e-News May 2026

Governor Signs SB 137 Into Law

Earlier this month, Governor Mike DeWine signed SB 137 into law. This law generally requires a hospital to provide an overdose reversal drug to a patient at the time of the patient's discharge if the patient presented to the hospital's emergency department with symptoms of opioid use disorder or overdose. The Board does not plan on adopting any rules on this new law change.

For more information on SB 137, click here.

Board Updates Timeframe for Reporting Theft or Significant Loss

To coincide with updated DEA regulations on theft or significant loss reporting, the Board has extended the timeframe to submit a final theft or significant loss report from 30 days to 45 days. For more information, visit: www.pharmacy.ohio.gov/Theft.

OARRS Provider Authorization Updates

On June 9, 2026, the Ohio Board of Pharmacy will activate a PMP Gateway feature called Provider Authorization that may impact your OARRS access.

Provider authorization will automatically validate your credentials in real-time. Starting June 9th, you may be unable to access OARRS (Ohio Automated Rx Reporting System) through your electronic medical records (EMR) or pharmacy software unless you have:

An active OARRS account -AND-
An accurate and current:

o State license number

o DEA number (if applicable per role)

o NPI number (if applicable per role)

Licensees who may be affected have been contacted via email. For more information, visit: www.pharmacy.ohio.gov/providerauth.

HME Renewal Information and Resources

The renewal period for Home Medical Equipment Services Provider licenses (HMEL) and registrations (HMER) began May 1st, 2026. Important information and guidance about the upcoming renewal can be found at www.pharmacy.ohio.gov/HMERenew.

Reminder: Electronic Positive Identification Requirements Effective January 15, 2027

Effective January 15, 2027, amendments to OAC 4729:5-5-04 will require, with limited exceptions, that all Ohio outpatient pharmacies adopt electronic positive identification as part of the pharmacy’s record keeping system. This means that once effective, the rule will not permit the use of hardcopy records and manual signatures to capture positive identification except for the following:

Compounding and the dispensation of compounded drugs; and
Ancillary services as defined in rule 4729:5-5-02.1 of the Administrative Code.

IMPORTANT: This change does not impact institutional pharmacies (except those that operate outpatient pharmacies), non-resident pharmacies, and other terminal distributors (EMS, clinics, OTPs, etc.). To review the upcoming amendments to the rule, visit: www.pharmacy.ohio.gov/positiveIDchange.

Waiver Request Process

A waiver of the requirement for electronic positive identification may be granted by the Board upon written request of an outpatient pharmacy. All requests must be submitted in writing using this form: www.pharmacy.ohio.gov/waiver.

NOTE: The Board reserves the right to request additional information and documentation to render a decision as to whether to grant a waiver. Waivers will be granted on a limited basis and requests that do not include all the required information will not be reviewed by Board staff.

Secure Methods of Documenting Positive Identification in a Pharmacy Guidance Document

The Board recently created a guidance document providing information for Ohio outpatient and institutional pharmacies on how to meet the Board's positive identification requirements. Information in the document may be applied to other terminal distributor license types who must also document certain records using positive identification.

To access the document, visit: www.pharmacy.ohio.gov/positiveIDmethods.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Resources for Healthcare Professionals

The healthcare profession is not immune to substance use disorders and mental health conditions. Such medical conditions impair a healthcare professional’s competency, ability, and judgement. Substance use disorders and/or mental health conditions that are left untreated may not only cause a healthcare professional to risk their career but may also endanger the life of a patient.

These medical conditions can be effectively treated, and it is possible for healthcare professionals that are in treatment or recovery to return to practice.

The Ohio Board of Pharmacy encourages all healthcare professionals who may be struggling with a substance use disorder or mental health condition to seek help. Our rules encourage you to seek help if you need it, with no fear of reprisal or repercussions. Specifically, the Board's duty to report rules do not require reporting to the Board if a licensee voluntarily seeks treatment for a mental health condition or substance use disorder.

For more information about the available substance abuse and mental health resources for healthcare professionals, visit: www.pharmacy.ohio.gov/Recovery.

Be Vigilant - Watch Out for Scammers!

BOARD STAFF DO NOT ASK FOR MONEY OVER THE PHONE OR VIA EMAIL TO RESOLVE PENDING INVESTIGATIONS. WHEN IN DOUBT, PLEASE CONTACT THE BOARD IF YOU BELIEVE YOU ARE THE TARGET OF A SCAM.

The Ohio Board of Pharmacy continues to learn that licensees are being targeted by scammers who claim to work for various governmental agencies (Board of Pharmacy, DEA, FBI, Department of Justice, etc.) to obtain money from the target. The Board strongly encourages licensees to be alert to avoid scammers.

Scammers may try to initiate contact via phone calls, emails, faxes, and letters purporting to originate from various state and federal agencies that include allegations of drug trafficking and threats of suspension against the target’s license.

Board of Pharmacy investigators will not ask for fine payment or personal/sensitive information over the phone and will never contact licensees via fax. As a reminder, administrative fines issued by the Board are not paid via gift cards or cryptocurrency. If the Board of Pharmacy is conducting an investigation and that individual faces action against their license, they will receive an official notice of opportunity for a hearing either via certified mail, personal service, or electronic registered mail.

If you are contacted by a scammer, please report this information using the Board’s online complaint form: www.pharmacy.ohio.gov/complaint. Additionally, reports should be made to your local law enforcement agency.

If you receive any suspicious calls or correspondence purporting to be from the Board of Pharmacy, we encourage you to call (614-466-4143) or email (contact@pharmacy.ohio.gov) the Board to confirm its legitimacy.

Bluesky

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Ohio Board of Pharmacy

Mike DeWine, Governor | Steven W. Schierholt, Executive Director