State SealARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 

HB 2633: pharmacists; controlled substances

PRIME SPONSOR: Representative Cobb, LD 5

BILL STATUS: House Engrossed

              

Legend: Board – Arizona State Board of Pharmacy MME – Morphine Milligram Equivalent Amendments – BOLD and Stricken (Committee)

Abstract

☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal NoteRelating to prescription limitations and pharmacists.

Provisions

1.       Stipulates that if an initial prescription for opioids that exceeds a 5-day supply or a new prescription that exceeds 90 MMEs per day is provided to a pharmacist, it is presumed to be exempted from statutory limitations.

a.       Specifies that a pharmacist is not required to verify a prescription's exemption status with the prescriber. (Sec. 1, 2)  

2.       Allows a pharmacy to sell and dispense a schedule II substance that is prescribed by a health professional who is located in another county of this state if the prescription complies with state and federal law. (Sec. 3)

3.       Specifies that a pharmacist is not required to verify if a medical practitioner has received a waiver from electronic prescription requirements. (Sec. 3)

4.       Adds a retroactive effective date of April 26, 2018. (Sec. 4)

5.       Makes conforming changes. (Sec. 1, 2)

Current Law

All initial prescriptions for opioids are limited to a 5-day supply, unless the prescription is following a surgical procedure, which is limited to a 14-day supply.

New prescription orders for opioids are prohibited from containing more than 90 MMEs per day. Exemptions from the 90 MME per day limitation are provided for specified individuals and continuations of an existing prescription that was issued within the last 60 days.  If a health professionals determines that a prescription containing more than 90 MMEs is necessary, the health professional must consult with an allopathic or osteopathic physician who is board-certified in pain (A.R.S. § 32-3248.01 as added by Laws 2018, First Special Session, Chapter 1, Section 29).

All controlled substances that are directly dispensed by a medical professional or pharmacist that is not for immediate administration are required to have a label that contains specified information such as name and address of the dispensing medical professional or pharmacist, the name of the patient and directions for use of the controlled substance. Opioid containers must have a red cap and a Board-prescribed warning label about potential addiction (A.R.S. § 36-2525 as amended by Laws 2018, First Special Session, Chapter 1, Section 37).

 

 

 

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Fifty-third Legislature                  HB 2633

Second Regular Session                               Version 3: House Engrossed

 

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