HOUSE BILL REPORT

SB 6038

BYSenators Wojahn, Kiskaddon, Kreidler, Deccio and Tanner

Permitting medicare-approved dialysis centers to disperse certain legend drugs.

House Committe on Health Care

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (9)

      Signed by Representatives Braddock, Chair; Day, Vice Chair; Bristow, Brooks, Bumgarner, Cantwell, D. Sommers, Sprenkle and Vekich.

House Staff:John Welsh (786-7133)

AS PASSED HOUSE APRIL 2, 1987

BACKGROUND:

Current law does not authorize a kidney dialysis center to deliver drugs directly to home dialysis patients.  These drugs, prescribed by a physician, are inserted into the dialysis machinery by the patient in premeasured doses.  This practice of delivering drugs directly to kidney dialysis patients at their homes is long-standing, but in technical violation of the law, which requires a pharmacist to dispense it.

SUMMARY:

Medicare-approved dialysis centers operating home dialysis programs may sell, deliver, possess or dispense directly to patients those prescribed drugs authorized by the Board of Pharmacy.

Fiscal Note:      No Impact.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Linda Christophersen, Northwest Kidney Center.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    There is virtually no opportunity for drug diversion in situations involving kidney dialysis in the home setting.  Requiring a pharmacist to deliver the drugs would add a needless cost to health care.  This practice has been in existence for many years.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.