SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SHB 1768

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

            Health & Long-Term Care, March 25, 1997

Title:  An act relating to pharmacy ancillary personnel.

Brief Description:  Regulating pharmacy ancillary personnel.

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

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Health & Long‑Term Care:  3/19/97, 3/25/97 [DP, DNP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG-TERM CARE

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Deccio, Chair; Benton, Fairley and Wojahn.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.

  Signed by Senator Wood, Vice Chair.

Staff:  Rhoda Jones (786-7198)

Background:  The practice of pharmacy includes interpreting and filling prescriptions, and dispensing, distributing and administering 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 work under the supervision of a pharmacist dispensing drugs.  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 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 seeking 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:  This will make terminology relating to pharmacy personnel more in line with actual practice.  It will also allow ratios between pharmacists and assistants to be more flexible.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Ken Warter, Washington State Pharmaceutical Association (pro); Mike Donohue, Washington State Pharmacists Association (pro).