HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1701

BYRepresentatives Leonard, Patrick, Prentice, Braddock, Anderson, Crane, Brooks, Moyer, Cooper, Zellinsky, H. Myers, Bowman, Ferguson and Youngsman

Allowing choice of pharmacies.

House Committe on Health Care

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (10)

      Signed by Representatives Braddock, Chair; Day, Vice Chair; Brooks, Ranking Republican Member; Cantwell, Chandler, Morris, Prentice, Sommers, Sprenkle and Wolfe.

House Staff:John Welsh (786-7133)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE MARCH 1, 1989

BACKGROUND:

Currently, Washington residents living on the bordering areas with Canada are unable to get their Canadian dental or veterinary prescriptions filled by in-state pharmacies.  While the law permits medical prescriptions issued by Canadian physicians to be filled by pharmacies located in these border areas, this authority does not extend to Canadian dentists, podiatrists and veterinarians.

Also, physicians and osteopathic physicians licensed in other states may have their prescriptions legally filled by in-state pharmacies, but not out-of-state dentists, podiatrists and veterinarians.

SUMMARY:

SUBSTITUTE BILL:  Drug prescriptions from dentists, podiatrists and veterinarians residing in provinces of Canada sharing a common border with the state of Washington can be filled by in-state pharmacies.

Dentists, podiatrists and veterinarians licensed in other states may have their prescriptions legally filled by in-state pharmacies.

SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  Podiatrists residing out-of-state are included in the authorization for filling prescriptions by in-state pharmacies.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

Effective Date:The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Lars Hennum, Pharmacists of Washington and Don Williams, Board of Pharmacy.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    State residents of Point Roberts and other isolated communities do not have access to proper medical care within Washington borders.  They are often forced to utilize the services of Canadian and out-of-state practitioners for their health care.  This bill will ease considerably the ability of state residents in remote areas to have their prescriptions filled.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.