharmacy shall, prior to outsourcing a patient’s prescription:

        a.           Notify the patient or the patient’s agent that prescription filling or processing may be outsourced to another pharmacy.

        b.           Provide the name of the pharmacy that will be filling or processing the prescription or, if the pharmacy is part of a network of pharmacies under common ownership and any of the network pharmacies may fill or process the prescription, the patient shall be notified of this fact. Notification shall be provided through a notice to the patient or the patient’s agent by means of a sign prominently displayed in the originating pharmacy and through written notice provided to the patient or the patient’s agent prior to implementation of the program or upon commencement of services to a new patient, as applicable.

        c.           If a patient provides the originating pharmacy with notification that the patient no longer authorizes the originating pharmacy to outsource the patient’s prescription drug orders, the originating pharmacy shall discontinue outsourcing the filling or processing of the patient’s prescription drug orders.

       18.5(2) Exception. The provisions of this rule do not apply to a patient in a facility, such as a hospital or long-term care facility, where Iowa law requires that drugs be administered to the patient by a health care professional.