HOUSE BILL REPORT
SSB 6526
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. |
As Reported by House Committee On:
Health Care & Wellness
Title: An act relating to the reuse and donation of unexpired prescription drugs.
Brief Description: Reusing and donating unexpired prescription drugs.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on Health & Long Term Care (originally sponsored by Senators Cleveland, Hasegawa, Keiser, Van De Wege and Wilson, C.).
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Health Care & Wellness: 2/21/20, 2/25/20 [DP].
Brief Summary of Substitute Bill |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE & WELLNESS |
Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 15 members: Representatives Cody, Chair; Macri, Vice Chair; Schmick, Ranking Minority Member; Caldier, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Chambers, Chopp, Davis, DeBolt, Harris, Maycumber, Riccelli, Robinson, Stonier, Thai and Tharinger.
Staff: Jim Morishima (786-7191).
Background:
I. Previously Dispensed Prescriptions.
A pharmacy may not accept for return prescription drugs after they have been taken from the premises where sold, distributed, or dispensed, except under limited circumstances. For example, a pharmacy may accept for return drugs legally dispensed by prescription in unit dose forms or in sealed single- or multiple-dose ampoules or vials where the pharmacist can readily determine that entry or attempted entry has not been made and which meet United States Pharmacopeia standards for storage conditions. A pharmacy may also accept controlled substances for purposes of destruction.
Under the Prescription Drug Donation Program, a practitioner, pharmacist, medical facility, drug manufacturer, or drug wholesaler may donate prescription drugs and supplies to a pharmacy for redistribution without compensation. When redistributing donated drugs, priority is given to patients who are uninsured and have an income of 200 percent of the federal poverty level or less.
II. The Department of Corrections.
The Department of Corrections (DOC) provides medically necessary health and mental health care to individuals incarcerated in DOC facilities. The DOC provides prescription drugs to inmates when prescribed by a DOC health provider in accordance with a formulary developed by the DOC's Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee.
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Summary of Bill:
The Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission must adopt rules:
allowing the Department of Corrections pharmacy to accept returns of dose packages or full or partial multiple-dose medication cards from the facilities it serves and reuse the unexpired medication; and
allowing the safe donation of prescription drugs, including allowing pharmacy-to-pharmacy donation of unexpired prescription drug stock.
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Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:
(In support) In situations where an inmate does not complete his or her full course of medications or the medications are not used, it is important for the Department of Corrections to be able to move the medications between systems. The rulemaking for the Prescription Drug Donation Program (Program) is important. Costs of medications are skyrocketing. If a person cannot use the whole course of medication, the remainder should be put to good use. The rulemaking will allow the Program to happen.
(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying: Katie Kolan, Washington State Medical Oncology Society.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.