We are available to assist customers through our online public portal at EBIZ.MT.GOV/POL (Professional and Occupational Licenses). For all renewals, please renew online. We can be reached at (406) 444-6880.
We are available to assist customers through our online public portal at EBIZ.MT.GOV/POL (Professional and Occupational Licenses). For all renewals, please renew online. We can be reached at (406) 444-6880.
The Board of Pharmacy makes every effort to include on this web site all relevant information pertaining to the licensing and regulation of the following license types:
On December 22, 2023, the Montana Board of Pharmacy published a final rule implementing 2023 legislation SB 112, that allows for independent prescribing authority for pharmacists in limited situations. This means that pharmacists can prescribe pursuant to the limitations and requirements outlined in:
The final rule, MAR 24-124-80, responds to comments received, adopts New Rule I (ARM 24.174.505) exactly as proposed, and became effective December 23, 2023.
The adopted final rule text is currently available in the proposed rule and will eventually be listed online with the other Board rules.
Additional summary/FAQ information will be available soon on the Board’s webpage at www.pharmacy.mt.gov. For additional information, please contact Marcie Bough, PharmD, Executive Officer, at 406-841-2371, or dlibsdpha@mt.gov
The Board of Alternative Health Care issued a final rule, MAR 24-111-28, implementing 2023 legislation related to the following:
Regarding naturopathic physician dispensing, the 2023 Legislature also passed SB 101, authorizing naturopathic physicians to dispense medications directly to their own patients using a Medical Practitioner Dispenser registration issued by the Board of Pharmacy. This legislation adds naturopathic physicians, pursuant to their formulary list, to the dispensing requirements and restrictions in place for medical practitioners. See below statutes and rules for details:
The application to be a pharmacy technician has changed to an online only process using one application for a certified license or provisional license (formerly Technician-in-Training).
The Montana Board of Pharmacy (Board) is aware of recent DEA policy discussions regarding what a pharmacist can change on a Schedule II controlled substance prescription order. As of August 2022, DEA stated it is continuing to review DEA regulation and working on future rulemaking to address the issue. As an interim measure, DEA indicates that “pharmacists are permitted to adhere to state regulation or policy regarding the changes that a pharmacist can make to a Schedule II prescription after oral consultation with the prescriber.”
The Board’s policy follows established standards of practice that have been in place for the past ten years to reduce potential delays in patient care, and includes the following regarding a Schedule II prescription order:
The Board will continue to monitor for any future DEA activity on this issue.
Below is the August 2022 statement provided by DEA:
“In the past few months, DEA has received an increasing number of questions concerning pharmacists’ ability to add or modify information—like a patient’s address—on paper prescriptions. To address these questions, DEA has been reviewing the relevant regulations and working to draft new regulations to address this issue. As an interim measure, pharmacists are permitted to adhere to state regulations or policy regarding those changes that a pharmacist may make to a schedule II prescription after oral consultation with the prescriber.”
What is the purpose of the application?
The new Medical Practitioner Dispenser application through the Board of Pharmacy is available for medical practitioners who want to dispense prescription medications, within their scope of practice, directly to their own patients from their medical office or practice location in Montana, with the intent that patients take medications home and NOT have the prescription filled at a pharmacy. Instructions on how to apply are below under “Instructions.” Please read and understand the criteria below for this application to see if you qualify first.
This registration is NOT related to or needed for the following criteria:
Who is eligible to apply?
Physicians, Dentists, Optometrists, Podiatrists, Physician Assistants, and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) with Prescriptive Authority are eligible to apply. You must be located in Montana. See 37-2-101(7), MCA, for more information.
Why is there a new registration?
The Montana Board of Pharmacy is implementing a new dispenser registration based on Senate Bill 374 (2021), dispensing of drugs by medical practitioners, that was enacted into law during the 2021 Montana Legislative Session.
Please see the eligibility questions below for the application to see if you qualify:
1 - Is your medical office or practice location physically located in the State of Montana?
If no – You do not need to apply. You must have a physical dispensing location in the State of Montana to qualify for this license.
2 - Do you only write prescriptions for your patients to be filled at a pharmacy?
If yes – You do not need to apply. This registration is not needed for providing prescriptions to be filled at a pharmacy.
3 - Do you only provide drug samples to your patients from your practice location and/or is your dispensing limited to providing drug samples?
If yes – You do not need to apply. This registration is not needed for providing drug samples directly to your patients.
4 - Do you plan to dispense prescription medications directly to your patients from your medical office or practice location and NOT have the patient fill a prescription at a pharmacy?
If no - You do not need to apply. This registration is intended only for medical practitioners who dispense from their practice locations.
Instructions for how to apply
Visit our online portal at EBIZ.MT.GOV/POL. Click “Start a New License Application.” Choose “New Health Care License.” Then select “Pharmacy.” Then select the “Medical Practitioner Dispenser Application” and complete your application.
Statutes and Rules
Registrants must comply with dispensing authority requirements outlined in statute and rule:
For more information, please see this FAQ.
The Board of Pharmacy finalized rule changes pursuant to MAR 24-174-74, amending various pharmacy rule, effective November 20, 2021. A summary of the amended rules reflects the changes published in the following Administrative Rules of Montana (ARM):
The Board of Pharmacy adopted amendments to several rules to remove the 1:4 pharmacist to pharmacy technician ratio; provide for certain pharmacist-in-charge authority for staffing; allow for health care licensees authorized to administer vaccines in their own scope of practice to assist pharmacists with vaccine administration; and outline requirements to update Technician Utilization Plan (TUP).
See the following amended rules, effective 3/26/22:
Effective July 1, 2019, any Wholesale Drug Distributor who distributes the initial sale of opioids in Montana is required to have a separate OPIOID SELLER’S LICENSE through the Montana Department of Revenue, pursuant to House Bill 654 (2019), as outlined in 15-64-1001 through 1002, MCA.
For information on the Opioid Seller’s License requirements and how to apply, click here.
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