Psych NP needs help!

[Ziggy2024]

Hello, thank you in advance for reading through my question.

So, I currently live in Ohio, where I have been a practicing and prescribing psych NP for 6 years. During that time I have always had a collaborating physician due to Ohio's regulations. I currently work at a hospital part-time 1099 in Ohio and have a collaborator in the hospital, but no other Ohio collaborator.

Here's the kicker; I recently started to practice in KY. I am licensed in KY but do not have a collaborator here due to being able to prescribe independently after 4 years. Of course, if I want to prescribe controlled medications, I will need a collaborator in KY.

My question is; I have patients who are coming from Ohio to see me in KY. I have been prescribing their meds and sending them to Ohio pharmacies.

Is it legal for me to prescribe medications in KY to those who live in Ohio, without a collaborative agreement at my KY practice? 

Also, do you need a license to distribute medication samples in KY?

I really appreciate the help in advance. Thank you!

[MentalKlarity, BSN, NP]

Whatever happens in Kentucky is practicing in Kentucky. It does not matter where YOU are located and it does not matter where the patient is from or lives. If the PATIENT is physically located in Kentucky during the appointment, you are practicing in Kentucky.

As for prescriptions, it's up to Ohio if they accept "out of state" prescriptions. Some states do, and some do not, but technically your prescription is coming from Kentucky and must only meet Kentucky's requirements. Patients get "out of state" prescriptions all the time (for example, see someone in an urgent care in FL on vacation and have them send your ABX back home to your home state). You have to read about Ohio's laws for out of state prescriptions but other than that you're not practicing in Ohio it sounds like.