Section 42D: Assessment of penalty against licensed pharmacy for violation of regulation or administrative rule or for failure to comply with order to correct violation
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Section 42D.
(a)The board may assess a licensed pharmacy a penalty of not more than $25,000 for each violation of regulations or administrative rules established pursuant to any general law that governs the practice of pharmacy. The board, through regulation, shall ensure that any fine levied is commensurate with the severity of the violation.
(b)The board may assess a pharmacy, licensed pursuant to this chapter and ordered to correct a violation of regulations or administrative rules established under any general law that governs the practice of pharmacy, a penalty of not more than $1,000 for each violation for each day the violation continues to exist beyond the date prescribed for correction.
(c)Upon making an assessment, the board shall give the licensee notice of the matters alleged and the law relied upon and shall afford the licensee an opportunity for a hearing upon a written request within 15 business days of the assessment. If after a hearing, or if the licensee waives the licensee's right to a hearing, the board determines that cause exists, the board shall make an appropriate assessment. The affected licensee shall pay such assessment except to the extent that, upon judicial review, the reviewing court may reverse the final decision of the board.
(d)An assessment made under this section shall be due 30 days after notification to the affected licensee, or 15 days after resolution of an administrative appeal. The attorney general shall recover any assessment due and payable brought in the name of the commonwealth in the superior court. Funds collected pursuant to subsection
(b)shall be paid as described in subsection (c). Assessments collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the Quality in Health Professions Trust Fund established by section 35X of chapter 10 and shall be used to support initiatives such as: patient safety and quality improvement programs for organizations under the jurisdiction of the division of health professions licensure; training for board and division staff; and to offset the costs of board business, including investigation, enforcement activities and investments in health information technology. The board shall promulgate regulations for the administration of the fund, in consultation with the division, including the establishment of eligibility criteria, program requirements and assessment and reporting processes.