Maine Code § 32-13786-E

Prescribing, dispensing and administering HIV prevention drugs
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1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms
have the following meanings.
A. "CDC guidelines" means guidelines related to nonoccupational exposure to potential HIV
infection, or any subsequent guidelines, published by the federal Department of Health and Human
Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. [PL 2021, c. 265, §6 (NEW); PL 2021,
c. 265, §8 (AFF).]
B. "HIV prevention drug" means a preexposure prophylaxis drug, post-exposure prophylaxis drug
or other drug approved for the prevention of HIV infection by the federal Food and Drug
Administration. [PL 2021, c. 265, §6 (NEW); PL 2021, c. 265, §8 (AFF).]
C. "Post-exposure prophylaxis drug" means a drug or drug combination that meets the clinical
eligibility recommendations provided in CDC guidelines following potential exposure to HIV
infection. [PL 2021, c. 265, §6 (NEW); PL 2021, c. 265, §8 (AFF).]
D. "Preexposure prophylaxis drug" means a drug or drug combination that meets the clinical
eligibility recommendations provided in CDC guidelines to prevent HIV infection. [PL 2021, c.
265, §6 (NEW); PL 2021, c. 265, §8 (AFF).]
[PL 2021, c. 265, §6 (NEW); PL 2021, c. 265, §8 (AFF).]
2. Authorization. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary and as authorized by the
board in accordance with rules adopted under subsection 3, a pharmacist may prescribe, dispense and
administer HIV prevention drugs pursuant to a standing order or collaborative practice agreement or to
protocols developed by the board for when there is no prescription drug order, standing order or
collaborative practice agreement in accordance with the requirements in this subsection and may also
order laboratory testing for HIV infection as necessary.
A. Before furnishing an HIV prevention drug to a patient, a pharmacist shall complete a training
program approved by the board on the use of protocols developed by the board for prescribing,
dispensing and administering an HIV prevention drug, on the requirements for any laboratory
testing for HIV infection and on guidelines for prescription adherence and best practices to counsel
patients prescribed an HIV prevention drug. [PL 2021, c. 265, §6 (NEW); PL 2021, c. 265, §8
(AFF).]
B. A pharmacist shall dispense or administer a preexposure prophylaxis drug in at least a 30-day
supply, and up to a 60-day supply of an oral medication, or in one administration of an injectable
medication of any duration, as long as all of the following conditions are met:
(1) The patient tests negative for HIV infection, as documented by a negative HIV test result
obtained within the previous 7 days. If the patient does not provide evidence of a negative HIV
test result in accordance with this subparagraph, the pharmacist shall order an HIV test. If the
test results are not transmitted directly to the pharmacist, the pharmacist shall verify the test
results to the pharmacist's satisfaction. If the patient tests positive for HIV infection, the
pharmacist or person administering the test shall direct the patient to a primary care provider
and provide a list of primary care providers and clinics within a reasonable travel distance of
the patient's residence;

(2) The patient does not report any signs or symptoms of acute HIV infection on a self-
reporting checklist of acute HIV infection signs and symptoms;
(3) The patient does not report taking any contraindicated medications;
(4) The pharmacist provides counseling to the patient, consistent with CDC guidelines, on the
ongoing use of a preexposure prophylaxis drug. The pharmacist shall notify the patient that
the patient must be seen by a primary care provider to receive subsequent prescriptions for a
preexposure prophylaxis drug and that a pharmacist may not dispense or administer more than
a 60-day supply of an oral preexposure prophylaxis drug or one administration of an injectable
preexposure prophylaxis drug of any duration to a single patient once every 2 years without a
prescription;
(5) The pharmacist documents, to the extent possible, the services provided by the pharmacist
in the patient's record in the patient profile record system maintained by the pharmacy. The
pharmacist shall maintain records of preexposure prophylaxis drugs dispensed or administered
to each patient;
(6) The pharmacist does not dispense or administer more than a 60-day supply of an oral
preexposure prophylaxis drug or one administration of an injectable preexposure prophylaxis
drug of any duration to a single patient once every 2 years, unless otherwise directed by a
practitioner; and
(7) The pharmacist notifies the patient's primary care provider that the pharmacist completed
the requirements specified in this paragraph. If the patient does not have a primary care
provider, or refuses consent to notify the patient's primary care provider, the pharmacist shall
provide the patient a list of physicians, clinics or other health care providers to contact
regarding follow-up care. [PL 2025, c. 483, §4 (AMD).]
C. A pharmacist shall dispense or administer a complete course of a post-exposure prophylaxis
drug as long as all of the following conditions are met:
(1) The pharmacist screens the patient and determines that the exposure occurred within the
previous 72 hours and the patient otherwise meets the clinical criteria for a post-exposure
prophylaxis drug under CDC guidelines;
(2) The pharmacist provides HIV testing to the patient or determines that the patient is willing
to undergo HIV testing consistent with CDC guidelines. If the patient refuses to undergo HIV
testing but is otherwise eligible for a post-exposure prophylaxis drug under this subsection, the
pharmacist may dispense or administer a post-exposure prophylaxis drug;
(3) The pharmacist provides counseling to the patient, consistent with CDC guidelines, on the
use of a post-exposure prophylaxis drug. The pharmacist shall also inform the patient of the
availability of a preexposure prophylaxis drug for persons who are at substantial risk of
acquiring HIV; and
(4) The pharmacist notifies the patient's primary care provider of the dispensing or
administering of the post-exposure prophylaxis drug. If the patient does not have a primary
care provider, or refuses consent to notify the patient's primary care provider, the pharmacist
shall provide the patient a list of physicians, clinics or other health care providers to contact
regarding follow-up care. [PL 2021, c. 265, §6 (NEW); PL 2021, c. 265, §8 (AFF).]
[PL 2025, c. 483, §4 (AMD).]
3. Rules; protocols. The board by rule shall establish standards for authorizing pharmacists to
prescribe, dispense and administer HIV prevention drugs in accordance with subsection 2, including
adequate training requirements and protocols for when there is no prescription drug order, standing

order or collaborative practice agreement. Rules adopted under this subsection are routine technical
rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
[PL 2021, c. 265, §6 (NEW); PL 2021, c. 265, §8 (AFF).]

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