FINAL BILL REPORT

                                   SSB 5465

                                   C 40 L 92

                              SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

Brief Description:  Concerning the ratio of pharmacy assistants.

SPONSORS: Senate Committee on Health & Long‑Term Care (originally sponsored by Senators West, Moore, Conner, McDonald, Newhouse, Nelson, Bluechel, Johnson, Niemi, Wojahn and von Reichbauer)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG‑TERM CARE

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE

BACKGROUND:

Current law requires that level A pharmacy assistants be supervised by licensed pharmacists.  Level A pharmacy assistants aid in the performance of manipulative and non-discretionary functions associated with the practice of pharmacy.  The statutes specify the number of level A pharmacy assistants which one pharmacist may supervise.  In retail settings, the ratio is set at one level A pharmacy assistant to one pharmacist.  For pharmacies located in licensed acute care hospitals, private hospitals and sanitariums for the treatment of the mentally ill, incompetent or alcoholic, or for pharmacies providing services to any of these facilities, the ratio is set at three level A pharmacy assistants to one pharmacist.

SUMMARY:

Pharmacies located in nursing homes or who provide services to patients in nursing homes are permitted to allow three level A pharmacy assistants to be under the supervision of one licensed pharmacist.  Pharmacies providing services to patients of hospitals, private hospitals and nursing homes must be physically separated from any other pharmacies on the premise providing services to non-inpatient customers.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

Senate      44    0

House 95    1

EFFECTIVE:  June 11, 1992