The bill amends existing laws 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 the amount of medication dispensed to a maximum of 48 hours, with exceptions for certain circumstances.

Furthermore, the bill modifies the regulations governing health care entities regarding the dispensing of legend drugs and controlled substances. 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 health care entity, with a standard limit of 72 hours, which can be exceeded under specific conditions, such as when community pharmacy services are unavailable or when certain medications are required. The bill also prohibits health care entities from billing separately for drugs or therapies dispensed under these new provisions.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 70.41.480, 18.64.450
Substitute Bill: 70.41.480, 18.64.450
Bill as Passed Legislature: 70.41.480, 18.64.450
Session Law: 70.41.480, 18.64.450