The bill aims to expand the circumstances under which medications can be dispensed or delivered from hospitals and healthcare entities in Washington state. It allows 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 specifically includes medications for opioid overdose reversal, treatment for opioid use disorder, human immunodeficiency virus postexposure prophylaxis drugs, anti-infectives, and drugs that are prepackaged by the manufacturer. Additionally, it establishes criteria for hospitals to develop policies regarding the distribution of these medications, including training for practitioners and nurses, and limits on the quantity dispensed.

Furthermore, the bill amends existing regulations concerning 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. The bill clarifies that practitioners can dispense medications for personal use to patients within the healthcare entity, with a limit of 72 hours of usage, unless specific conditions are met, such as the unavailability of pharmacy services or the need for certain medications that cannot be limited to a 72-hour supply. The amendments also include updated definitions and provisions to ensure compliance with the new regulations.

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