HOUSE BILL REPORT
SSB 5838
As Reported by House Committee On:
Health Care
Title: An act relating to the substitution of a preferred drug for a nonpreferred drug in hepatitis C virus treatments.
Brief Description: Limiting the substitution of preferred drugs in hepatitis C treatment.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care (originally sponsored by Senators Kastama, Benson, Poulsen, Brandland, Deccio, Keiser, Thibaudeau, Franklin and Rasmussen).
Brief History:
Health Care: 2/21/06, 2/23/06 [DP].
Brief Summary of Substitute Bill |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE
Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 15 members: Representatives Cody, Chair; Campbell, Vice Chair; Morrell, Vice Chair; Hinkle, Ranking Minority Member; Curtis, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Alexander, Appleton, Bailey, Clibborn, Condotta, Green, Lantz, Moeller, Schual-Berke and Skinner.
Staff: Dave Knutson (786-7146).
Background:
In 2003, the Legislature passed SB 6088 establishing an evidence-based prescription drug
program for state agencies. The program includes a Preferred Drug List (PDL), which is a
list of prescription drug classes that have gone through an evidence-based review process to
determine the best choice of drugs within the class; and a therapeutic interchange program,
through which a provider may endorse the PDL, thus requiring a pharmacist to exchange the
preferred drug for any nonpreferred drug that the provider prescribes. The requirement to
exchange the preferred for nonpreferred drug, however, does not apply to prescriptions for a
refill of an antipsychotic, antidepressant, chemotherapy, antiretroviral, or immunosuppressive
drug.
Summary of Bill:
Under the state's prescription drug program, the requirement that a pharmacist exchange a
preferred drug for any nonpreferred drug does not apply to a refill of a
immunomodulator/antiviral treatment for hepatitis C for which an established, fixed duration
of therapy is prescribed for at least 24 weeks but no more than 48 weeks.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: Individuals receiving treatment for hepatitis C should not have their drug treatment switched from one drug to another.
Testimony Against: None.
Persons Testifying: Eileen Sullivan, Roche Labs; Barbara Hernandez, American Liver Foundation; and Michael Ninburg, Hepatitis Education Project.