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:

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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. Tobacco cessation therapy prescriptive authority.

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

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

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patient pursuant to rules adopted by the board of pharmacy.

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

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

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

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

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cessation products;

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

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

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

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

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

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board of pharmacy.

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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patients quit using all forms of tobacco.

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

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

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Island department of health.

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

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

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business days following the prescribing of a tobacco cessation product.

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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 licensed pharmacist, who successfully completes a course on

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

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

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

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educated in the tobacco cessation products.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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