BILL REQ. #:  S-0898.2 

Read first time 02/09/2005.   Referred to Committee on Health & Long-Term Care.

     AN ACT Relating to the substitution of a preferred drug for a nonpreferred drug in hepatitis C virus treatments; and amending RCW 69.41.190.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 69.41.190 and 2003 1st sp.s. c 29 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Any pharmacist filling a prescription under a state purchased health care program as defined in RCW 41.05.011(2) shall substitute, where identified, a preferred drug for any nonpreferred drug in a given therapeutic class, unless the endorsing practitioner has indicated on the prescription that the nonpreferred drug must be dispensed as written, or the prescription is for a refill of an antipsychotic, antidepressant, chemotherapy, antiretroviral, or immunosuppressive drug, or for immunomodulator/antiviral treatment for which an established, fixed duration of therapy is prescribed for at least twenty-four weeks but no more than forty-eight weeks, in which case the pharmacist shall dispense the prescribed nonpreferred drug.
     (2) When a substitution is made under subsection (1) of this section, the dispensing pharmacist shall notify the prescribing practitioner of the specific drug and dose dispensed.