(a) This article may not be construed to prevent, restrict or in any manner interfere with the sale of nonnarcotic nonprescription drugs which may be lawfully sold without a prescription in accordance with the United States Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act or the laws of this state, nor may any legislative rule be adopted by the board which shall require the sale of nonprescription drugs by a licensed pharmacist or in a pharmacy or which shall prevent, restrict or otherwise interfere with the sale or distribution of such drugs by any retail merchant. The sale or distribution of nonprescription drugs may not be deemed to be improperly engaging in the practice of pharmacist care.

(b) This article may not be construed to interfere with any legally qualified practitioner of medicine, dentistry or veterinary medicine, who is not the proprietor of the store for the dispensing or retailing of drugs and who is not in the employ of such proprietor, in the compounding of his or her own prescriptions or to prevent him or her from supplying to his or her patients such medicines as he or she may deem proper, if such supply is not made as a sale.

(c) The exception provided in subsection (b) of this section does not apply to an ambulatory health care facility: Provided, That a legally licensed and qualified practitioner of medicine or dentistry may supply medicines to patients that he or she treats in a free clinic and that he or she deems appropriate.

(d) This article may not be construed to prevent, restrict or in any manner interfere with the sale or distribution of dialysate, drugs or devices necessary to perform home peritoneal renal dialysis to patients with end state renal disease, nor may any legislative rule be adopted by the board which shall require the sale or distribution of such peritoneal dialysis products by a licensed pharmacist or in a pharmacy, provided the following criteria are met:

(1) The dialysate, drugs or devices are approved or cleared by the Food and Drug Administration, as required by federal law.

(2) The dialysate, drugs or devices are lawfully held by a manufacturer or a manufacturer’s agent that has obtained the proper permit from the board as a manufacturer or wholesale distributor, or third-party logistics provider.

(3) The dialysate, drugs or devices are held and delivered in their original, sealed packaging from the manufacturing facility.

(4) The dialysate, drugs or devices are delivered only upon receipt of a physician’s prescription by a licensed pharmacy, and the transmittal of an order from the licensed pharmacy to the manufacturer or the manufacturer’s agent; and

(5) The manufacturer or a manufacturer’s agent delivers the dialysate, drugs, or devices directly to:

(A) A patient with chronic kidney failure, or his/her designee, for the patient’s self-administration of the dialysis therapy; or

(B) A health care provider or institution for administration or delivery of the dialysis therapy to a patient with chronic kidney failure.

(e) The provisions of §30-5-29(d) of this code shall not alter the manner in which dialysate, drugs, devices necessary to perform home peritoneal renal dialysis to patients with end state renal disease are billed by Medicaid under the current pharmacy benefit structure.

(f) A person who handles a prescription drug only during the point of sale to provide the prescription drug to a patient and accept payment is not subject to the licensure requirements of this article. This handling process includes the cashier having access to the pharmacy’s operating system to verify unique information for each patient. A pharmacy may require an individual to complete a criminal background check before he or she is hired.