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Cooperative Federalism

Meaning

A clinical or regulatory concept, metaphorically applied to the hormonal health space, describing a system where different regulatory bodies, such as federal agencies and state boards of medicine, share and coordinate their authority over the practice of medicine and pharmaceutical compounding. This framework contrasts with a purely hierarchical or separate-spheres approach, emphasizing collaboration to ensure patient safety and access to care. In practice, this means federal drug oversight works in tandem with state-level professional licensing and prescribing regulations. It represents the shared responsibility for governing the quality and availability of specialized hormonal treatments.