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State Representative Steve Huffman
Ohio House
Passes Updated Consult Agreement Legislation
Bill would improve collaboration between physicians, pharmacists
COLUMBUS—State Representatives Nathan Manning (R-North Ridgeville) and
Stephen Huffman (R-Tipp City) today applauded the passage of Amended
House Bill 188, legislation that updates consult agreements between
physicians and pharmacists in Ohio. The bill also increases to a 30-day
supply, from 72 hours, the amount of a drug that a pharmacist can
dispense without a prescription to a patient.
The bill, which was introduced following the death of a constituent
from Avon Lake who was unable to get a prescription of insulin refilled
in time, aims to save lives by ensuring that patients can get emergency
prescriptions refilled as long as it does not exceed a 30-day supply.
If it does exceed 30 days, it cannot exceed the standard unit of
dispensing. This bill would not apply to drugs that are considered
controlled substances.
“This bill strives to save lives in the event that an individual needs
their prescription refilled and their physician is unavailable,” said
Rep. Manning, who sponsored the bill with Rep. Huffman. “I’m pleased
that the House took steps to update consult agreements between doctors
and pharmacists and that we took action on helping Ohioans get the
lifesaving prescriptions they need in a timely manner.”
Part of the legislation also allows more than one pharmacist and more
than one physician to enter into a consult agreement as long as each
physician has an ongoing physician/patient relationship with each
patient whose drug therapy is being managed; the diagnosis for which
each patient has been prescribed drug therapy is within the scope of
each physician’s practice; and each pharmacist has training and
experience related to the particular diagnosis for which drug therapy
is prescribed. The bill also modifies the process for implementing
consult agreements.
“Am. House Bill 188 will help save lives for those individuals who are
unable to reach their physician, and instead contact their pharmacist
for a prescription,” Rep. Huffman said. “Under a consult agreement, a
pharmacist is authorized to manage drug therapy for treatment of
specified diagnoses and diseases for each patient who is subject to the
agreement. This legislation is moving the bar forward to make Ohio a
better place to practice medicine.”
The bill will now go to the Senate for further consideration.
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