FINAL BILL REPORT

SSB 5565

C 248 L 01

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Dispensing controlled substance orders and prescriptions.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Health & Long‑Term Care (originally sponsored by Senators Deccio, Thibaudeau and Kohl‑Welles).

Senate Committee on Health & Long‑Term Care

House Committee on Health Care

Background:  Schedule II controlled substances are drugs regulated under the state Uniform Controlled Substances Act and federal law.  The law requires a prescription for these drugs to be dispensed.  Common names for some of the Schedule II drugs are morphine, methadone, and Ritalin.  The Federal Drug Enforcement Administration is streamlining its procedures, and by rule has authorized the use of facsimile prescriptions from physician to pharmacy under certain circumstances.

Summary:  Physicians and their agents are authorized to facsimile transmit prescription information to a pharmacy, and the pharmacy is permitted to dispense the Schedule II substance based on the faxed prescription for patients in a long-term care facility or hospice programs licensed by the state.  In addition, a pharmacy can dispense a Schedule II injectable substance that is to be compounded for patient use pursuant to a fax.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate490

House     95 0 (House amended)

Senate    47 0 (Senate concurred)

Effective:  July 22, 2001