HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2623

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                         Health Care

Title:  An act relating to requiring the use of single name identifiers for persons obtaining controlled substances.

Brief Description:  Requiring the use of single name identifiers for persons obtaining controlled substances.

Sponsors:  Representatives Dyer, Hymes, Cody, Murray, Brumsickle, Casada, Conway, Skinner, Crouse, Morris, Sherstad and Scheuerman.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Health Care:  1/23/96 [DP].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 13 members:  Representatives Dyer, Chairman; Backlund, Vice Chairman; Hymes, Vice Chairman; Cody, Ranking Minority Member; Murray, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Campbell; Casada; Conway; Crouse; Morris; Sherstad; Skinner and H. Sommers.

Staff:  John Welsh (786-7133).

Background:  Obtaining controlled substances by fraud is unlawful and punishable by imprisonment for not more than two years, or a fine of not more than $2,000.  But there is no specific prohibition against using more than one name in order to obtain a prescription for a controlled substance from a practitioner or pharmacist.

Summary of Bill:  It is unlawful to obtain a controlled substance by giving more than one name to a practitioner or pharmacist. When a person's name is legally changed, the person is required to inform all providers to conform medical and pharmacy records to a single name identifier.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  This bill will assist physicians, pharmacists, and law enforcement in dealing with a common problem.  Individuals who try to obtain controlled substances from practitioners or from pharmacies for abuse or resale frequently use different names in an effort to avoid detection.  If all individual records are filed under a single name, it is also possible to avoid problems with duplicate therapy, drug interactions, and adverse effects.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  George Kiorika, M.D., and Carl Nelson, Washington State Medical Association.