A state health department work group has developed a set of standards for how drugs to treat cancer and rheumatology and blood conditions are dosed and controlled, perhaps serving as a national model.
The work group was formed by the General Assembly, which exempted oncologists and rheumatologists treating patients in their offices in legislation passed two years ago on the heels of deaths in Maryland linked to compounding, or remixing of government approved drugs, done at a Massachusetts pharmacy.
The legislature tasked the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene work group to study appropriate safety standards for mixing and delivering medications by oncologists, rheumatologists and hematologists outside of hospitals.
Doctor groups have agreed to voluntarily adopt the standards, which will be overseen by the Board of Physicians.