HB 1207

Bill Subjects

Abstract

Provides that a state employee plan, a health maintenance organization, an insurer, or a pharmacy benefits manager (health plan provider) may not require a pharmacy or pharmacist to collect a higher copayment for a prescription drug from a covered individual than the health plan provider allows the pharmacy or pharmacist to retain. Allows a pharmacist who meets certain requirements to dispense auto-injectable epinephrine by standing order to a person who: (1) has completed a course on auto-injectable epinephrine; and (2) is an individual in a position to assist an individual who is at risk of experiencing anaphylaxis. Allows a person to administer auto-injectable epinephrine to an individual who is experiencing anaphylaxis if certain conditions are met. Requires the state department of health (state department) to issue a statewide standing order authorizing the dispensing of auto-injectable epinephrine. Authorizes the state health commissioner to issue a statewide standing order authorizing the dispensing of auto-injectable epinephrine. Extends certain immunities to the state department, the state health commissioner, and certain designated public health authorities. Requires the state department to approve courses concerning the administration of auto-injectable epinephrine. Requires a person to have successfully completed the course to be immune from civil liability. Adds exceptions to the requirement that controlled substance prescriptions be in an electronic format. Provides that the board of pharmacy, in consultation with the medical licensing board, may adopt emergency rules. Adds advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants to the list of out-of-state providers whose prescriptions a pharmacist has a duty to honor. Allows a prescription for a patient to be transferred electronically or by facsimile by a pharmacy to another pharmacy if the pharmacies do not share a common data base. Allows a licensed pharmacy technician to transfer the prescription. Allows a pharmacist to substitute a therapeutic alternative for epinephrine products for a patient and to prescribe sterile water for injection with a prescription drug. Allows a pharmacy technician to administer an influenza immunization to an individual under a drug order or prescription, subject to rules adopted by the board of pharmacy. Provides that aggregated information compiled from annual reports of pharmacy benefit managers to the insurance commissioner is not confidential except for information that would reveal a specific pharmacy benefit manager's proprietary information. Requires: (1) a state employee health plan; and (2) an insurer-provided health plan that complies with the federal Affordable Care Act; to establish a procedure under which the amount paid by a covered individual for a covered prescription drug purchased outside of the health plan will offset the covered individual's deductible. Requires an insurer, when removing a prescription drug from the insurer's formulary or changing the cost sharing requirements applying to the prescription drug, to give an insured for whom the drug has been prescribed 60 days notice of the insurer's action and provide an appeal process through which the insured may request an extension of coverage for the drug through the end of the insured's plan year.