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SB421 • 2026

Pharmacist; remote verification and counseling in opioid treatment programs.

An Act to amend and reenact § 54.1-3432 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 54.1-3303.2, relating to remote pharmacist verification and counseling in opioid treatment programs.

Healthcare Privacy Technology
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Favola
Last action
2026-04-06
Official status
Acts of Assembly Chapter
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not specify exact details about on-site presence requirements, leaving this up to future regulations.

Remote Pharmacist Verification for Opioid Treatment

This act allows pharmacists to provide remote verification and counseling for medications prescribed to treat opioid use disorder at federally certified treatment programs.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows a pharmacist licensed in Virginia to remotely verify and supervise the dispensing of medications used to manage opioid use disorder when pharmacy technicians or other authorized personnel are involved.
  • Requires real-time audiovisual communication between the pharmacist and pharmacy staff during operating hours for remote supervision.
  • Specifies that pharmacists must be immediately available through technology standards set by the Board of Pharmacy.
  • Gives the Board of Pharmacy authority to create rules about training, recordkeeping, patient privacy, and on-site presence requirements.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Pharmacists licensed in Virginia
  • Federally certified opioid treatment programs
  • Patients receiving medication for opioid use disorder

Terms To Know

Opioid Treatment Program (OTP)
A medical facility that provides medications and counseling to help people recover from opioid addiction.
Pharmacy Technician
A person who works in a pharmacy under the supervision of a pharmacist, helping with tasks like filling prescriptions.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The act does not require treatment programs to use remote pharmacist services.
  • Details about on-site presence requirements for pharmacists are left up to the Board's regulations.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-06 Governor

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 345 (effective 7/1/2026)

  2. 2026-04-06 Governor

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 345 (effective 7/1/2026)

  3. 2026-04-06 Governor

    Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0345)

  4. 2026-03-10 Senate

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026

  5. 2026-03-10 Governor

    Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

  6. 2026-03-04 House

    Signed by Speaker

  7. 2026-03-04 Senate

    Signed by President

  8. 2026-03-04 Senate

    Enrolled

  9. 2026-03-04 Senate

    Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB421ER)

  10. 2026-03-04 Senate

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB421)

  11. 2026-02-27 House

    Read third time

  12. 2026-02-27 House

    Passed House (91-Y 5-N 0-A)

  13. 2026-02-26 House

    Read second time

  14. 2026-02-24 Health and Human Services

    Reported from Health and Human Services (19-Y 3-N)

  15. 2026-02-19 Health Professions

    Subcommittee recommends reporting (10-Y 0-N)

  16. 2026-02-16 Health Professions

    Assigned sub: Health Professions

  17. 2026-02-13 House

    Placed on Calendar

  18. 2026-02-13 Health and Human Services

    Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services

  19. 2026-02-13 House

    Read first time

  20. 2026-02-10 Senate

    Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  21. 2026-02-09 Senate

    Read second time

  22. 2026-02-09 Senate

    Engrossed by Senate Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  23. 2026-02-06 Senate

    Rules suspended

  24. 2026-02-06 Senate

    Passed by for the day

  25. 2026-02-06 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

  26. 2026-02-06 Senate

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  27. 2026-02-05 Education and Health

    Reported from Education and Health (14-Y 0-N)

  28. 2026-01-30 Health Professions

    Assigned Education sub: Health Professions

  29. 2026-01-29 Senate

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB421)

  30. 2026-01-13 Senate

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104861D

  31. 2026-01-13 Education and Health

    Referred to Committee on Education and Health

Official Summary Text

Remote pharmacist verification and counseling in opioid treatment programs.
Authorizes a pharmacist licensed in the Commonwealth to exercise verification, counseling, and supervision duties remotely when a pharmacy technician or other authorized personnel dispenses medication prescribed for the management of opioid use disorder at a federally certified opioid treatment program.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
An Act to amend and reenact §
54.1-3432
of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered
54.1-3303.2
, relating to remote pharmacist verification and counseling in opioid treatment programs.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §
54.1-3432
of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted and that the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered
54.1-3303.2
as follows:
§
54.1-3303.2
. Remote pharmacist verification and counseling in opioid treatment programs.
A. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a pharmacist may remotely provide counseling for the dispensing of methadone or other medications prescribed for the management of opioid use disorder and provide remote supervision and verification of the accuracy of the dispensed drug in all aspects through real-time, two-way audiovisual communication during operating hours and in accordance with Board regulation at a federally certified opioid treatment program.
B. A pharmacy technician or other authorized personnel may dispense such medication pursuant to subsection A provided that:
1. The pharmacist is licensed and in good standing in the Commonwealth;
2. The pharmacist is immediately available through real-time audiovisual communication and able to provide visual supervision during operating hours of those persons performing the duties of a pharmacy technician;
3. The pharmacist performs all professional judgment functions required by law prior to dispensing; and
4. The opioid treatment program complies with all federal requirements.
C. The Board shall promulgate regulations establishing requirements for:
1. Technology standards of equipment used for remote verification, the provision of counseling, and visual supervision;
2. Training and competency of personnel;
3. Documentation and recordkeeping;
4. Patient privacy and safety; and
5. Pharmacists to serve as pharmacist-in-charge at multiple pharmacies operating within an opioid treatment program in accordance with this section
,
which may include a requirement for the pharmacist to be physically present on-site at least one day per calendar month.
D. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require an opioid treatment program to utilize remote pharmacist supervision or limit the authority of the Board to enforce standards of practice or take disciplinary action.
§
54.1-3432
. Supervision by pharmacist.
Every pharmacy shall be under the personal supervision of a pharmacist on the premises of the pharmacy
except as provided in §
54.1-3303.2
.
2. That the Board of Pharmacy shall promulgate regulations to implement the provisions of this act and such regulations shall be exempt from the requirements of the Administrative Process Act (§
2.2-4000
et seq.) of the Code of Virginia.