HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 SHB 1768

                    As Passed Legislature

Title:  An act relating to pharmacy ancillary personnel.

Brief Description:  Regulating pharmacy ancillary personnel.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Health Care (originally sponsored by  Representatives Dyer, Zellinsky, Sheldon and L. Thomas).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Health Care:  2/21/97, 3/4/97 [DPS].

Floor Activity:

Passed House:  3/13/97, 96‑0.

Passed Legislature.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 11 members:  Representatives Dyer, Chairman; Backlund, Vice Chairman; Skinner, Vice Chairman; Cody, Ranking Minority Member; Murray, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Anderson; Conway; Parlette; Sherstad; Wood and Zellinsky.

Staff:  John Welsh (786-7133).

Background:  The practice of pharmacy includes generally the practice of, and responsibility for, interpreting and filling of prescriptions; and 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 of Bill:  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 governing the utilization of ancillary pharmacy personnel, including the establishment of standard ratios of pharmacist supervision.  Pharmacies desiring to use ancillary personnel, in a greater number than the standard ratio, must obtain board approval of a pharmacy services plan.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  The practice of pharmacy must meet current demands for supportive personnel.  Pharmacy ancillary personnel must be expanded to two distinct levels, with statutory ratios modified to provide more flexibility.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Ken Warter, Thrifty Payless and Washington Retail Association (pro); Maureen Sandison and John Swenson, Washington State Society of Health System Pharmacists (pro); Steve Singer, Washington State Pharmacy Association (pro); Paula White and Ann Simons, UFCW 1001; Cliff Webster, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America; and Carl Nelson, Washington State Medical Association.