2025 -- S 0483 AS AMENDED

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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

     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:

     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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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 pharmacists to dispense a one-time refill, for up to one hundred

days under the following conditions:

The pharmacist is unable to readily obtain a refill authorization from the prescriber, or

the patient does not have a prescriber;

The prescription is not for a drug in Schedule II-V

Medication is essential to maintain life or for a chronic condition;

The pharmacist has judged that stopping medication might produce undesirable health

risks or physical or mental discomfort; and

The pharmacist notifies the prescriber of the refill within seven business days, or if no

current prescriber exists, the pharmacist will maintain detailed records of the

transaction.

     This act would take effect on July 1, 2025.

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LC001776

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