Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Health Care & Wellness Committee |
HB 2335
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
Brief Description: Increasing access to medications for opioid use disorder.
Sponsors: Representatives Davis, Kilduff, Leavitt, Sells, Harris, Macri, Wylie, Doglio, Pollet and Appleton.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 1/17/20
Staff: Chris Blake (786-7392).
Background:
Health care entities must be licensed by the Department of Health if they purchase, administer, dispense, and deliver prescription drugs. A "health care entity" is defined as an organization that provides health care services in a setting that is not otherwise licensed to acquire or possess prescription drugs. Health care entities include freestanding outpatient surgery centers, residential treatment facilities, and freestanding cardiac care centers. The term does include individual practitioner's offices or multipractitioner clinics.
The receipt, administration, dispensing, or delivery of prescription drugs by a health care entity must be performed under the supervision of a pharmacist and only for patients who receive care within the health care entity. The pharmacist in charge may either be an employee of the health care entity or a pharmacist consultant and is responsible for assuring that the areas where medications are stored, compounded, delivered, and dispensed meet state and federal standards. Practitioners within the health care entity may dispense or deliver drugs to patients of the health care entity for the patient's personal use as long it does not exceed a 72-hour supply.
Summary of Bill:
The limitation that practitioners at health care entities may not dispense or deliver more than a 72-hour supply of prescription drugs to a health care entity patient is applied the overall health care entity. There is an exception for a health care entity to administer, dispense, or deliver up to a two-week supply of medications to patients who receive evidence-based opioid use disorder treatment at the health care entity.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.