The bill aims to expand the circumstances under which medications can be dispensed or delivered from hospitals and healthcare entities in Washington state. It amends RCW 70.41.480 and 18.64.450 to allow practitioners with prescriptive authority to prescribe limited amounts of prepackaged emergency medications to patients being discharged from hospital emergency departments when access to community or outpatient pharmacy services is unavailable. The bill specifies that these emergency medications may include drugs for opioid overdose reversal, treatment for opioid use disorder, human immunodeficiency virus postexposure prophylaxis, anti-infectives, and other prepackaged medications. It also outlines the conditions under which hospitals can distribute these medications, including the development of policies by the hospital pharmacy director and the requirement for practitioners and nurses to be trained on the medications.

Additionally, the bill modifies the regulations surrounding the dispensing of legend drugs and controlled substances by healthcare entities. It maintains that these entities must be licensed and operate under the supervision of a pharmacist. However, it allows practitioners to dispense medications for personal use to patients in amounts not exceeding 72 hours, with exceptions for situations where community pharmacy services are unavailable, or when specific medications are required. The amendments clarify the definitions of terms such as "emergency medication," "distribute," and "manufacturer," ensuring that the legislation is comprehensive and addresses the needs of patients in emergency situations.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 70.41.480, 18.64.450
Substitute Bill: 70.41.480, 18.64.450