Healthcare providers in all medical fields—from urgent care to pediatrics—are setting up physician dispensing or in-office medication dispensing to provide patients with their medication at the time of their visit.
There are a few things to consider before implementing an in-office dispensing program to ensure success. The following are some of the most important frequently asked questions about physician dispensing.
FAQ 1: What Is Physician Dispensing?
Physician dispensing is when a physician or another healthcare provider dispenses medications to patients in-office. Providers who participate in medication dispensing reap many benefits from dispensing medications directly to their patients. Plus, this process eliminates an often-inconvenient intermediary: the pharmacy.
Doctors can work with a health services company that specializes in setting up and maintaining in-office dispensing programs. These companies provide all the technology a medical practice needs for in-office dispensing and delivers prepackaged prescriptions. In addition, physicians can identify which pills, creams, supplements, and other medications they prescribe most and keep them in stock in their offices.
FAQ 2: Who Is Allowed to Dispense Medications?
Licensed medical professionals such as physicians, physician assistants, registered nurses, or nurse practitioners may be eligible to prescribe and dispense medications, but exactly which professionals are allowed to dispense is dependent upon each state’s regulations.
While every state has its own set of laws, some states have stricter regulations about physician dispensing. Massachusetts, Montana, New York, Texas, and Utah have the strictest dispensing regulations. Physicians in these states cannot dispense medications at all.
FAQ 3: What Medications Can Be Dispensed In-Office?
In many states, physicians can prescribe all standard drugs and controlled substances including schedules 2, 3, 3N, 4, and 5, as well as OTCs, vitamins, and nutraceutical products. Many physician-dispensing companies even provide custom formularies. Physicians can choose to stock brand name and generic options as well.
FAQ 4: Where Can Medications Be Stored?
Both the FDA and DEA require a locked cabinet or drawer for medications. Controlled substances have even stricter storage requirements. They must be stored behind a double lock.
FAQ 5: Do Physicians Need a Special Printer for the Prescription Labels?
The last step in the dispensing process is printing the prescription label. No special equipment is required. Any laser, ink-jet, or similar printer will work. The in-office printed Rx label will contain medication information that is similar to any standard pharmacy.
FAQ 6: How Does In-Office Dispensing Benefit Patients?
Two of the most important benefits for patients are convenience and affordability. Patients appreciate physician dispensing because they can avoid a trip to the pharmacy as well as the need to wait for their prescription to be filled. Patients may even be able to save money if their doctor charges fair prices or sells generic options. The confidentiality of in-office dispensed medication is another great benefit.
FAQ 7: How Does In-Office Dispensing Benefit Physicians?
Physicians can make a profit by selling medications directly to patients. Some medical practices that dispense medications have seen profit increases of up to 50 percent. Doctors can order the medications and treatments they sell the most in bulk at wholesale prices and then sell them to patients for a fair price.
Dispensing medications in-office can also create an extra source of revenue that can be used to improve the practice decor, update the office technology, pay staff higher wages, and more.
FAQ 8: How Much Should Physicians Charge for Medications?
Physicians can determine the price charged to their patients for the medication at their discretion. Pharmacies mark up medications to high prices to increase their profits. Physicians have the opportunity to sell prescriptions and supplements with lower mark-ups while still making a profit. This way, the patient saves money and can afford to keep taking their medications while the clinic can still make a profit.
Most patients save time and money as a result of in-office dispensing because it eliminates the separate trip to their local pharmacy. Physicians can also carry affordable medication options such as generic brands to help save their patients money.
Let Us Answer Your Questions
Still have questions about in-office dispensing, how to implement it, or the benefits? Contact us today for more details. We have all the information and resources you need to start an efficient medication dispensing program in your medical practice or clinic.