SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5960
As of January 15, 2024
Title: An act relating to prescription labels for medications used for abortion.
Brief Description: Concerning prescription labels for medications used for abortion.
Sponsors: Senators Frame, Dhingra, Hasegawa, Hunt, Keiser, Kuderer, Liias, Nobles, Salomon, Stanford, Valdez and Wilson, C..
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Health & Long Term Care: 1/16/24.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Allows a health care provider who has prescribed an abortion medication to request the label for the medication include the prescribing health care provider's national practitioner identification number or the health care facility name, instead of the prescribing health care provider's name.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG TERM CARE
Staff: Julie Tran (786-7283)
Background:

Prescription Drug Container Labels. When a prescription drug is dispensed its container must have a label containing specific information.  The information includes the name and address of the dispensing pharmacy, the prescription number, the name of the prescribing health care provider, the prescriber's directions for use, the name and strength of the medication, the name of the patient, the date, and the expiration date.  A prescribing health care provider may request the name and strength of the medication not be shown.

National Provider Identifiers. National Provider Identifiers (NPIs) are unique identification numbers for health care providers, including both individual health care providers and organization health care providers.  The NPIs are used in administrative functions and financial transactions and it provides a single identification number to be used with multiple health plans.  The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services operates the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System to assign NPIs to health care providers and maintain information about health care providers with NPIs.

Summary of Bill:

A health care provider who has prescribed abortion medication may request the label for the medications include the prescribing health care provider's national practitioner identification number or the health care facility name, instead of the prescribing health care provider's name.


The term abortion medications is defined as substances used in the course of medical treatment intended to induce the termination of a pregnancy.

Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 9, 2024.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.