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Provider Agreement and Disclosure


Sweetgrass Pharmacy and Compounding operates as a 503A compounding pharmacy. As such, all prescriptions submitted to the pharmacy must adhere to a valid provider-patient relationship. Compounded medications must be prescribed for patient-specific use only, not for office use, and must be accompanied by a prescription that includes the patient's name, date of birth, phone number, address, and any known drug allergies. Prescriptions should not request excessive quantities or indicate instructions that a single patient could not safely or reasonably use, taking into account the dose, beyond-use-date, or the multi-dose vial 28-day puncture rule. Sweetgrass Pharmacy & Compounding will dispense medications solely within the prescribing practitioner’s scope of practice and skill level, as determined by applicable state or federal laws and, if relevant, as specified in a Collaborative or Medical Director Practice Agreement. Sweetgrass Pharmacy and Compounding cannot fulfill controlled substance prescriptions written by providers for themselves as the patient, nor will it deliver compounded controlled substances to a provider's practice address.




Direct Clinic Billing


Direct Clinic Billing, also known as “office pay,” is a 503A compounding pharmacy billing arrangement where a provider or clinic is directly billed for a compounded, patient-specific prescription. The pharmacy bills the prescriber or clinic, and the clinic then bills the patient for the medication at the exact cost incurred. The compounded medication may be delivered to either the clinic or directly to the patient and is exclusively intended for that specific patient’s use. The medication may either be administered in the prescriber’s office or sent home with the patient, in which case the clinic acts as a "pick-up location."



Examples where Direct Clinic Billing may be appropriate include:

• When the patient does not have a permanent address.


• When a preparation is unsuitable for at-home administration by the patient.


• When administration is part of a clinical trial.
  
• When in-office training and observation for the first dose are required.


• When a continuation of care is needed after a medical procedure.


• When the clinic serves as a “pick-up location” for patient convenience.

This billing model is not to be confused with distribution from 503B outsourcing facilities, which may distribute medications to clinics for “office administration” without a patient-specific prescription.

Attestation


By engaging in Direct Clinic Billing, I acknowledge and attest that:

• The compounded medication will only be administered to the patient for whom it is prescribed.


• No portion of the drug will be provided to or administered to anyone other than the individual patient.


• Any excess medication not intended to be sent home with the patient will be disposed of in compliance with applicable regulations.


• No additional charges beyond the pharmacy’s invoice amount will be applied to the patient, though providers may bill separately for services rendered, including consultative, diagnostic, or administrative services associated with patient care.

Patient Communication and Shipping


For orders billed to the clinic, patients should be advised to contact the clinic, not the pharmacy, with any inquiries. When shipping directly to patients, providers are responsible for verifying the accuracy of the patient’s address. The pharmacy is not liable for replacement costs if an incorrect address is provided.



Marketing and Claims


No representations, whether in person, in print, or online, may be made regarding a compounded medication's ability to treat or cure a health condition, or about its “safety” or “effectiveness.” These terms carry specific legal definitions under federal law and are not applicable to compounded medications. Compounded drugs must not be promoted or referenced as "generic" or equivalent to any generic or brand name medication, as they are not subject to the FDA approval processes that brand name and generic drugs undergo.