MontanaSB 45669th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)Senate

Revise professions and occupations laws regarding dispensing of drugs

Sponsored By: Tom McGillvray (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Professions and Occupations GenerallyAlcoholHealth Care Services

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.

Getting medicine from your doctor's office

Your practitioner may give you medicine at their office, but only to their own patients and for your current condition. The practitioner must offer counseling when giving the drug. Before dispensing, they must offer you the prescription in writing, electronic, or fax so you can fill it there or at any pharmacy. Office staff may hand you the sealed package if it shows two forms of ID and they check your ID.

New registration and fees to dispense drugs

To dispense drugs, a medical practitioner must register with the Montana Board of Pharmacy and follow this section’s rules. The practitioner must pay a board-set fee at registration and again at each license renewal. They must follow all labeling, storage, inspection, and recordkeeping rules and all federal drug laws. They may only dispense drugs within their prescriptive scope, and controlled substances only when acting as a pharmacist under Montana pharmacy law.

Limits on drugs for injured workers

Practitioners who are registered to dispense may not give drugs to injured workers covered by workers’ compensation. The law allows exceptions, including emergencies, unit‑dose administration, no community pharmacy available, occasional dispensing, and drug samples. It also allows factory prepackaged contraceptives at some family planning clinics under protocol, limited dispensing by contract physicians at urban Indian clinics with strict limits, dispensing when the prescribed drug is not available from a pharmacy, and dispensing opioid antagonists.

Naturopathic doctors covered by these rules

Naturopathic physicians are treated as medical practitioners under this law. They can dispense under the same framework and must meet the same registration, fees, and dispensing rules as other practitioners.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Tom McGillvray
Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

Curtis Schomer
Republican • House
Kenneth Bogner
Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 293 • No: 5

House vote • 3/27/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 99 • No: 0

House vote • 3/26/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 99 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/6/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 49 • No: 1

Senate vote • 3/5/2025