HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 1182
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
As Passed Legislature
Title: An act relating to including pharmacists in the legend drug act.
Brief Description: Including pharmacists in the legend drug act.
Sponsors: Representatives Harris, Cody, Vick, Nealey, Ryu and Jinkins.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Health Care & Wellness: 1/29/13, 2/8/13 [DPS].
Floor Activity:
Passed House: 3/11/13, 97-0.
Passed Senate: 4/11/13, 48-0.
Passed Legislature.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE & WELLNESS |
Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 16 members: Representatives Cody, Chair; Jinkins, Vice Chair; Schmick, Ranking Minority Member; Hope, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Angel, Clibborn, Green, Harris, Manweller, Moeller, Morrell, Riccelli, Ross, Short, Tharinger and Van De Wege.
Staff: Chris Blake (786-7392).
Background:
Pharmacists are regulated by the Board of Pharmacy. They are authorized to interpret prescription orders; compound, dispense, label, administer, and distribute drugs; monitor drug therapy; participate in drug utilization reviews and drug product selection; store, distribute, and maintain records of drugs and devices; and provide information on legend drugs. In addition, pharmacists may initiate drug therapy in accordance with a collaborative drug therapy agreement (CDTA).
A CDTA is a set of written guidelines or protocols established by a health care practitioner who is authorized to prescribe drugs in which authority is delegated to a pharmacist to conduct specific prescribing functions. Among the health care practitioners that may prescribe drugs are physicians, osteopathic physicians, optometrists, dentists, podiatric physicians, veterinarians, certain registered nurses, and advanced registered nurse practitioners.
Summary of Bill:
Statutory references are clarified to specify that licensed pharmacists may prescribe legend drugs to the extent allowed by a collaborative drug therapy agreement authorized by the Board of Pharmacy and approved by a practitioner authorized to prescribe drugs.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:
(In support) Pharmacists have had the ability to collaborate with independent providers to provide care, primarily with vaccinations, since 1979. There are more than 3,000 of these agreements on file with the Board of Pharmacy. These agreements allow pharmacists to participate as part of a health care team to help patients and keep them out of hospitals and emergency departments. This is a fix bill.
(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying: Representative Harris, prime sponsor; and Dedi Hitchens and Jeff Rochon, Washington State Pharmacy Association.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.