Most pharmacies operate as retail stores, selling prescription and non-prescription drugs as well as a variety of healthcare products to the general public for personal or household consumption or use. For this reason, most pharmacies are assigned to Classification 8017(1), Stores – retail. This can include compounding pharmacies that combine, mix or alter ingredients in response to a prescription to create a medication tailored to the medical needs of an individual patient. If the pharmacy performs delivery operations, these are also included in Classification 8017(1). However, depending on the overall business of the employer, pharmacies can be assigned to other classifications.

In some cases, a physician’s practice will operate a pharmacy or otherwise distribute medications to its patients. Classification 8834, Physicians’ Practices and Outpatient Clinics – all employees – including Clerical Office Employees, applies to the practice or clinic and, as Classification 8834 specifies all employees, the operation of a pharmacy by a practice or clinic is included in Classification 8834.

Hospitals may also operate pharmacies. Privately operated hospitals are assigned to Classification 9043, Hospitals – all employees – including Clerical Office Employees and Outside Salespersons, and hospitals operated by municipal, state or other public agencies are assigned to Classification 8830, Institutional Employees – hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, residential care facilities for adults or residential care facilities for the aged – all employees – including Clerical Office Employees and Outside Salespersons – not jail or prison employees. Each of these classifications also specifies all employees and, therefore, includes the operation of a pharmacy in connection with the hospital.

Companies that provide home infusion therapy often have a pharmacy that is not open to the public that prepares intravenous drugs and solutions for use by their therapists. These employers are assigned to Classification 8852, Home Infusion Therapists – all employees, and the pharmacy operations are included in this classification.

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