                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

NOTICE OF PHARMACY CLOSING; CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP; PENALTY (§ 54.1-3434.01)

A. Prior to the closing of a pharmacy for more than one week, the owner shall
either (i) post a conspicuous notice at least thirty days prior to the
anticipated closing or (ii) mail a notice, at least fourteen days prior to the
anticipated closing, to every current pharmacy customer having refill authority.
Each notice posted or mailed pursuant to this section shall indicate the date of
such closing, if available, and the name of the pharmacy to which prescriptions
and other required prescription dispensing records and individual patient
records will be transferred unless patients indicate their preference to the
contrary. The Board of Pharmacy shall promulgate regulations providing for a
definition of &#8220;closing of a pharmacy&#8221; and exceptions to the
requirements of this section.

B. Upon any change of ownership of a pharmacy, regardless of how such change may
be effectuated, the prescription dispensing records and other patient records
for at least two years immediately prior to the change of ownership, shall be
transferred, in accordance with Board regulations, to the new owner in a manner
to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and security of the pharmacy&#8217;s
prescription dispensing records and other patient records and the continuity of
pharmacy services at substantially the same level as that offered by the
previous owner.
			Refusing to process a request for the prescription dispensing records and
other patient records tendered in accordance with law or regulation shall
constitute a closing and the requirements of this section shall apply. Such
refusal may constitute a violation of &#xA7; 54.1-111 A 9, depending on the
circumstance.

HISTORY: 1992, c. 667; 1994, c. 668; 1998, c. 470.