HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	700
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019		H.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO PHARMACISTS PRESCRIBING AND DISPENSING OF OPIOID ANTAGONIST.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  During the 2018 legislative session, the legislature addressed the nationwide opioid epidemic by authorizing pharmacists, who received the appropriate education and training, to prescribe and dispense opioid antagonists to patients who are at risk for an opioid overdose or family member or caregiver of an individual at risk for an opioid overdose.

     The legislature found that pharmacists are well situated to provide education and access to opioid antagonists to assist with the prevention of opioid overdoses in Hawaii.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to clarify that a pharmacist may prescribe and dispense an opioid antagonist in the name of the individual who is at risk for an opioid overdose or in the name of the family member or caregiver of an at-risk individual who is requesting the opioid antagonist.

     SECTION 2.  Section 461-11.8, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "[[]§461-11.8[]]  Opioid antagonist; authority to prescribe and dispense; requirements.  (a)  A pharmacist, acting in good faith and reasonable care, may prescribe and dispense an opioid antagonist to an individual who is at risk for an opioid overdose or a family member or caregiver of an individual who is at risk of an opioid overdose regardless of whether the individual has evidence of a previous prescription for an opioid antagonist from a practitioner authorized to prescribe opioids.  The opioid antagonist prescribed and dispensed for a family member or caregiver of an individual who is at risk for an opioid overdose may be prescribed and dispensed in the name of the individual who is to be treated with the opioid antagonist or in the name of the individual who is requesting the opioid antagonist, or an "Opioid Antagonist Recipient" or "OAR".

     (b)  A pharmacist who prescribes and dispenses opioid antagonists pursuant to subsection (a) shall:

     (1)  Complete a training program related to prescribing opioid antagonists that is approved by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), a curriculum-based program from an ACPE-accredited college of pharmacy, a state or local health department program, or a program recognized by the board;

     (2)  Provide the individual who is receiving the opioid antagonist with information and written educational material on risk factors of opioid overdose, signs of an overdose, overdose response steps, and the use of the opioid antagonist; and

     (3)  Dispense the opioid antagonist to the individual who is at risk for an opioid overdose, family member, [or] caregiver, or individual requesting the opioid antagonist for an individual at risk for an opioid overdose as soon as practicable after the pharmacist issues the prescription."

     SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval and shall be repealed on June 30, 2024.

 

 

Report Title:

Opioid Antagonist; Pharmacists; Prescribing; Dispensing

 

Description:

Authorizes pharmacists, acting in good faith and exercising reasonable care, to prescribe and dispense an opioid antagonist to patients, and family members and caregivers of opioid patients.  (HB700 HD2)

 

 

 

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