Bill
Bill > S3840
summary
Introduced
03/10/2026
03/10/2026
In Committee
03/10/2026
03/10/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026-2027 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill permits a pharmacist to dispense or sell an emergency supply of a chronic maintenance drug without a current, valid prescription from a practitioner, under certain conditions. To dispense or sell an emergency supply of a drug under the bill: · the pharmacy at which the pharmacist is practicing must have a record of a prescription for the drug in the name of the patient who is requesting the emergency supply, but the prescription does not provide for a refill or the time permitted for providing the refill has passed;· the pharmacist must attempt but fail to obtain authorization to refill the prescription from the practitioner who issued the prescription or another practitioner responsible for the patient's care;· the pharmacist must determine, in the pharmacist's professional judgment, that refusal to provide an emergency supply of the drug would endanger the health or welfare of the patient;· the drug must not be a controlled dangerous substance;· the amount of the drug dispensed must not exceed a 30-day supply as provided in the most recent prescription or, if the standard unit of dispensing for the drug exceeds a 30-day supply, the amount dispensed must not exceed the standard unit of dispensing;· the pharmacist may not have provided an emergency supply of the particular drug pursuant to this subsection to the same patient in the previous 12-month period; and· the pharmacist must fulfill all documentation and other requirements for dispensing established by the Board of Pharmacy by regulation. The bill provides civil immunity for pharmacists and their employers for acts or omissions in connection with the dispensing of an emergency supply of a drug pursuant to this bill unless the act or omission constitutes gross negligence, recklessness, or willful or wanton misconduct. The bill also states that it would not preclude a pharmacist from dispensing an emergency supply of a drug under other authority granted by regulations promulgated by the Board of Pharmacy. Currently, N.J.A.C.13:39-7.4 permits emergency dispensing of a 72-hour supply of a drug, under conditions that are more permissive than the conditions for dispensing a longer-term supply established under this bill.
AI Summary
This bill allows pharmacists to dispense an emergency supply of a chronic maintenance drug, which is a medication taken regularly for a long-term health condition, without a current prescription under specific circumstances. To do so, the pharmacy must have a previous prescription for the patient, the pharmacist must have tried and failed to contact the prescribing doctor or another responsible practitioner for authorization to refill, and the pharmacist must believe that not providing the drug would harm the patient's health or welfare. The drug dispensed cannot be a controlled dangerous substance, and the amount provided cannot exceed a 30-day supply, unless the standard dispensing unit is larger. A pharmacist can only provide this emergency supply to the same patient once every 12 months and must follow documentation rules set by the Board of Pharmacy. This bill also provides civil immunity to pharmacists and their employers for dispensing these emergency supplies, unless their actions are grossly negligent or reckless, and it does not prevent pharmacists from dispensing emergency supplies under existing regulations, which currently allow for a shorter 72-hour supply under more permissive conditions.
Committee Categories
Health and Social Services
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee (on 03/10/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/S3840 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/S4000/3840_I1.HTM |
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