Allowed
Note: PharmaLink has compiled the information below for reference only. State dispensing regulations change frequently and we recommend consulting an attorney or your state medical or pharmacy board with specific questions or to verify your eligibility to dispense.
The District permits in-office dispensing with no general permit, requiring registration only for controlled substances — but its reporting scope reaches further than the controlled substance schedules alone.
Authority to dispense
Physicians may dispense in-office in Washington D.C. under their license. No general dispensing permit is required for non-controlled legend drugs, which lets a practice open a dispensary around common medications without an additional application.
Controlled substances
Practitioners must apply for and receive a controlled substances permit if dispensing controlled medications. The current fee for a D.C. controlled substances registration is $130. You may find the current controlled substances registration form here.
As always, all district and federal regulations must be followed when dispensing, including drug storage and labeling requirements.
PDMP registration and reporting
All prescribers and dispensers licensed in the District are required to register with the DC PDMP. Registration is not limited to those who dispense controlled substances, so a practice should complete it as part of setup rather than waiting until controls are added.
Covered substance dispensations must be reported to the program within 24 hours of dispensing.
What counts as a covered substance
The District’s covered list extends beyond the controlled substance schedules. Alongside Schedule II through V controlled substances, it includes products containing butalbital and cyclobenzaprine, and — since June 7, 2019 — gabapentin.
Cyclobenzaprine is the item most often missed. It is a common non-scheduled muscle relaxant that many practices would not think of as reportable, and its inclusion means a formulary with no scheduled drugs at all can still carry a District reporting obligation. Check your formulary against the covered list specifically rather than assuming controlled substance status is the test.
Patient notice
Prescribers and dispensers who plan to obtain PDMP information must give notice to the patient that a request may be made for information on all covered substances dispensed to them.
Dispensing in Washington D.C. with PharmaLink
Dispensing medications to your patients offers meaningful benefits: additional practice revenue, better medication adherence, greater convenience for patients, and fewer pharmacy callbacks for your staff. PharmaLink provides the dispensing software, equipment, and support — so most practices can start dispensing within days of completing their application. PharmaLink does not sell, source, or ship medications; your practice purchases those directly from suppliers you select, under your own licenses.
- Cash & carry dispensing — patients pay at the point of care with transparent pricing.
- Workers' comp dispensing — treat injured workers, with claim data captured for your billing partner.
- Private insurance dispensing — adjudicate claims to your patients' insurance plans.
- Mail order & home delivery — send prescriptions to a fulfillment pharmacy that ships directly to your patients.
If you plan to dispense controlled substances, PharmaLink's software automatically reports to state PDMPs in all states where we operate.