SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 6627
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 Reported by Senate Committee On:
Health & Long-Term Care, January 28, 2010
Title: An act relating to authorizing Washington pharmacies to fill prescriptions written by advanced registered nurse practitioners in other states or in certain provinces of Canada.
Brief Description: Authorizing Washington pharmacies to fill prescriptions written by advanced registered nurse practitioners in other states or in certain provinces of Canada.
Sponsors: Senators Marr, Pflug, Keiser, Benton, Franklin, Fairley, Schoesler, Pridemore, Roach and Parlette.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Health & Long-Term Care: 1/27/10, 1/28/10 [DP].
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG-TERM CARE |
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators Keiser, Chair; Franklin, Vice Chair; Pflug, Ranking Minority Member; Becker, Fairley, Marr, Murray and Parlette.
Staff: Rhoda Donkin (786-7465)
Background: Current law authorizes pharmacists to accept prescriptions from physicians, osteopaths, dentists, podiatrists, and veterinarians licensed in any state or province of Canada that shares a common border with Washington State. Prescriptions written by advanced registered nurse practitioners in these areas cannot be filled by pharmacists. This mostly impacts residents of Clark and Spokane counties who may cross into Oregon or Idaho to seek health care. When they return home and need prescriptions or refills from their own pharmacies, they are denied if the practitioner was an ARNP from another state or a province of Canada.
Summary of Bill: Pharmacists are authorized to accept prescriptions written by a licensed advanced registered nurse practitioner in any province of Canada or state of the United States that shares a common border with the state of Washington.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: This bill will correct a real problem for people living near the borders of our state. We are a mobile society and we need to be able to make the best use of all our health care providers. This is an important correction of current state law.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Louise Kaplan, Tammie Warnke, ARNPs United of Washington State.