New Mexico Register / Volume XXXVI, Issue 15 / August 12, 2025

This is an amendment to 16.19.4 NMAC, Section 10 and 11 effective 8/12/2025

16.19.4.10 CONTINUING PHARMACY EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS:

A. Continuing pharmacy education (CPE) shall include study in one or more of the general areas of socioeconomic and legal aspects of health care; the properties and actions of drugs and dosage forms; etiology; characteristics and therapeutics of the disease state, or such other subjects as the board may from time to time approve. Continuing pharmacy education approved in New Mexico shall be limited to programs and activities offered by the accreditation council for pharmacy education (ACPE), accredited provider, programs or courses approved by the board or other state boards of pharmacy and pharmacy law programs offered by the board.

B. Continuing pharmacy education, certified as completed by an approved provider will be required of a registered pharmacist who applies for renewal of New Mexico registration as follows: 3.0 CEU (30 contact hours) every two years. Effective January 1, 2013, pharmacist and pharmacist clinician renewal applications shall document.

(1) A minimum of 1.0 CEU (10 contact hours) excluding the law requirement, per renewal period shall be obtained through “live programs” that are approved as such by the ACPE or the accreditation council for continuing medical education (ACCME). Live programs provided by other providers (such as continuing nursing education) may be acceptable based on review and approval of the board.

(2) A minimum of 0.2 CEU (two contact hours) per renewal period shall be in the area of patient safety as applicable to the practice of pharmacy.

(3) A minimum of 0.2 CEU (two contact hours) per renewal period shall be in the subject area of pharmacy law offered by the New Mexico board of pharmacy.

(4) Effective January 1, 2015, a minimum of 0.2 CEU (two contact hours) per renewal period shall be in the area of safe and appropriate use of opioids. An educational program consisting of a minimum of 0.2 CEU (2 contact hours) that addresses both patient safety as applicable to the practice of pharmacy and the safe and appropriate use of opioids will satisfy requirements of Paragraphs (2) and (4) of Subsection B of this section.

C. The number of CEU's to be awarded for successful completion shall be determined by the accredited provider in advance of the offering of the activity.

D. The board will accept CPE education units for programs or activities completed outside the state; provided, the provider has been approved by the ACPE under its' criteria for quality at the time the program was offered.

E. Continuing pharmacy education will be required of all registrants holding an in-state status and out-of-state active status license. (61-11-13D). Pharmacists granted New Mexico initial licensure are exempt from CPE requirements. Inactive status licensees will be required to furnish CPE for the current licensing period, 1.5 CEU for each year the licensee was inactive, only for the purpose of reinstating to active status.

F. Not less than ten percent of the registrants will be [randomly selected each year by the board for audit of certificates by the state drug inspectors] audited each year by board staff. Pharmacists and pharmacist clinicians without sufficient documentation of completion of CPE requirements [shall.] :

(1) May [Be] be subject to a fine of not less than $1000.00.

(2) Shall [Be] be required to complete the deficient CPE in a satisfactory time period as determined by the board.

G. In the event a pharmacist makes an application for renewal and does not furnish necessary proof of compliance upon request, the board will afford the applicant opportunity for hearing pursuant to the Uniform Licensing Act.

H. [RESERVED]

I. [RESERVED]

J. Pharmacy law requirement:

(1) Active status: A minimum of 0.2 CEU (two contact hours) of the 3.0 CEU (30 contact hours) required for registration renewal, shall be in the subject area pharmacy law as offered by the board. In lieu of a board program, pharmacists not residing and not practicing pharmacy in New Mexico, may complete an ACPE accredited course, in the subject area pharmacy law, meeting the CEU requirements of this paragraph.

(2) Licensees may obtain 0.1 CEU (one contact hour) per year, in the subject area pharmacy law, by attending one full day of a regularly scheduled New Mexico board of pharmacy board meeting or serving on a board approved committee.

K. Board of pharmacy law programs shall offer 0.2 CEU and be two contact hours in length.

[02/26/1995; 16.19.4.10 NMAC - Rn, 16 NMAC 19.4.10, 3/30/2002; A, 12/15/2002; A, 1/31/2007; A, 8/16/2010; A, 3/23/2013; A, 8/12/2013; A, 5/07/2024; A, 8/12/2025]

16.19.4.11 CONSULTANT PHARMACIST:

A. Duties and responsibilities:

(1) To abide by the code of ethics of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists. Must be qualified to practice as a consultant pharmacist and is to be aware of all federal and state drug laws, rules and regulations related to pharmacy services, and to provide the facility with current information pertaining to drug service.

(2) Ensure that drugs are handled in the facility in which he/she is the consultant pharmacist, in a manner that protects the safety and welfare of the patient.

(3) Set the policies and procedures in the facility as related to all facets of drug handling and distribution; these policies and procedures to be reviewed and updated on an annual basis.

(4) To visit the facility, commensurate with their duties, as specified by board regulations relative to the facility or by written contract with the administration of the facility not inconsistent with board regulations.

(5) His/her primary goal and objective shall be the health and safety of the patient, and he/she shall make every effort to assure the maximum level of safety and efficacy in the provision of pharmaceutical services.

(6) The consultant pharmacist shall not condone or participate in any transaction with any practitioner of another health profession, or any other persons whosoever under which fees are divided, or rebates or kickbacks paid or caused to be paid, or which may result in financial exploitation of patients or their families in connection with the provision of drugs and medication or supplies or pharmaceutical services.

B. Consultant pharmacist serving skilled nursing facilities and intermediate care facilities - upper level care - long term care facilities by any other title:

(1) The consultant pharmacist's agreement with the facility shall include but is not limited to the following duties and responsibilities.

(a) Serve as a member of appropriate committees, and attend these meetings.

(b) Development of the drug control procedures manual.

(c) Monitor on a routine basis all aspects of the total drug distribution system - to be accomplished in a manner designed to monitor and safeguard all areas of the drug distribution system.

(d) Maintain active pharmacist status registration in the state.

(e) Assume responsibility for the destruction or removal of unwanted dangerous drugs and any controlled substances as prescribed by law and regulations.

(f) Maintain a log of all visits and activities in the facility indicating dates and other pertinent data; such logs are to be available to inspection by state drug inspectors upon request.

(g) Furnish and replenish emergency drug supply in acceptable containers. Maintain a log of use and replacement of drugs in the emergency tray.

(h) Make routine inspections of drug storage areas, patient health records, and review drug regimen of each patient at least once a month. Report irregularities, contraindication, drug interactions, etc., to the medical staff.

(i) Provide or make arrangements for provision of pharmacy services to the facility on a 24-hour, seven days a week basis, including stat orders.

(j) Provide in-service training of staff personnel as outlined in the procedures manual.

(k) Meet all other responsibilities of a consultant pharmacist as set forth in the board regulations and federal or state laws and which are consistent with quality patient care.

(l) The contract consultant pharmacist to a SNF or ICF facility, that is required to review patients' drug regimen as set forth in Subparagraph h of Paragraph (1) of Subsection B of 16.19.4.11 NMAC, who is under contract as sole supplier of unit-doses/state of the art medications, shall be exempt from charges of unprofessional conduct under Paragraph (10) of Subsection B of 16.19.4.9 NMAC.

(m) The consultant pharmacist to a SNF or ICF facility who delivers drugs in a unit-dose system, approved by an agent of the board, which is a tightly sealed, unopened, individual dose, shall be exempt from the requirements of 16.19.6.14 NMAC. The regulation shall not prohibit the return to the pharmacy stock, where partial credit may be given in accordance with any federal or state law or regulation, to the patient for such medication, when the physician discontinues the drug therapy, the patient expires or for any other reason, other than an outdated drug.

(n) Customized patient medication packages: In lieu of dispensing one, two, or more prescribed drug products in separate containers or standard vial containers, a pharmacist may, with the consent of the patient, the patient's care-giver, the prescriber, or the institution caring for the patient, provide a customized patient medication package. The pharmacist preparing a patient medication package must abide by the guidelines as set forth in the current edition of the United States Pharmacopoeia for labeling, packaging and record keeping.

(o) Repackaging of patient medication packages: In the event a drug is added to or discontinued from a patient's drug regimen, when a container within the patient medication package has more than one drug within it, the pharmacist may repackage the patient's patient medication package and either add to or remove from the patient medication packaged as ordered by the physician. The same drugs returned by the patient for repackaging must be reused by the pharmacist in the design of the new patient medication package for the new regimen, and any drug removed must either be destroyed, returned to the DEA or returned to the patient properly labeled.

(p) Return of patient medication package drugs.

(i) Patient medication packages with more than one drug within a container may not under any circumstances be returned to a pharmacy stock.

(ii) Patient medication packages with only one drug within a container: 1 Non-Institutional: A patient medication package stored in a non-institutional setting where there is no assurance of storage standards may not be returned to pharmacy stock. 2 Institutional: A patient medication package stored in an institutional setting where the storage and handling of the drugs are assured and are consistent with the compendia standards may be returned to the pharmacy stock provided the following guidelines are followed: (1) the drug is to be kept within the patient medication package and it is to remain sealed and labeled until dispensed; (2) the expiration date of drug shall become fifty percent of the time left of the expiration for the drug; and (3) no schedule II - V drugs may be returned to inventory; and (4) proper record keeping for the addition of drugs into inventory must be done.

(2) When a consultant pharmacist enters into a written contractual agreement with a facility to which he/she will provide service.

(a) The consultant pharmacist whose practice is not in the immediate vicinity of the facility for which he has entered into a written service agreement, shall have a written agreement with a local pharmacist to be available on any emergency basis. The consultant pharmacist shall be responsible for the proper training and instruction of such local pharmacist. Said local pharmacist shall be known as a "co-consultant". The vendor shall be responsible for the safety and efficacy of back-up pharmaceutical services he provides.

(b) A copy of these agreements must be filed with the facility and a copy maintained by the consultant pharmacist. Any termination of such agreement shall be reported in writing, within 10 days, of termination to the administrator.

(c) Should a local pharmacist (co-consultant) not be available, the consultant pharmacist must provide an alternative procedure approved by the board. If the consultant is also the vendor, then such alternative procedure must reasonably assure rapid delivery of drugs; medical supplies and pharmacy service to the facility.

C. Consultant pharmacist - clinic facility:

(1) The consultant pharmacist providing services to a clinic shall.

(a) Assume overall responsibility for clinic pharmaceutical services, for clinic facility supportive personnel, and for procedures as outlined in the procedures manual, including all records of drugs procured, administered, transferred, distributed, repackaged or dispensed from the clinic.

(b) Assume responsibility for the destruction or removal of unwanted or outdated dangerous drugs, including controlled substances, as required by laws and regulations.

(c) Develop the pharmaceutical services procedures manual for the clinic establishing the system for control and accountability of pharmaceuticals.

(d) Provide in-service education and training to clinic staff, as applicable.

(e) Report in writing to the board within 10 days, any termination of services to the clinic.

(f) Comply with all other provisions of Part 10, limited drug clinics, as applicable to the individual clinic facility.

(g) The consultant pharmacist shall personally visit the clinic on the minimum basis described in Items (i) through (v) of this Subparagraph to ensure that the clinic is following set policies and procedures. Visitation schedules are as follows.

(i) Class A clinics shall have the on-site services of a consultant pharmacist for the dispensing or distribution of dangerous drugs. The consultant pharmacist shall comply with Paragraphs (4), (5) and (7) of Subsection A of 16.19.4.16 NMAC of this regulation.

(ii) Class B clinics shall have the services of a consultant pharmacist as listed below: 1. Category 1 clinics shall be visited by the consultant pharmacist at least every other month. 2. Category 2 clinics shall be visited by the consultant pharmacist at least monthly. 3. Category 3 clinics shall be visited by the consultant pharmacist at least every other week.

(iii) Class C clinics shall be visited by the consultant pharmacist at least every three months.

(iv) Class D clinic shall be reviewed at least once yearly during school session.

(v) Class E clinic shall be visited by the consultant pharmacist at least weekly for a clinic with a patient census of 150 or more or with a mobile narcotic treatment program, and at least every other week for a clinic with a patient census of less than 150.

(h) The consultant pharmacist shall review the medical records of not less than five percent of a Class B clinics patients who have received dangerous drugs (as determined by the dispensing or distribution records) since the consultant pharmacist's last visit. Such review shall be for the purpose of promoting therapeutic appropriateness, eliminating unnecessary drugs, and establishing the medical necessity of drug therapy, by identifying over-utilization or under-utilization, therapeutic duplication, drug-disease contraindications, drug-drug contraindications, incorrect drug dosage or duration of drug treatment, drug-allergy interactions, appropriate medication indication, and/or clinical abuse/misuse. Upon recognizing any of the above, the consultant pharmacist shall take appropriate steps to avoid or resolve the problem which shall, if necessary, include consultation with the prescriber.

(i) The consultant pharmacist shall maintain a log or record of all visits and activities in the clinic. Such record shall include a log of all medical records reviewed, along with a record of all consultant pharmacist interventions and/or consultations. This log or record shall be available for inspection by state drug inspectors upon request.

(j) Consultant pharmacist serving a Class D school based emergency medicine clinic shall:

(i) review records at least annually; this review shall include a review of the self-assessment form, receipt and disposition records, and storage records; this annual review does not require an on-site visit by the consultant pharmacist;

(ii) oversee the removal of expired or unwanted dangerous drugs; removal options are transfer to another licensed location, return to the legitimate source of supply or to a reverse distributor; remaining portions of used dangerous drugs may be destroyed by the consultant pharmacist;

(iii) review dangerous drug administration records within 72 hours of administration; this review shall be documented and available for inspection at the licensed location for three years; review shall include verification of compliance with procedures and protocols, including administration by properly trained personnel.

(iv) ensure required records are available for inspection at the licensed location for three years, including a log of comments and activities of consultant pharmacist;

(v) verify a current list of trained staff, in accordance with New Mexico department of health requirements, is maintained at the licensed location and available for inspection;

(vi) approve a policy and procedures manual outlining procedures for the receipt, storage, record keeping, administration and accountability of all dangerous drugs; this includes policies and procedures for the removal and destruction of unwanted, unused, outdated or recalled dangerous drugs; must verify compliance with all training and protocols required by the New Mexico department of health.

(k) The consultant pharmacist of a Class E clinic shall review dispensing, distribution, and supplying records since the consultant pharmacist’s last visit, to ensure records are maintained accurately and in proper form. The consultant pharmacist shall also review the medical records of all clinic patients prior to initiation of take home dosing, and medical records of not less than five percent of clinic patients who have received dangerous drugs (as determined by the dispensing, distribution, or supplying records) since the consultant pharmacist's last visit. Such review shall be for the purpose of promoting therapeutic appropriateness, eliminating unnecessary drugs, and establishing the medical necessity of drug therapy, by identifying over-utilization or under-utilization, therapeutic duplication, drug-disease contraindications, drug-drug contraindications, incorrect drug dosage or duration of drug treatment, drug-allergy interactions, appropriate medication indication, and/or clinical abuse/misuse. Upon recognizing any of the above, the consultant pharmacist shall take appropriate steps to avoid or resolve the problem which shall, if necessary, include consultation with the prescriber. A log or record will be maintained in accordance with Subparagraph (i) of Paragraph (1) of Subsection (C) of 16.19.4.11 NMAC.

(2) A clinic may petition the board for an alternative visitation schedule as set forth in Subsection R of 16.19.10.11 NMAC

D. Consultant pharmacists serving custodial care facilities:

(1) Custodial care facility as used in this regulation includes: [Any facility which provides care and services on a continuing basis, for two or more in-house residents, not related to the operator, and which maintains custody of the residents' drugs.] Any facility or business, including non-profit entity which provides retirement care, mental care or other facility that provides extended health care to patients.

(2) Any facility which meets the requirements outlined in Paragraph (1) of Subsection D of 16.19.4.11 NMAC shall be licensed by the board, engage a consultant pharmacist, whose duties and responsibilities are indicated in 16.19.4 and 16.19.11 NMAC.

(3) Procurement of drugs or medications for residents will be on the prescription order of a licensed practitioner. Refills shall be as authorized by the practitioner. When refill authorization is indicated on the original prescription, a refill for a resident may be requested by the administrator of the licensed facility or his designee to the providing pharmacy.

(4) The administrator or a designated employee of the facility will sign a receipt for prescription drugs upon delivery.

(5) All prescription drugs will be stored in a locked cabinet or room and the key will be assigned to a designated employee or the administrator as indicated in the procedures manual.

(6) Proper storage as stipulated in the official compendium USP/NF will be the responsibility of the licensed facility.

(7) Records - the consultant pharmacist shall be responsible for the following records:

(a) incoming medications - including refills;

(b) record of administration;

(c) waste or loss; This accountability record shall be maintained on a patient log, on forms meeting requirements of the board of pharmacy.

(8) All prescription containers shall be properly labeled as required in 16.19.11 NMAC. No bulk containers of legend drugs will be kept on the premises, except in a facility with a 24-hour per day and 365 day per year on-site licensed nurse. Only the following stock dangerous drugs may be kept:

(a) tuberculin testing solution; and

(b) vaccines as recommended by the centers for disease control (CDC) and prevention’s advisory committee on immunization practices and appropriate for the facility population served; and

(c) [naloxone] opioid antagonist for opioid overdose; and

(d) epinephrine standard-dose and pediatric-dose auto-injectors

(9) Consultant pharmacist shall include in the procedures manual the name of individual(s) responsible for the assistance with medications.

(10) It shall be the responsibility of the pharmacist to give proper training/instruction to the person(s) at the facility who have day-to-day responsibility for receipt and administration of medications to resident when adverse reactions, special diet, or any other information relative to the administration of a drug is needed by the staff.

(11) The consultant pharmacist shall be required to maintain a patient profile on each individual, if applicable to the facility and individual.

(12) The consultant pharmacist shall visit the facility no less than once a quarter or more often, commensurate with patient drug regimen review and shall be available in emergencies, when needed. A log shall be maintained indicating all visits to the facility and noting any activities or irregularities to be recorded or reported. This log shall be available for state drug inspectors' review upon request.

(13) The consultant shall be responsible for the preparation of a procedures manual outlining procedures for the receipt, storage, record keeping, maintenance of patient profiles, administration and accountability of all legend drugs and procedures for the removal and destruction of unwanted, unused, outdated or recalled drugs - controlled substances shall be handled pursuant to state and federal regulations.

E. No drug that has been dispensed pursuant to a prescription and has left the physical premises of the facility licensed by the board shall be dispensed or reused again except the re-labeling and reuse of pharmaceuticals may be permitted in the following situations: in a correctional facility, licensed by the board, under the following circumstances dangerous drugs, excluding controlled substances, may be re-used:

(1) the patients must reside in the same facility;

(2) the reused medication must have been discontinued from the original patient’s drug regimen;

(3) the drug was never out of the possession of the licensee “keep on person” pharmaceuticals may never be reused;

(4) the drugs were originally dispensed in packaging that is unopened, single-dose or tamper-evident containers;

(5) the patient receiving the re-labeled medication must have a valid prescription/order for the medication that is to be reused;

(6) repackaging and re-labeling may only be completed on site by the consultant pharmacist designated for that facility.

F. The consultant pharmacist must maintain records at the facility for three years containing the following information:

(1) date when the re-labeling occurred;

(2) the name and ID of the patient for whom the medication was originally intended for and the date in which it was discontinued from his or her drug regimen;

(3) the name and ID of the patient who will receive the reused medication;

(4) the name, strength and amount of the medication being reused;

(5) the name of pharmacist re-labeling the medication;

(6) pursuant to 16.19.10.11 NMAC the pharmacist must label the reused pharmaceutical and maintain a dispensing log for all such re-issued pharmaceuticals and the expiration date for such re-issued drugs shall be no greater than fifty percent of the time remaining from the date of repackaging until the expiration date indicated on the original dispensing label or container.

[8/27/1990; 16.19.4.11 NMAC - Rn, 16 NMAC 19.4.11, 3/30/2002; A, 6/30/2006; A, 10/24/2014; A, 15/07/2015; A, 11/30/2021; A, 9/13/2022; A, 5/07/2024; A, 8/12/2025]