HOUSE BILL REPORT
SSB 5838



         As Reported by House Committee On:       
Health Care

Title: An act relating to the substitution of a preferred drug for a nonpreferred drug in hepatitis C virus treatments.

Brief Description: Limiting the substitution of preferred drugs in hepatitis C treatment.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care (originally sponsored by Senators Kastama, Benson, Poulsen, Brandland, Deccio, Keiser, Thibaudeau, Franklin and Rasmussen).

Brief History:

Health Care: 2/21/06, 2/23/06 [DP].

Brief Summary of Substitute Bill
  • The requirement that a pharmacist exchange a preferred drug for any nonpreferred drug under the state's preferred drug list does not apply to a refill of a specific immunomodulator/antiviral treatment for hepatitis C.


HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 15 members: Representatives Cody, Chair; Campbell, Vice Chair; Morrell, Vice Chair; Hinkle, Ranking Minority Member; Curtis, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Alexander, Appleton, Bailey, Clibborn, Condotta, Green, Lantz, Moeller, Schual-Berke and Skinner.

Staff: Dave Knutson (786-7146).

Background:

In 2003, the Legislature passed SB 6088 establishing an evidence-based prescription drug program for state agencies. The program includes a Preferred Drug List (PDL), which is a list of prescription drug classes that have gone through an evidence-based review process to determine the best choice of drugs within the class; and a therapeutic interchange program, through which a provider may endorse the PDL, thus requiring a pharmacist to exchange the preferred drug for any nonpreferred drug that the provider prescribes. The requirement to exchange the preferred for nonpreferred drug, however, does not apply to prescriptions for a refill of an antipsychotic, antidepressant, chemotherapy, antiretroviral, or immunosuppressive drug.


Summary of Bill:

Under the state's prescription drug program, the requirement that a pharmacist exchange a preferred drug for any nonpreferred drug does not apply to a refill of a immunomodulator/antiviral treatment for hepatitis C for which an established, fixed duration of therapy is prescribed for at least 24 weeks but no more than 48 weeks.


Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: Individuals receiving treatment for hepatitis C should not have their drug treatment switched from one drug to another.

Testimony Against: None.

Persons Testifying: Eileen Sullivan, Roche Labs; Barbara Hernandez, American Liver Foundation; and Michael Ninburg, Hepatitis Education Project.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.