Brief Description: Allowing the importation of certain prescription drugs from nondomestic wholesalers.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care (originally sponsored by Senators Franklin, Thibaudeau, Keiser, Kline, Poulsen, Berkey, Haugen, McAuliffe, Rockefeller, Shin and Kohl-Welles; by request of Governor Gregoire).

Hearing Date: 3/18/05

Staff: Dave Knutson (786-7146).

Background:

The Department of Health (Department) currently licenses pharmacies located in Washington state, and out-of-state pharmacies that provide services to Washington residents. The Department maintains reciprocal licensing agreements with other state's pharmacy licensing authorities. The Department does not license pharmacies located in foreign countries.

Summary of Bill:

The Board of Pharmacy, in consultation with the Department and the Health Care Authority, will submit a waiver request to the federal Food and Drug Administration that will authorize the state of Washington to license Canadian, United Kingdom, Irish, and other nondomestic prescription drug wholesalers under RCW 18.64.046. This will provide retail pharmacies licensed in Washington the opportunity to purchase prescription drugs from approved wholesalers and pass those savings on to consumers. By December 1, 2005, the Board of Pharmacy will submit a detailed implementation plan to the Governor and appropriate committees of the Legislature that includes the mechanisms that the board will use to implement each component of the federal waiver.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.