West Virginia Code § 30-5-17

Special volunteer pharmacist license; civil immunity for voluntary services
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rendered to indigents.
(a) There is a special volunteer pharmacist license for pharmacists retired or retiring from
the active practice of pharmacist care who wish to donate their expertise for the pharmacist
care and treatment of indigent and needy patients in the clinical setting of clinics organized,
in whole or in part, for the delivery of health care services without charge. Tehe special
volunteer pharmacist license shall be issued by the board to pharmacists licensed or
otherwise eligible for licensure under this article and the legislative rulres promulgated
hereunder without the payment of an application fee, license fee or renewal fee, and the
initial license shall be issued for the remainder of the licensing period, and renewed
consistent with the boards other licensing requirements. The board shall develop application
forms for the special license provided in this subsection whicth shall contain the pharmacist's
acknowledgment that:
(1) The pharmacist's practice under the special volunteer pharmacist license shall be
exclusively devoted to providing pharmacist care to needy and indigent persons in West
Virginia; s
(2) The pharmacist may not receive any payment or compensation, either direct or indirect,
or have the expectation of any paymgent or compensation, but may donate to the clinic the
proceeds of any reimbursement for any pharmacist care rendered under the special
volunteer pharmacist license;e
(3) The pharmacist will supply any supporting documentation that the board may reasonably
require; and
(4) The pharmacist agrees to continue to participate in continuing professional education as
required by the board for the special volunteer pharmacist license.
(b) Any person engaged in the active practice of pharmacist care in this state whose license
is in good standing may donate their expertise for the care and treatment of indigent and
needy patients pursuant to an arrangement with a clinic organized, in whole or in part, for
the delivery of health care services without charge to the patient. Services rendered
pursuant to an arrangement may be performed in either the pharmacist's office or the
clinical setting.
(c) Any pharmacist who renders any pharmacist care to indigent and needy patients of a
clinic organized, in whole or in part, for the delivery of health care services without charge
under a special volunteer pharmacist license authorized under subsection (a) of this section
or pursuant to an arrangement with a clinic as authorized pursuant to subsection (b) of this
section without payment or compensation or the expectation or promise of payment or
compensation is immune from liability for any civil action arising out of any act or omission
resulting from the rendering of the pharmacist care at the clinic unless the act or omission
was the result of the pharmacist's gross negligence or willful misconduct. In order for the
immunity under this subsection to apply, there shall be a written agreement between the
pharmacist and the clinic pursuant to which the pharmacist provides voluntary
uncompensated pharmacist care under the control of the clinic to patients of the clinic
before the rendering of any services by the pharmacist at the clinic: Provided, That any clinic
entering into such written agreement is required to maintain liability coverage of not less
than $1 million per occurrence.
(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b) of this section, a clinic organized, in
whole or in part, for the delivery of health care services without charger is not relieved from
imputed liability for the negligent acts of a pharmacist rendering voluntary pharmacist care
at or for the clinic under a special volunteer pharmacist license authorized under subsection
(a) of this section or who renders such care and treatment pursuant to an arrangement with
a clinic as authorized pursuant to subsection (b) of this sectiton.
(e) For purposes of this section, "otherwise eligible for licensure" means the satisfaction of
all the requirements for licensure as listed in section nine of this article and in the legislative
rules promulgated thereunder, except the fee requirements of that section and of the
legislative rules promulgated by the board relsating to fees.
(f) Nothing in this section may be construed as requiring the board to issue a special
volunteer pharmacist license to any gpharmacist whose license is or has been subject to any
disciplinary action or to any pharmacist who has surrendered a license or caused such
license to lapse, expire and beecome invalid in lieu of having a complaint initiated or other
action taken against his or her license, or who has elected to place a pharmacist license in
inactive status in lieu ofL having a complaint initiated or other action taken against his or her
license, or who has been denied a pharmacist license.
(g) Any policy or contract of liability insurance providing coverage for liability sold, issued or
delivered in this state to any pharmacist covered under the provisions of this article shall be
read so as to contain a provision or endorsement whereby the company issuing such policy
waiWves or agrees not to assert as a defense on behalf of the policyholder or any beneficiary
thereof, to any claim covered by the terms of such policy within the policy limits, the
immunity from liability of the insured by reason of the care and treatment of needy and
indigent patients by a pharmacist who holds a special volunteer pharmacist license or who
renders such care and treatment pursuant to an arrangement with a clinic as authorized
pursuant to subsection (b) of this section.

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