Maryland: Revise Physician Topical Dispensing Law
This session, ASPS supported the Maryland Society of Plastic Surgeons' (MSPS) effots to pass legislation that would revise existing law and instead allow physicians to dispense certain prepackaged topicals from their office without a pharmacy license. The 2019 advocacy was a continued effort from last legislative session, when MSPS passed a resolution through the MedChi House of Delegates and tried to advance the bill.
House Bill 1288, which was reintroduced for the 2019 legislative session, began as a broader initiative that would have allowed physicians to dispense all prepackaged topicals without a pharmacy license. However, due to initial reservations from some stakeholders, MedChi and MSPS worked on a compromise that would ensure the legislation's success. That compromise narrowed the scope of the measures from dispensing all prepackaged topicals to only those that are used to treat hypotrichosis by a physician who has obtained a special written permit from the state pharmacy board.
Upon learning of the bill's reintroduction in February, ASPS worked with MSPS and MedChi to draft an ASPS-MSPS letter in support of the bill. ASPS also coordinated a coalition letter cosigned by MedChi, MSPS, the American Academy of Dermatology Association, ASAPS, the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, and the American Society of Laser Medicine and Surgery. Both letters were submitted to the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee on several key points of engagement and to Gov. Hogan once the bills passed the legislature. The measure awaits Gov. Hogan's signature.