BILL REQ. #:  H-4573.1 

Read first time 02/03/2004.   Referred to Committee on Health Care.

     AN ACT Relating to refilling prescriptions of inmates released from jails and state correctional facilities; 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, in which case the pharmacist shall dispense the prescribed nonpreferred drug. As used in this subsection, "refill" includes a prescription authorized by a prescriber for an inmate after the inmate is released from a jail or state correctional facility.
     (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.