H-3249              _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 1332

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1986 Regular Session

By Representatives Tilly, Brekke, Brough, Holland, Tanner, P. King, Winsley, J. Williams, McMullen, Leonard, Van Luven, Armstrong, Ballard and May

Prefiled with Chief Clerk 12/20/85.  Read first time 1/13/86 and referred to Committee on Social & Health Services.

AN ACT Relating to pharmacists; and amending RCW 69.41.100 and 69.41.130.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

        Sec. 1.  Section 1, chapter 352, Laws of 1977 ex. sess. and RCW 69.41.100 are each amended to read as follows:

          The legislature recognizes the responsibility of the state to insure that the citizens of the state are offered a choice between generic drugs and brand name drugs and the benefit of quality pharmaceutical products at competitive prices.  Advances in the drug industry resulting from research and the elimination of counterfeiting of prescription drugs should benefit the users of the drugs.  Pharmacy must continue to operate with accountability and effectiveness.  The legislature hereby declares it to be the policy of the state that its citizens receive safe and therapeutically effective drug products at the most reasonable cost consistent with high drug quality standards.

        Sec. 2.  Section 4, chapter 352, Laws of 1977 ex. sess. as amended by section 3, chapter 110, Laws of 1979 and RCW 69.41.130 are each amended to read as follows:

          The pharmacist, with the patient's concurrence, shall substitute an equivalent drug product which he has in stock if its wholesale price to the pharmacist is less than the wholesale price of the prescribed drug product, and at least sixty percent of the savings shall be passed on to the purchaser.