| Chapter 268 |
| 2025 -- S 0483 AS AMENDED Enacted 06/27/2025 |
| A N A C T |
| RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- PHARMACIES |
Introduced By: Senators Lauria, Valverde, Kallman, Murray, Felag, DiMario, Bissaillon, Thompson, Urso, and Acosta |
| Date Introduced: February 26, 2025 |
| 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: |
| 5-19.1-37. Continuation of therapy prescription refill. |
| (a) In the event a pharmacist receives a request for a prescription refill, and the pharmacist |
| is unable to readily obtain refill authorization from the prescriber, or the patient does not have a |
| prescriber, the pharmacist may dispense a one-time refill for continuation of therapy, up to, but no |
| more than one hundred (100) days of the prescribed medication provided that: |
| (1) The prescription is not for a drug in Schedule II-V appearing in chapter 28 of title 21 |
| ("uniform controlled substances act"); |
| (2) The medication is essential to the maintenance of life or to the continuation of therapy |
| of a chronic condition; |
| (3) In the pharmacist's professional judgment, the interruption of therapy might reasonably |
| produce undesirable health consequences or may cause physical or mental discomfort; and |
| (4) The dispensing pharmacist notifies the prescriber of the dispensing within seven (7) |
| business days. If no current prescriber exists, the pharmacist shall document such in their internal |
| record keeping system. |
| SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on July 1, 2025. |
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| LC001776 |
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