Bill > H5353

This bill amends pharmacy regulations to allow pharmacy technicians and pharmacy interns to perform technology-assisted dispensing process validation for medications within institutional pharmacies, under specific conditions and supervision. The bill defines key terms like "technology" (which includes barcode scanning and radio frequency identification), "institutional pharmacy" (a pharmacy located within or contracted with a hospital or clinic), and "dispensing process validation" (physically verifying the correct drug, dosage, and form). Pharmacy technicians can validate medications prepared by other technicians or interns when those medications will be administered by licensed healthcare professionals, such as patient-specific medication orders or automated storage device stock. However, the bill explicitly prohibits technicians from validating controlled substances or most compounded products. The pharmacist-in-charge remains responsible for medication errors, and the institutional pharmacy must maintain detailed training documentation, quality control systems, and track potential errors. The pharmacy board is authorized to create additional rules and regulations to implement these new provisions. The act will take effect immediately upon passage.

Health and Social Services

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