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Bill > A3359


NJ A3359

NJ A3359
Regulates provision of pharmaceutical services in nursing homes.


summary

Introduced
01/13/2026
In Committee
01/13/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
01/13/2026
Dead
Signed/Enacted/Adopted
01/13/2026

Introduced Session

2026-2027 Regular Session

Bill Summary

This bill codifies current Department of Health regulations concerning the provision of pharmaceutical services in long-term care facilities, and establishes an additional requirement to aid in preventing certain conflicts of interest. Under the bill and current regulations, each long-term care facility is to have a consultant pharmacist and either a provider pharmacist or, if the facility has an in-house pharmacy, a director of pharmaceutical services. A New Jersey licensed pharmacist is to serve as director of pharmaceutical services or as consultant pharmacist. The pharmacist is required to comply with federal and State statutes, rules, regulations, and currently accepted standards of practice. The bill and current regulations provide that each long-term care facility is to have an interdisciplinary pharmacy and therapeutics committee, appointed by and reporting to the administrator of the facility and consisting of at least the administrator, a representative of the nursing staff, and the facility's consultant pharmacist, with oversight as needed by the facility's medical director. The committee may include a licensed pharmacist representing the provider pharmacy. The committee is to hold meetings at least quarterly. Records, including the dates of meetings, attendance, activities, findings, and recommendations, are to be maintained by the committee. Under the bill and current regulations, the long-term care facility is to appoint a consultant pharmacist who is not also the director of pharmaceutical services or pharmacist provider. The bill establishes an additional requirement for consultant pharmacists to attest that the consultant pharmacist does not have an affiliation with either the facility's director of pharmaceutical services or the facility's pharmacist provider. The bill specifies that, following the appointment of the consultant pharmacist, the consultant pharmacist is to avoid all real or potential conflicts of interest with the facility's director of pharmaceutical services or the facility's pharmacist provider.

AI Summary

This bill codifies existing regulations for pharmaceutical services in nursing homes, also known as long-term care facilities, and adds a new requirement to prevent conflicts of interest. It mandates that each facility must have a consultant pharmacist, who is a licensed New Jersey pharmacist with specific qualifications, and either a provider pharmacist or, if the facility has its own pharmacy, a director of pharmaceutical services. These pharmacists must adhere to all federal and state laws and accepted professional standards. The bill also requires each facility to establish an interdisciplinary pharmacy and therapeutics committee, composed of the administrator, a nursing representative, and the consultant pharmacist, with potential input from the medical director and a representative from the provider pharmacy. This committee must meet at least quarterly and keep detailed records of its activities. A key new provision is that the consultant pharmacist cannot also be the director of pharmaceutical services or the provider pharmacist, and must formally attest that they have no affiliations with these roles, and must actively avoid any real or potential conflicts of interest with them. Additionally, facilities storing emergency injectable or oral controlled substances must ensure they have the necessary registrations from the Drug Enforcement Administration and the state.

Sponsors (4)

Last Action

Withdrawn Because Approved P.L.2025, c.294. (on 01/13/2026)

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