2025 -- S 0483 | |
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LC001776 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025 | |
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A N A C T | |
RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- PHARMACIES | |
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Introduced By: Senators Lauria, Valverde, Kallman, Murray, Felag, DiMario, Bissaillon, | |
Date Introduced: February 26, 2025 | |
Referred To: Senate Health & Human Services | |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
1 | SECTION 1. Chapter 5-19.1 of the General Laws entitled "Pharmacies" is hereby amended |
2 | by adding thereto the following section: |
3 | 5-19.1-37. Continuation of therapy prescription refill. |
4 | In the event a pharmacist receives a request for a prescription refill, and the pharmacist is |
5 | unable to readily obtain refill authorization from the prescriber, or the patient does not have a |
6 | prescriber, the pharmacist may dispense a one-time refill for continuation of therapy, up to, but no |
7 | more than one hundred (100) days of the prescribed medication provided that: |
8 | (1) The prescription is not for a drug in Schedule II-V appearing in chapter 28 of title 21; |
9 | (2) The medication is essential to the maintenance of life or to the continuation of therapy |
10 | for a chronic condition; |
11 | (3) In the pharmacist's professional judgment, the interruption of therapy might produce |
12 | undesirable health consequences or may cause physical or mental discomfort; and |
13 | (4) The dispensing pharmacist notifies the prescriber of dispensing the refill within seven |
14 | (7) business days. If no current prescriber exists, the pharmacist shall maintain and document |
15 | details of the transaction. |
16 | SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on July 1, 2026. |
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LC001776 | |
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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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1 | This act would authorize pharmacists to dispense a one-time refill, for up to one hundred |
2 | days under the following conditions: |
3 | The pharmacist is unable to readily obtain a refill authorization from the prescriber, or |
4 | the patient does not have a prescriber; |
5 | The prescription is not for a drug in Schedule II-V |
6 | Medication is essential to maintain life or for a chronic condition; |
7 | The pharmacist has judged that stopping medication might produce undesirable health |
8 | risks or physical or mental discomfort; and |
9 | The pharmacist notifies the prescriber of the refill within seven business days, or if no |
10 | current prescriber exists, the pharmacist will maintain detailed records of the |
11 | transaction. |
12 | This act would take effect on July 1, 2026. |
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LC001776 | |
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