In a retail drug business setting, is a collaborative practice agreement allowed to permit the prescribing of schedule III through V controlled substances?

In the context of collaborative practice agreements within retail drug business settings, Massachusetts law does not permit pharmacists to prescribe controlled substances in schedules III through V under such agreements. Collaborative practice agreements typically involve pharmacists working in partnership with physicians to manage patient care, which may include prescribing authority. However, current regulations specifically restrict the ability of pharmacists to prescribe controlled substances from schedules III through V.

Pharmacists can initiate therapy for non-controlled substances or modify therapy for controlled substances already prescribed by a practitioner under certain conditions, but they cannot independently prescribe controlled substances belonging to these schedules through collaborative agreements. This is a critical point of regulation aimed at ensuring that the prescribing of controlled substances remains closely regulated and predominantly managed by licensed practitioners who have direct responsibility for patient care.

Thus, the answer indicating that a collaborative practice agreement does not allow for the prescribing of schedule III through V controlled substances is accurate and reflects the legal framework governing pharmacy practice in Massachusetts.