Bill > A5837

Introduced Session

This bill permits the use of automated dispensing devices in long-term care facilities and hospice care programs. The bill defines an "automated dispensing device" as a mechanical automated medication system used in long-term care facilities or hospice care programs that stores prescribed medications and dispenses those medications for the sole use of the residents in a long-term care or hospice care program. The bill authorizes an institutional pharmacy of a long-term care facility or hospice care program to utilize an automated dispensing device for routine medication dispensing and storage. The automated dispensing device will remain the property of the pharmacy. The pharmacy is required to maintain all controls and record keeping as required by all law, rules, and regulations of the State and federal government. The bill requires the institutional pharmacy of a long-term care facility or hospice care program to obtain a machine-specific federal Drug Enforcement Administration registration number for each automated dispensing device it maintains, unless the device is exclusively stocked for the dispensing of emergency drug kits for emergency administration. The bill also requires the pharmacy to obtain a license from the New Jersey State Board of Pharmacy for each specific model of automated dispensing device it maintains. The pharmacy is required to provide notice to the board if multiple automated dispensing devices of the same model, for which a license has already been granted to the pharmacy, are installed in a long-term care facility or hospice care program. The board will retain its rights to regulate, inspect, and audit the pharmacy and any automated dispensing device. The bill restricts access to an automated dispensing device to authorized licensed personnel designated by the pharmacist-in-charge. A list of such authorized personnel will be maintained at all times within the pharmacy system and will be reviewed and updated periodically. All medications, including controlled substances, will only be dispensed from an automated dispensing device pursuant to a valid, patient-specific prescription or order. Prepackaged cartridges or containers may be sent to a remote site to be loaded into an automated dispensing device by personnel designated by the pharmacist-in-charge provided: (1) the individual cartridges or containers are transported to remote sites in a secure, tamper-evident container; and (2) the automated pharmacy system uses bar-coding, microchip, or other technologies to ensure that the containers are accurately loaded in the automated pharmacy system. The bill requires that any loss of medication will be reported in accordance with the requirements of the New Jersey State Board of Pharmacy.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Angela Mcknight (D)*,  Raj Mukherji (D)*,  Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D)*, 

Reported out of Assembly Comm. with Amendments, 2nd Reading (on 01/03/2022)

Official Document