Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Health Care & Wellness Committee |
SSB 5459
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. |
Brief Description: Requiring ninety-day supply limits on certain drugs dispensed by a pharmacist.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on Health Care (originally sponsored by Senators Becker, Keiser, Parlette, Dammeier and Kline).
Brief Summary of Substitute Bill |
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Hearing Date: 3/14/13
Staff: Jim Morishima (786-7191).
Background:
A licensed pharmacist may fill prescriptions written by certain health care providers, including:
physicians;
osteopathic physicians;
optometrists;
dentists;
podiatric physicians;
veterinarians;
advanced registered nurse practitioners;
physician assistants; and
osteopathic physician assistants.
A drug prescription must contain an instruction on whether a therapeutically equivalent generic drug may be substituted in its place. Prescriptions may be transmitted electronically, in writing, or orally.
Summary of Bill:
A pharmacist may dispense a supply of no more than 90 days of a drug that is not a controlled substance pursuant to a prescription that specifies an initial quantity of less than a 90-day supply followed by periodic refills if:
the patient has completed an initial 30-day supply of the drug, unless the prescription continues the same medication previously dispensed in a 90-day supply, in which case the initial 30-day supply is not required;
the total quantity of dosage units dispensed does not exceed the total quantity of dosage units authorized by the prescriber, including refills;
the prescriber has not specified on the prescription that dispensing the prescription in an initial amount followed by periodic refills is medically necessary; and
the pharmacist is exercising his or her professional judgment.
A pharmacist may not dispense a greater supply of a drug pursuant to this authority if the prescriber personally indicates, orally or in writing, "no change to quantity" or similar words. A prescriber may check a box marked "no changed to quantity" if he or she initials the box or checkmark. If a pharmacist dispenses an increased supply of a drug, he or she must notify the prescriber of the increase in the quantity of dosage units dispensed.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available. New fiscal note requested on March 8, 2013.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.