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D.C. Municipal Regulations (Last Updated: September 13, 2017) |
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Title 22. HEALTH |
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SubTilte 22-B. PUBLIC HEALTH AND MEDICINE |
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Chapter 22-B5. SAFE DISPOSAL OF UNUSED PHARMACEUTICALS IN HEALTH CARE FACILITIES |
Section 22-B500. GENERAL PROVISIONS AND ENFORCEMENT
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500.1Effective January 1, 2011, a health care facility shall not dispose of any pharmaceutical product, used or unused, by flushing the product down a drain or by any other method that utilizes the public sewer system, except as authorized by this chapter.
500.2Effective July 1, 2013, unless authorized by this chapter, a health care facility that is determined to have disposed of a pharmaceutical product by flushing the product down a drain or by any other method that utilizes the public sewer system, shall be:
(a) Subject to a civil fine of up to one thousand dollars ($1,000) per occurrence; and
(b) Required to submit to the Board of Pharmacy, or its designee, a mitigation
plan designed to prevent further such occurrences within thirty (30) days of receipt of a request for the mitigation plan.
500.3 The Director of the Department of Health (Director), or his or her agent, shall have the right to enter upon and into the premises of any health care facility:
(a) At reasonable times;
(b) After presenting proper identification; and
(c) For the purpose of making inspections to determine compliance with this chapter and the District of Columbia Unused Pharmaceutical Safe Disposal Act of 2009, effective March 5, 2010 (D.C. Law 18-112, D.C. Official Code §§ 48-851.01, et seq. (2012 Repl.)) (Act).
500.4 An inspection or investigation conducted pursuant to this chapter and the Act may include, but shall not be limited to:
(a) Review of policies and procedures manuals;
(b) Inspection of all locations within the health care facility where pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical waste are stored; and
(c) Review of all records, receipts, and other documentation pertaining to the health care facility’s pharmaceutical waste disposal.
500.5Chapters 20 (Hospitals) and 32 (Nursing Facilities) of this subtitle shall supplement this chapter.