ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Fifty-fifth Legislature First Regular Session
	Senate: HHS DP 5-3-0-0 | 3^rd Read 23-7-0-0 House: HHS DP 5-3-1-0

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SB 1082: pharmacists; dispensing authority; hormonal contraceptives

Sponsor:  Senator Ugenti-Rita, LD 23

Caucus & Cow

Overview

Allows a pharmacist to dispense a self-administered hormonal contraceptive under a standing prescription drug order and establishes dispensing and rulemaking requirements.

History

The Arizona State Board of Pharmacy (Board) protects the health, safety and welfare of Arizona citizens by regulating the practice of pharmacy and the manufacturing, distribution, sale and storage of prescription medications, devices and non-prescription medications. (A.R.S. § 32-1904).

Currently, a pharmacist may dispense, pursuant to a standing order, naloxone hydrochloride or any other opioid antagonist that is approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use according to Board-specified protocols to: 1) a person who is at risk of experiencing an opioid-related overdose; or 2) a family member or community member who is in a position to assist that person. (A.R.S. § 32-1979)

A standing order means a signed prescription order that authorizes a pharmacist to dispense naloxone hydrochloride or any other opioid antagonist for emergency purposes and that is issued by a medical practitioner licensed in Arizona or a state or county health officer who is a medical practitioner licensed in Arizona. (A.R.S. § 32-1968)

Provisions

1. Allows a pharmacist to dispense a self-administered hormonal contraceptive to a patient who is at least 18 years old under a standing prescription drug order without any other patient-specific prescription drug order. (Sec. 1)

2. Permits a prescriber who is licensed to prescribe a self-administered hormonal contraceptive, including a person acting in the prescriber's capacity as an Arizona Department of Health Services (DHS) or a county health department employee, to issue a standing prescription drug order authorizing the dispensing of a self-administered hormonal contraceptive.

a) Specifies that a DHS employee is not subject to a duty to act or standard of care to issue a standing order for a hormonal contraceptive. (Sec. 1)

3. Requires the Board, in conjunction with DHS and in consultation with a national organization specializing in obstetrics and gynecology, to adopt rules to establish standard procedures for pharmacists to dispense self-administered hormonal contraceptives that require a pharmacist to:

a) Obtain a completed nationally recognized self-screening risk assessment from each patient before dispensing the self-administered hormonal contraceptive; and

b) Provide the patient with information about the self-administered hormonal contraceptive. (Sec. 1)

4. Provides immunity for a pharmacist and prescriber acting reasonably and in good faith in dispensing or prescribing a self-administered hormonal contraceptive. (Sec. 1)

5. Applies all state and federal laws governing insurance coverage of contraceptive drugs, devices, products and services to prescribed and dispensed self-administered hormonal contraceptives. (Sec. 1)

6. Specifies that the prescribed requirements do not apply to a valid patient-specific prescription for a hormonal contraceptive that is issued by an authorized prescriber and dispensing by a pharmacist. (Sec. 1)

7. Defines self-administered hormonal contraceptive as:

a) A self-administered hormonal contraceptive that is approved by the FDA to prevent pregnancy; and

b) An oral hormonal contraceptive, a hormonal contraceptive vaginal ring and a hormonal contraceptive patch. (Sec. 1)

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f)                         SB 1082

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