SENATE BILL REPORT

                                   SHB 1237

             AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG-TERM CARE,

                                 APRIL 1, 1991

Brief Description:  Allowing a veterinarian to dispense legend drugs prescribed by another veterinarian.

SPONSORS:House Committee on Agriculture & Rural Development (originally sponsored by Representatives Day, Ballard, Prentice, Ferguson, Cantwell, Paris, Rayburn, Nealey, Padden, Orr and Rasmussen).

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & RURAL DEVELOPMENT

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG‑TERM CARE

Majority Report:  Do pass.

      Signed by Senators West, Chairman; L. Smith, Vice Chairman; Amondson, Johnson, L. Kreidler, Niemi, and Wojahn.

Staff:  Scott Plack (786‑7409)

Hearing Dates:March 28, 1991; April 1, 1991

BACKGROUND:

The state Board of Pharmacy currently prohibits one Washington licensed veterinarian from filling a legend drug prescribed by another Washington licensed veterinarian.  The board considers this activity the practice of pharmacy.  A veterinarian must personally examine the animal before prescribing any legend drug.  While consumers may have the option of having the prescription filled at a licensed pharmacy, many pharmacies often do not stock the types of animal treatment drugs involved.  If a consumer is unable to return to the original veterinarian who wrote the prescription he or she must have the animal re-examined by a second veterinarian who can then prescribe the legend drug.  This second examination adds to the cost of treating the animal.

SUMMARY:

Veterinarians are permitted to fill prescriptions for legend drugs issued by another veterinarian.  The dispensing of such drugs shall be limited to no more than 5 percent of the total proportion of dosage units dispensed annually by the dispensing veterinarian.  Veterinarian legend drugs are defined.  The dispensing veterinarian is required to maintain records of these dispensing activities.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested

TESTIMONY FOR:

The bill will reduce veterinarian costs to the consumer.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Greg Hanon, WA State Veterinary Medical Assn. (pro); Lars Hennum, Pharmacists of WA (pro); Charles James, Pharmacy Board (pro)