Bill > H1915

This bill directs the Department of Public Health to establish a two-year pilot program for institutional pharmacies, which are pharmacies located within hospitals or other healthcare facilities, to improve patients' adherence to their prescribed medications. The program will allow these institutional pharmacies to function similarly to retail pharmacies by providing patients with their medications directly upon discharge from a hospital. Additionally, licensed hospital pharmacists will be permitted to dispense a 14-day supply of medication to patients leaving the hospital and to conduct essential services like medication review, reconciliation (ensuring all medications are accounted for and interactions are checked), and patient counseling. If the pilot program proves successful in enhancing medication adherence after its two-year duration, the Department of Public Health will be required to eliminate any existing regulations that prevent the program from being expanded more broadly.