AN ACT Relating to the authority of pharmacists to dispense prescription drugs; and adding a new section to chapter 18.64 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 18.64 RCW to read as follows:

(1) A pharmacist may dispense a prescription drug to a patient with an expired prescription if:

(a) Reasonable efforts to contact the prescribing practitioner have been made and were unsuccessful;

(b) The patient has been on a consistent drug therapy as demonstrated by records maintained by a pharmacy;

(c) The prescription drug is not a controlled substance; and

(d) The amount of the drug dispensed does not:

(i) Exceed a thirty-day supply as provided in the prescription; or

(ii) If the standard unit of dispensing for the drug exceeds a thirty-day supply, exceed the standard unit of dispensing.

(2) A pharmacist may not dispense a particular prescription drug to the same patient without a valid prescription as described in subsection (1) of this section more than once in any twelve-month period.

(3) The provisions of this section do not:

(a) Expand or restrict the authority of the commission to adopt other limited exceptions that allow for the dispensing of prescription drugs by pharmacists without a prescription; or

(b) Limit the terms of a collaborative drug therapy agreement.

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