DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

(Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission)

[Filed March 30, 2026, 8:11 a.m., effective April 30, 2026]

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.

Purpose: Medication assistance services provided by nonpractitioners; expanding the types of actions allowed. The pharmacy quality assurance commission is adopting amendments to WAC 246-945-714 related to the regulation of medication assistance provided by nonpractitioners. The adopted amendments bring WAC 246-945-714 in line with changes made to RCW 69.41.010(15) following the passage of SHB 1720 (chapter 26, Laws of 2025).

Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 246-945-714.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 18.64.005 and 69.41.010(15).

Other Authority: SHB 1720 (chapter 26, Laws of 2025), codified in RCW 69.41.010.

Adopted under notice filed as WSR 25-23-066 on November 18, 2025.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

Date Adopted: March 30, 2026.

Hawkins DeFrance, PharmD, Chair

Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 25-08-072, filed 4/1/25, effective 5/2/25)

WAC 246-945-714Medication assistance by nonpractitioners.

(1) An individual may receive medication assistance from nonpractitioners. Medication assistance only includes:

(a) Reminding or coaching the individual to take their medication;

(b) Handing the individual their medication container;

(d) Using an enabler, except if a nonpractitioner uses the individual's hand as an enabler, the nonpractitioner may only steady or guide an individual's hand while the individual administers a medication to themselves and may not engage in "hand-over-hand" administration;

(e) Placing the individual's medication in their hand;

(f) ((Handing an individual their prefilled insulin syringe))Setting up a diabetic device for self-administration;

(g) Handing injectable medication to an individual for self-administration;

(h) The transfer of an individual's medication from one container to another container for the purpose of preparing an individual dose; or

(((h)))(i) Medication alteration. An individual must be aware that their medication has been altered.

(2) A nonpractitioner shall only perform the medication assistance described in subsection (1)(((g) and (h)))(h) and (i) of this section, where a practitioner has determined and communicated orally or by written direction that such medication preparation assistance is necessary and appropriate.

(3) A nonpractitioner shall not provide medication assistance to individuals that involves intravenous medications or injectable medications, except ((handing an individual their prefilled insulin syringes))setting up diabetic devices for self-administration or handing injectable medications to an individual for self-administration.