Subject of Possible Rule Making: Permanent facility closure reporting requirements. The pharmacy quality assurance commission (commission) is considering amending WAC 246-945-480 and creating new sections in chapter 246-945 WAC to improve notifications and prescription transfer directions provided to patients when the facility closes permanently. This action is in response to a rule petition filed by an interested party and approved by the commission at its December 2023 business meeting.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The commission received feedback from an interested party about challenges obtaining requested information about a pharmacy's closure permitted by WAC 246-945-480 (2)(b) and voted to address the concerns at the December 14, 2023, business meeting. The commission may consider adding a time frame to the reporting requirements to patients in the event of a permanent facility closure. This would help provide patients with time and information needed to transfer their care to the facility of their choice.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Julia Katz, P.O. Box 47852, Olympia, WA 98504-7852, phone 360-791-1167, fax 360-236-2901, TTY 711, email PharmacyRules@doh.wa.gov, website www.doh.wa.gov.

Additional comments: All rule-making notices will be distributed via GovDelivery. To receive notices, interested persons may sign up by going to https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/WADOH/subscriber/new. After signing up, please click open the box labeled "Health Systems Quality Assurance." Next, click open the box labeled "Health Professions," then check the box next to "Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission."