SENATE BILL REPORT

                                    SB 5381

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

                               FEBRUARY 14, 1991

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

SPONSORS:Senators West, Gaspard, Bailey, Hansen, Bauer and L. Smith.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG‑TERM CARE

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5381 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill 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:February 12, 1991; February 14, 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.  The dispensing veterinarian is required to maintain records of these dispensing activities.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

Veterinarian legend drugs are defined in the bill.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested

TESTIMONY FOR:

The bill makes it easier for consumers to have veterinarian legend drug prescriptions filled.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  PRO:  Greg Hanon, Brian Albers, WA Veterinary Med. Assoc.;  Lars Hennum, Pharmacists of WA; Don Williams, Pharmacy Board