| Customer verification | Must verify the buyer's license |
|---|---|
| Records to keep | 2 years |
| Separate device or DME distributor license | In some cases |
What Alabama requires before you ship
Before shipping prescription (legend) drugs to a new customer, a permit holder must make sure the customer is a licensed doctor of medicine, dentistry, or veterinary medicine, or holds a pharmacy permit from the Board. The statute says to do this by contacting the Board. A permit holder also may not ship legend drugs to anyone after the Board gives written notice that the customer no longer holds a pharmacy permit.
Who counts as an authorized buyer: Licensed doctors of medicine, dentistry, or veterinary medicine, and holders of a registered Alabama pharmacy permit.
"assure themselves that the recipient is either a duly licensed doctor of medicine, dentistry, or veterinary medicine or holds a registered pharmacy permit" Ala. Code § 34-23-32(f) and (i)
Records to keep
Keep records of every drug received and distributed: the seller's name and address, the ship-from address, the drug and quantity, and the dates. Records must be open for inspection for two years after the drugs are disposed of. Records kept off site and not retrievable electronically must be produced within two working days. Chargeback records must be kept separately.
Source: Ala. Admin. Code r. 680-X-2-.23(5)
Licenses a distributor needs in Alabama
Prescription drug wholesale distributor
Wholesale distributors, manufacturers, repackagers, 3PLs, private label distributors and reverse distributors need an annual permit from the Board of Pharmacy. No one in the supply chain may ship a legend drug or device into Alabama without a Board permit. Each permit holder must also have a registered designated representative.
Source: Ala. Code § 34-23-32; Ala. Admin. Code r. 680-X-2-.23(11)
Medical device and DME distributors
The statute bars shipping any legend (prescription) drug or legend device into Alabama without a Board permit, so shippers of prescription devices fall under the Board permit. The rule's definition of drugs also covers devices recognized by the USP and NF. Alabama has a separate home medical equipment licensing board that we did not review.
Source: Ala. Code § 34-23-32(g)
Controlled substances
Applicants for a controlled substance permit must be permitted with the Board of Pharmacy and registered with the DEA.
Source: Ala. Admin. Code r. 680-X-2-.23(8)(b)
Where to look up a Alabama license
- Pharmacies and pharmacy permits: Alabama State Board of Pharmacy
- Physicians and other practitioners: Alabama Board of Medical Examiners
- NPI: NPPES NPI Registry
- DEA registrations: DEA Diversion Control Division
Federal rules that apply in every state
- A prescription device "is to be sold only to or on the prescription or other order of such practitioner," or to a business lawfully distributing it (21 CFR 801.109).
- A prescription drug wholesale distributor's trading partners "may be only authorized trading partners," which for a pharmacy means one licensed under state law (21 U.S.C. 360eee-1(c)(3)).
How WorkdID handles Alabama accounts
WorkdID by Workd checks every Alabama customer you sell to against the state's pharmacy and medical boards, the NPI registry, and the DEA, every day. It flags an expiration or a board action within a day of posting, and in Workd order entry it can hold the order until your compliance team clears the account. Every check is saved with the date and the board record, so your Alabama file is ready when someone asks for it.
Other states
Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming