PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 191, 710 PRINTER'S NO. 1172
No. 175 Session of 1985
INTRODUCED BY ITKIN, SAURMAN, TRELLO, MORRIS, GREENWOOD,
SEVENTY, LEVIN, NOYE, HAGARTY, KOSINSKI, DALEY, E. Z. TAYLOR,
SHOWERS, KUKOVICH, MILLER, BARBER, DeLUCA, HONAMAN, WILSON,
BOOK, FOX, FLICK, D. R. WRIGHT, BUSH, GAMBLE, LAUGHLIN,
OLIVER, FREEMAN, PRESSMANN, ARTY, SEMMEL, PUNT, RAYMOND,
MERRY, DISTLER, PRESTON, ROBBINS, EVANS, HALUSKA, BUNT,
D. W. SNYDER, CORNELL, JOSEPHS, McVERRY, MRKONIC AND COY,
FEBRUARY 4, 1985
AS RE-REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON CONSUMER AFFAIRS, HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, MARCH 25, 1985
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of November 4, 1983 (P.L.217, No.63), entitled
2 "An act establishing a program of limited pharmaceutical
3 assistance for the elderly; granting powers to and imposing
4 duties on the Department of Aging; establishing a payment
5 system; making provisions for funding; providing for reports;
6 and fixing penalties for violations of the pharmaceutical
7 assistance program," further providing for program criteria;
8 and providing for a prescription drug education program.
9 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
10 hereby enacts as follows:
11 Section 1. Section 4(e)(9) of the act of November 4, 1983
12 (P.L.217, No.63), known as the Pharmaceutical Assistance
13 Contract for the Elderly Act, is amended to read:
14 Section 4. Responsibilities of Department of Aging.
15 * * *
16 (e) Program criteria.--The program shall include the
17 following criteria:
1 * * *
2 (9) [A system of mail order delivery for prescriptions
3 shall be prohibited under this program.] The department may
4 not enter into a contract with a private contractor for an
5 exclusive mail order system for the delivery of prescription
6 drugs under this program. Nothing herein shall prohibit an
7 individual mail order pharmacy service that is licensed by
8 the Commonwealth and which has its principal place of
9 business within this Commonwealth from participating as a
10 provider under the program after. WITHIN a period of six <--
11 months following the effective date of this amendatory act. <--
12 Prior to that date, the State Board of Pharmacy, THE <--
13 DEPARTMENT shall develop and promulgate specific regulations
14 governing the practice of mail order pharmacy AND OTHER <--
15 ENROLLED PROVIDERS to include the following minimum standards
16 of practice to ensure the health, safety and welfare of
17 program participants:
18 (i) The appropriate method or methods by which such
19 pharmacies shall verify the identity of the program
20 recipient and the authenticity of prescriptions received.
21 (ii) The appropriate method or methods by which such
22 pharmacies shall mail OR DELIVER prescription drugs to <--
23 program recipients ensuring, to the maximum extent
24 possible, that the intended program recipient is the
25 actual ultimate recipient of any prescription dispensed
26 by such pharmacies.
27 (iii) The appropriate method or methods by which
28 such pharmacies shall communicate with program
29 participants in emergency situations.
30 (iv) The extent to which pharmacists employed by <--
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1 such pharmacies shall have authority to govern pharmacy
2 practice within such pharmacies consistent with the act
3 of September 27, 1961 (P.L.1700, No.699), known as the
4 Pharmacy Act.
5 * * *
6 Section 2. The act is amended by adding a section to read:
7 Section 4.1. Prescription drug education program.
8 The department, in cooperation with the Department of Health,
9 shall develop and implement a Statewide prescription drug
10 education program designed to inform older adults of the dangers
11 of prescription drug abuse and misuse. The prescription drug
12 education program shall include, but not be limited to,
13 information concerning the following:
14 (1) The hazards of prescription drug overdose.
15 (2) The potential dangers of mixing prescription drugs.
16 (3) The danger of retaining unused prescription drugs
17 after the need to take them no longer exists.
18 (4) The necessity to carefully question physicians and
19 pharmacists concerning the effects of taking prescription
20 drugs.
21 (5) The advisability of maintaining a prescription drug
22 profile or other record of prescription drug dosage and
23 frequency of dosage.
24 (6) The desirability of advising family members of the
25 types and proper dosage of prescription drugs which are being
26 taken.
27 (7) The dangers of taking prescription drugs in excess
28 of prescribed dosages.
29 (8) The need to obtain complete, detailed directions
30 from the physician or pharmacist concerning the time period a
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1 prescription drug should be taken.
2 Section 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
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