2019 -- S 0306

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LC001043

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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: Senators Valverde, Miller, Goldin, Lawson, and Paolino

     Date Introduced: February 13, 2019

     Referred To: Senate Health & Human Services

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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

amended by adding thereto the following section:

     5-19.1-34. Tobacco cessation therapy prescriptive authority.

     (a) A pharmacist who is licensed pursuant to this chapter and who meets the requirements

of this section may prescribe and dispense first line tobacco cessation drug therapies to a qualified

patient pursuant to rules adopted by the board of pharmacy.

     (b) For the purposes of this section, "qualified patient" means a patient who:

     (1) Is at least eighteen (18) years of age;

     (2) Is willing to participate in a structured tobacco cessation program consisting of an

initial evaluation and appropriate follow-up visits with the pharmacist prescribing tobacco

cessation products;

     (3) Has been educated on symptoms of nicotine toxicity, common and/or severe adverse

effects of prescribed medication(s), and when to seek medical treatment.

     (c) Prior to prescribing tobacco cessation products, the pharmacist must successfully

complete a course on tobacco cessation therapy taught by a provider accredited by the

Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education or by a comparable provider recognized by the

board of pharmacy.

     (d) The pharmacist may refer high risk patients or patients with an identified

contraindication to first line tobacco cessation drug therapies to the patient's primary care

provider, as applicable, or to another provider, as appropriate.

     (e) All pharmacists participating in prescribing therapy for tobacco cessation will follow

the US Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Services, Clinical Practice

Guideline: Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence: 2008 Update (or subsequent updates as they

become available), or the most updated standard of care as approved by board of pharmacy.

     (1) Pharmacists will implement the Five A's (ask, advise, assess, assist, arrange) to help

patients quit using all forms of tobacco.

     (2) Pharmacists' services will include an educational component to include counseling on

medication therapies and cessation strategies as well as referral to sources provided by the Rhode

Island department of health.

     (f) Notification of the patient screening, the prescription record and the follow-up care

plan shall be provided to the patient's primary care provider, as applicable, within five (5)

business days following the prescribing of a tobacco cessation product.

     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 licensed pharmacist, who successfully completes a course on

tobacco cessation therapy, to prescribe and dispense tobacco cessation drug products to a

qualified patient pursuant to rules adopted by the board of pharmacy. The act would also provide

that in order for a willing patient to qualify, he or she must be 18 years of age, evaluated and

educated in the tobacco cessation products.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC001043

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