Bill > SB5019

This bill expands the circumstances under which hospitals and healthcare entities can dispense emergency medications to patients being discharged from emergency departments. The legislation allows practitioners to prescribe and distribute prepackaged emergency medications when community or hospital pharmacy services are not readily available, specifically addressing situations like limited pharmacy access within 15 miles, patients' inability to reach a local pharmacy, or needs for specific medical treatments. The bill broadens the types of medications that can be distributed, including those for HIV postexposure prophylaxis, anti-infectives, and manufacturer-prepackaged drugs. Key provisions require hospitals to develop comprehensive policies for medication distribution, including creating a pre-approved list of emergency medications, ensuring pharmacist supervision of medication preparation, training practitioners and nurses on medication distribution, and maintaining patient records. The bill limits initial medication supply to 48 hours, with exceptions for certain circumstances like extended manufacturer packaging or specific medical needs. Additionally, the legislation maintains existing provisions for opioid overdose reversal medications and clarifies definitions of terms like "emergency medication," "distribute," and "practitioner." The overall intent is to improve patient access to critical medications when traditional pharmacy services are unavailable, particularly in emergency and time-sensitive medical situations.

Health and Social Services

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5019&Year=2025&Initiative=false