By Tony McVeigh
Frankfort, Ky. – The Kentucky attorney general's office has been asked to resolve the question of whether physician assistants may dispense prescription drugs. We get the ruling from Kentucky Pubic Radio's Tony McVeigh.
Physician assistants practice under the authority of the Kentucky Medical Licensure Board. So, when a doctor seeking to establish an in-office pharmacy wanted to know if a physician assistant could dispense and distribute prescription drugs, the licensure board asked Attorney General Jack Conway.
Conway says the answer is no. State law does not give physician assistants the authority to dispense and distribute prescription drugs, with one exception.
Conway says physician assistants, under the supervision of a licensed physician, may prescribe and administer all non-scheduled legend drugs. But the statute makes no mention of authority to dispense medications, except for professional sample drugs.
Any party aggrieved by the ruling may appeal to circuit court.