Subject of Possible Rule Making: Tamper-resistant prescription pads and paper; the pharmacy quality assurance commission (commission) is considering establishing a new section(s) in chapter 246-945 WAC and amending WAC 246-945-010 to regulate tamper-resistant prescription pads and paper information, including industry-recognized security features and their approval process.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: HB 2014 (chapter 328, Laws of 2009) established RCW 18.64.500 related to tamper-resistant prescription pads and paper. The statute requires all written prescriptions in Washington state to be written on a tamper-resistant prescription paper approved by the commission and authorizes the commission to adopt necessary rules. In 2010, the commission approved a guidance document which includes direction for vendors interested in submitting a tamper-resistant prescription paper for the commission's approval; however, rules on the topic have not been adopted. The commission has received questions from interested parties related to the guidance document content that could be addressed through rule making. On August 14, 2025, the commission authorized rule making to consider rules on tamper-resistant prescription pads and paper to replace the guidance document.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Julia Katz, P.O. Box 47852, Olympia, WA 98504-7852, phone 360-791-1167, TTY 711, email PharmacyRules@doh.wa.gov.

Additional comments: Interested parties can participate in the drafting of the proposed rules. The commission will conduct a series of rules workshops. Rule-making notices will be delivered via the GovDelivery list. To receive notices, please go to https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/WADOH/subscriber/new. After signing in, please click open the box labeled "Health Systems Quality Assurance." Next, click open the box labeled "Health Professions" and then, click again on "Pharmacy Commission Newsletter." You may also check the box next to one or more of the other professions or facilities listed to receive information related to that specific topic.