{"data":{"id":"us-md/md.-code-health-occupations-8-508","jurisdiction":"us-md","citation":"Md. Code, Health Occupations § 8–508","heading":"","body":"(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.\n(2) “Midwife” means a registered nurse certified as a nurse–midwife or a licensed certified midwife.\n(3) “Nurse practitioner” means a registered nurse who is:\n(i) Certified as a nurse practitioner; and\n(ii) Authorized to prescribe drugs under regulations adopted by the Board.\n(4) “Personally prepare and dispense” means that a nurse practitioner:\n(i) Is physically present on the premises where the prescription is filled; and\n(ii) Performs a final check of the prescription before it is provided to the patient.\n(5) “Starter dosage” means an amount of drug sufficient to begin therapy:\n(i) Of short duration of 72 hours or less; or\n(ii) Prior to obtaining a larger quantity of the drug to complete therapy.\n(b) A nurse practitioner or midwife may personally prepare and dispense a starter dosage of any drug the nurse practitioner or midwife is authorized to prescribe to a patient of the nurse practitioner or midwife if:\n(1) The starter dosage complies with the labeling requirements of § 12–505 of this article;\n(2) No charge is made for the starter dosage; and\n(3) The nurse practitioner or midwife enters an appropriate record in the patient’s medical record.\n(c) In accordance with the provisions of subsection (d) of this section, a nurse practitioner may personally prepare and dispense any drug that a nurse practitioner may prescribe to the extent permitted by law in the course of treating a patient at:\n(1) A medical facility or clinic that specializes in the treatment of medical cases reimbursable through workers’ compensation insurance;\n(2) A medical facility or clinic that is operated on a nonprofit basis;\n(3) A health center that operates on a campus of an institution of higher education;\n(4) A public health facility, a medical facility under contract with a State or local health department, or a facility funded with public funds; or\n(5) A nonprofit hospital or a nonprofit hospital outpatient facility as authorized under the policies established by the hospital.\n(d) A nurse practitioner who personally prepares and dispenses a drug in the course of treating a patient as authorized under subsection (c) of this section shall:\n(1) Comply with the labeling requirements of § 12–505 of this article;\n(2) Record the dispensing of the prescription drug on the patient’s chart;\n(3) Allow the Office of Controlled Substances Administration to enter and inspect the nurse practitioner’s office at all reasonable hours; and\n(4) Except for starter dosages or samples dispensed without charge, provide the patient with a written prescription, maintain prescription files, and maintain a separate file for Schedule II prescriptions for a period of at least 5 years.","path":["Article - Health Occupations"],"source_url":"https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gho\u0026section=8-508","current_through":"2026-01-01","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T19:58:58Z","sha256":"707f1898fad076132075cbb22f23233e8a48422f0a8b488bac387268ee5154b8","source_id":"us-md","stale":false,"prev":"us-md/md.-code-health-occupations-8-505","next":"us-md/md.-code-health-occupations-8-509"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}