2019 -- H 5549

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- PHARMACIES

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Vella-Wilkinson, Williams, Morin, Jackson, and
Carson

     Date Introduced: February 27, 2019

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 5-19.1 of the General Laws entitled "Pharmacies" is hereby

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amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     5-19.1-34. Pharmacists -- Contraceptives -- Prescribing.

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     (a) In accordance with ยง 5-19.1-14 and adopted by the state board of pharmacy, a

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pharmacist may prescribe and dispense hormonal contraceptive patches and self-administered

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oral hormonal contraceptives to a person who is:

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     (1) At least eighteen (18) years of age, regardless of whether the person has evidence of a

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previous prescription from a primary care practitioner or women's health care practitioner for a

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hormonal contraceptive patch or self-administered oral hormonal contraceptive; or

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     (2) Under eighteen (18) years of age, only if the person has evidence of a previous

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prescription from a primary care practitioner or women's health care practitioner for a hormonal

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contraceptive patch or self-administered oral hormonal contraceptive.

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     (b) The state board of pharmacy shall adopt rules to establish, in consultation with the

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Rhode Island medical board, the Rhode Island state board of nursing and the Rhode Island

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department of health, and in consideration of guidelines established by the American Congress of

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Obstetricians and Gynecologists standard procedures for the prescribing of hormonal

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contraceptive patches and self-administered oral hormonal contraceptives by pharmacists.

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     (c) A pharmacist shall be required to:

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     (1) Complete a training program approved by the state board of pharmacy that is related

 

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to prescribing hormonal contraceptive patches and self-administered oral hormonal

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contraceptives;

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     (2) Provide a self-screening risk assessment tool that the patient must use prior to the

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pharmacist's prescribing the hormonal contraceptive patch or self-administered oral hormonal

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contraceptive;

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     (3) Refer the patient to the patient's primary care practitioner or women's health care

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practitioner upon prescribing and dispensing the hormonal contraceptive patch or self-

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administered oral hormonal contraceptive;

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     (4) Provide the patient with a written record of the hormonal contraceptive patch or self-

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administered oral hormonal contraceptive prescribed and dispensed and advise the patient to

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consult with a primary care practitioner or women's health care practitioner; and

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     (5) Dispense the hormonal contraceptive patch or self-administered oral hormonal

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contraceptive to the patient as soon as practicable after the pharmacist issues the prescription.

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     (d) All state and federal laws governing insurance coverage of contraceptive drugs,

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devices, products and services shall apply to hormonal contraceptive patches and self-

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administered oral hormonal contraceptives prescribed by a pharmacist under this section.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- PHARMACIES

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     This act would authorize a pharmacist to prescribe and dispense hormonal contraceptive

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patches and self-administered oral hormonal contraceptives, provided that the pharmacist has

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completed a training program approved by the state board of pharmacy.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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