THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY WHITE, BELFANTI, FREEMAN, HORNAMAN, JOSEPHS, MANDERINO, McILVAINE SMITH, MOUL, PASHINSKI, READSHAW, SIPTROTH AND SWANGER, MARCH 12, 2010

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CONSUMER AFFAIRS, MARCH 12, 2010  

AN ACT

Amending the act of September 27, 1961 (P.L.1700, No.699),

entitled "An act relating to the regulation of the practice

of pharmacy, including the sales, use and distribution of

drugs and devices at retail; and amending, revising,

consolidating and repealing certain laws relating thereto,"

further providing for unlawful acts.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Section 8 of the act of September 27, 1961

(P.L.1700, No.699), known as the Pharmacy Act, is amended by

adding a clause to read:

Section 8.  Unlawful Acts.--It shall be unlawful for:

* * *

(16)  Any pharmacist to exhibit, discuss or reveal any part

of the contents of any prescription, including the medication

prescribed, the name of the prescriber, the therapeutic effect

of the medication, the nature, extent or degree of illness

suffered by any patient or any medical information furnished by

the prescriber with any person other than the patient or his or

her authorized representative, the prescriber or other licensed

practitioner then caring for the patient, another licensed

pharmacist serving the patient or a person duly authorized by

law to receive such information. This section shall not be

interpreted to interfere with legitimate peer review conducted

by a hospital, physician group practice, health maintenance

organization or other entity which is engaged in the review of

one of its licensed or credentialed providers. This section

shall also not be interpreted to prevent the sharing of

prescribing information by a pharmacist with a patient's

insurer.

Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.