After a decade-long wait, the Food and Drug Administration finally issued a proposed rule in late June that would make it easier for pharmaceutical companies to switch products from prescription-only to over-the-counter status while still retaining a prescription version.
Under the rule, patients would enjoy access to medications that previously required an office visit and a prescription, while payers would reap the financial benefits of fewer medical and prescription claims. Whether the change would be a challenge or an opportunity for pharmacies depends entirely on how the rule is implemented.