Is it true that the Board may allow ownership of a pharmacy by a practitioner with prescriptive privileges?

The statement is misleading because, in Massachusetts, it is generally prohibited for practitioners who have prescriptive privileges to own a pharmacy. This rule is derived from regulations that aim to prevent potential conflicts of interest where a practitioner could benefit financially from the prescriptions they write. Such ownership could lead to ethical concerns about the integrity of the prescribing process and the potential for over-prescription or bias toward certain medications that they sell through their own pharmacy.

While some states may have different regulations regarding ownership of pharmacies, Massachusetts maintains strict guidelines to ensure that the pharmacy's operations remain independent from the practitioner's medical practice. This helps safeguard patient welfare and promotes a fair healthcare system, ensuring that pharmacists and practitioners fulfill their roles without overlapping interests that could compromise their professional responsibilities. Therefore, the assertion that the Board may allow such ownership runs contrary to the established regulations in Massachusetts.