FINAL BILL REPORT
SHB 1768
C 417 L 97
Synopsis as Enacted
Brief Description: Regulating pharmacy ancillary personnel.
Sponsors: By House Committee on Health Care (originally sponsored by Representatives Dyer, Zellinsky, Sheldon and L. Thomas).
House Committee on Health Care
Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care
Background: The practice of pharmacy includes generally the practice of, and responsibility for, interpreting and filling of prescriptions as well as the dispensing, distributing, and administering of drugs.
Pharmacy assistants are regulated by the Board of Pharmacy and certified to perform services associated with the practice of pharmacy as authorized by the board. There are two levels of pharmacy assistants. Level A pharmacy assistants assist pharmacists in performing manipulative, nondiscretionary functions under the immediate supervision of a pharmacist. A pharmacist may supervise no more than one Level A pharmacy assistant. Level B assistants perform, under general supervision, duties such as typing prescription labels, filing, refiling, bookkeeping, pricing, stocking, delivery, nonprofessional phone inquiries, and documentation of third-party reimbursements.
Summary: The title of Level A pharmacy assistant is changed to pharmacy technician. The title of Level B pharmacy assistant is changed to simply pharmacy assistant.
The Board of Pharmacy is authorized to adopt rules governing the utilization of pharmacy ancillary personnel, including pharmacy technicians and pharmacy assistants. Pharmacy ancillary personnel are regulated by the board and registered to perform limited functions authorized by the board. The board is authorized to adopt rules establishing standard ratios of pharmacist supervision for pharmacy ancillary personnel. Pharmacies desiring to use ancillary personnel in a greater number than the standard ratio must obtain board approval of a pharmacy services plan.
Votes on Final Passage:
House960
Senate470
Effective:July 27, 1997