New Mexico Register / Volume XXXVI, Issue 11 / June 10, 2025

 

 

NOTICE OF REGULAR BOARD MEETING AND RULE HEARING

 

 

The New Mexico Board of Pharmacy will convene on July 17th and 18th, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. and continue until finished in the Board of Pharmacy Conference Room located at 5500 San Antonio Dr., NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109 for the purpose of conducting a regular board meeting and rule hearing.

 

The agenda is posted 72 hours prior to the scheduled meeting.  You may view and download a copy of the agenda through the board’s website: https://www.rld.nm.gov/pharmacy/pharmacy-board-information/pharmacy-board-meetings/.  All proposed language regarding rule hearings is linked to the Agenda, the Notice to the Public on our website and the New Mexico Sunshine Portal.

 

Individuals petitioning the board regarding requests/waivers must submit documentation for presentation; via fax (505) 222-9845, mail or email to the Board Administrator, at the general e-mail pharmacy.board@rld.nm.gov at least one week in advance of the scheduled meeting.  

 

Interested persons wishing to comment on proposed language regarding rule hearings may submit documentation for presentation prior to the hearing; via fax (505) 222-9845, mail or email to the Board Administrator, at the general e-mail pharmacy.board@rld.nm.gov in advance of the scheduled meeting.  Public comment is also allowed during the rule hearing. 

 

If you are an individual with a disability who is in need of a reader, amplifier, qualified sign language interpreter, or any other form of auxiliary aid or service, or if you are in need of a translator to attend or participate in the hearing or meeting, please contact Board Administrator at 505-222-9830 at least one week prior to the meeting or as soon as possible.  Public documents, including the agenda and minutes, can be provided in various accessible formats.  Please contact Board Administrator at 505-222-9830 or e-mail pharmacy.board@rld.nm.gov if a summary or other type of accessible format is needed.

 

The full text of Proposed Rule Amendments for Rule Hearing on July 17th, 2025, at 9:10 a.m. is available for each rule via the hyperlinks below, agenda hyperlinks, and Sunshine Portal notice hyperlinks.  If you are unable to access the full text of Proposed Rule Amendments via the links provided, please contact pharmacy.board@rld.nm.gov for a copy.

 

Short explanation of the Purpose of Proposed Rule Amendments: see below.

 

16.19.4 NMAC – PHARMACIST – Section 10, update continuing education (CE) audit provision to include completion by board staff and remove mandatory fine for deficient CE completion.  Section 11, update custodial care facility definition to match that of Part 11.  Replace allowance for stock naloxone with opioid antagonist and add epinephrine autoinjectors to the drugs that a custodial facility may keep as stock.  The proposed changes will increase audit efficiency and allow licensees the opportunity to meet CE requirements found deficient by audit outside of the disciplinary process (Section 10).  Proposed updates to Section 11 allow greater flexibility and availability of stock medication in custodial facilities.  

 

STATUTORY AUTHORITY:  Paragraph (1) of Subsection A of Section 61-11-6 NMSA, 1978 authorizes the board of pharmacy to adopt, regularly review and revise rules and regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of the Pharmacy Act, Sections 61-11-1, 61-11-2, 61-11-4 to 61-11-28 NMSA 1978.  Those provisions include the authority to:

                A.            deny or take disciplinary action with respect to any certificate of registration or license held or applied for under the Pharmacy Act, Section 61-11-20 NMSA 1978;

                B.            require and establish criteria for continuing education as a condition of renewal of a pharmacist license, Paragraph (4) of Subsection A of Section 61-11-6 NMSA 1978;

                C.            issue permits or licenses, as defined and limited by board regulation, to nursing homes, industrial and public health clinics and home care services, Paragraph (6) of Subsection A of Section 61-11-6 and 61-11-14 NMSA 1978;

                D.            provide for the issuance and renewal of licenses for pharmacists, Paragraph (3) of Subsection A of Section 61-11-6, and 61-11-13 NMSA 1978;

                E.            provide for the registration of pharmacist interns, their certification, annual renewal of certification, training, supervision, and discipline, Paragraph (5) of Subsection A of Section 61-11-6 NMSA 1978; and

                F.             adopt rules and regulations that establish patient counseling requirements, Paragraph (18) of Subsection A of 61-11-6 NMSA 1978.  Under the Pharmacist Prescriptive Authority Act, Sections 61-11B-1 to 61-11B-3 NMSA 1978, the board is required to establish regulations governing certification as a pharmacist clinician.  The Impaired Pharmacists Act, Sections 61-11A-1 to 61-11A-8 NMSA 1978, requires the establishment by the board of a plan for treatment and rehabilitation of impaired pharmacists.  Subsection B of Section 61-1-36 NMSA 1978 authorizes the board of pharmacy to promulgate rules relating to listing specific criminal convictions that could disqualify an applicant from receiving a license on the basis of a previous felony conviction.  Subsection B of Section 28-2-3 NMSA 1978 prohibits the board of pharmacy from considering certain criminal records to be used, distributed or disseminated in connection with an application for a license.  Section 28-2-4 NMSA 1978 authorizes the board of pharmacy the power to refuse to grant or renew, or suspend or revoke a license where the applicant or licensee has been convicted of a felony and the criminal conviction directly relates to the particular profession and other convictions specified.

 

https://www.rld.nm.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Pharm-16.19.4-NMAC-July-25.pdf

 

16.19.8 NMAC - WHOLESALE DISTRIBUTORS; THIRD-PARTY LOGISTICS PROVIDERS; REPACKAGERS; DRUG SUPPLY CHAIN SECURITY – Section 9, remove surety bond requirement.  The proposed change aligns with statute, which specifies that the board may require surety bonds (versus shall).

 

STATUTORY AUTHORITY:  Paragraph (6) of Subsection A of Section 61-11-6 NMSA 1978 directs the board of pharmacy to provide for the licensing of drug manufacturers, repackagers and wholesale drug distributors and for the inspection of their facilities and activities.  Paragraph (7) of Subsection A of Section 61-11-6 NMSA 1978 authorizes the board to enforce the provisions of all state laws pertaining to the practice of pharmacy and the manufacture, production, sale or distribution of drugs, cosmetics or poisons, including the New Mexico Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act, Chapter 26, Article I NMSA 1978.  Pursuant to Section 26-1-18 of the Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act, the board is authorized to promulgate regulations for the efficient enforcement of the act.

 

https://www.rld.nm.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Pharm-16.19.8-NMAC-July-25.pdf

 

16.19.12 NMAC – FEES – Section 20, pharmacist license reinstatement fee is increased from $25 to $100.  The proposed change aligns with statute. 

 

STATUTORY AUTHORITY:  Section 30-31-11 NMSA 1978 authorizes the board of pharmacy (“board”) to charge reasonable fees relating to the registration and control of the manufacture, distribution and dispensing of controlled substances.  Section 30-31B-6 NMSA 1978 authorizes the board to charge reasonable fees for the registration and control of the manufacture, possession, transfer and transportation of drug precursors.  Sections 61-11-12, 61-11-13, and 61-11-14 NMSA 1978 authorize the board to charge, and limit the maximum charges for:

                A.            applications for registration and renewal of registration as a pharmacist, pharmacist intern, or pharmacy technician; and

                B.            applications for the registration of retail pharmacies, wholesale drug distributors, nonresident pharmacies, drug manufacturers, hospital pharmacies, drug rooms, nursing homes, industrial or public health clinics, the department of health clinics and health facilities, home care services, wholesalers, retailers and distributors of legend-bearing veterinary drugs, medicinal gas repackagers, medicinal gas sellers, outsourcing facilities, repackagers, and third party logistics providers.  Section 61-1-34 NMSA 1978 authorizes the board to waive license fees for the first three years for military service members, spouses, dependents, and veterans where the license is issued by reciprocity.

 

https://www.rld.nm.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Pharm-16.19.12-NMAC-July-25.pdf

 

16.19.30 NMAC - COMPOUNDING OF NON-STERILE PHARMACEUTICALS – Section 7, the beyond -use dating methods used for compounded preparations applies to conventionally manufactured product to which flavoring is added.  The proposed change makes clear this standard is applicable. 

 

STATUTORY AUTHORITY:  Paragraph (6) of Subsection A of Section 61-11-6 NMSA 1978 requires that the board of pharmacy provide for the licensing of retail pharmacies and nonresident pharmacies and for the inspection of their facilities and activities.

 

https://www.rld.nm.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Pharm-16.019.0030-July-25.pdf

 

Disciplinary Hearing(s):

There are no disciplinary hearings scheduled at time of submission for publication.

 

                If additional scheduling occurs, the final hearing date and time for each case will be included in the agenda posted to the board’s website at least 72 hours before the meeting.

 

Executive Director’s Report:

 

Published in NM Register:   June 10, 2025

Published in Albuquerque Journal:   June 10, 2025