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On May 12, 2017 the Ohio Pharmacy Board’s new Rules regulating Office-Based Opioid Treatment facilities became effective. Earlier this year Ohio passed Senate Bill 319, requiring all non-exempt physicians who treat more than thirty patients for opioid dependence or addiction with a controlled substance to register with the Pharmacy Board.

Additionally the new Rules require many treatment facilities to register with the Pharmacy Board. The Rules exempt larger institutions, including hospitals and clinical research centers, from the registration requirement.

Of Note:

• The owner(s) of an Office-Based Opioid Treatment facility must be physicians, unless the Board grants an exemption.
• Even medical offices that do not dispense of store medications must apply for a Category III Terminal Distributor’s license .
• The ten-year lookback period for a misdemeanor theft offense runs from the date the application is signed by the applicant.
• Beginning August 4, 2017, any non-exempt facility treating more than thirty individuals with controlled substances for opioid dependence or addiction without being properly licensed as a terminal distributor will be in violation of Ohio law and subject to monetary fines of up to $5,000.

Applications and other information is available here (OBOT Application), or at the Board’s website.

If you are a physician and have concerns about your practice, or if you would like to know how these new rules may impact you, should consider contacting an attorney at Graff & McGovern, LPA, for a no-cost consultation.  Levi Tkach is available to take your call at 614-228-5800, extension 4.