HOUSE BILL REPORT

SB 6192

BYSenators West, Stratton, McCaslin and Kreidler

Revising provisions for substitution of generic drugs.

House Committe on Health Care

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (9)

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

House Staff:John Welsh (786-7133)

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 1, 1990

BACKGROUND:

By law, therapeutically equivalent generic drugs in this state may be substituted for brand name drugs by a pharmacist with the authorization of a prescribing practitioner on a prescription form.  The practitioner may sign on either of two lines provided for this purpose identified as "DISPENSE AS WRITTEN" or "SUBSTITUTION PERMITTED."

A generic drug is a drug product of the identical chemical base or salt as the brand name drug intended to be dispensed to a patient for the same therapeutic effect.

There is no provision in existing law for authorizing the substitution of generic drugs on a one-line prescription form utilized in other states.

SUMMARY:

A pharmacist in this state may substitute a generic drug authorized by a practitioner in another state on a one-line prescription form unless the practitioner indicates otherwise.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

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

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Lars Hennum, Pharmacists of Washington; Alison Johnston, Washington Pharmacists Association; George Bradley; Don Williams, State Pharmacy Board; Michelle Valentine, Washington State Pharmacists Association; and Joan Gaumer and Bob Marotta, MEDCO.

House Committee - Testified Against:      No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    Existing law does not expressly authorize a Washington pharmacist to substitute a generic drug on an out-of-state one-line prescription form issued by a prescribing practitioner.  Approximately one-half of the states use a one-line prescription form or a variation of it, including Oregon, Alaska, and California.  The ability to substitute less expensive generic drugs for brand name drugs will contain health care costs, especially for senior citizens who consume about twice an many prescriptions as patients under 65.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None.