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Senate hears bill to let hospitals and clinics give manufacturer-packaged medications at discharge
Summary
S.B. 5019 would clarify and expand when hospitals and licensed healthcare entities may dispense prepackaged medications (for example, inhalers or insulin pens) at discharge when community pharmacies are not reasonably available. Hospital and pharmacy associations supported the bill and proposed technical clarifying language.
The Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee heard S.B. 5019 Jan. 23, a bill that would modify when hospitals and other licensed health care entities may dispense prepackaged medications at patient discharge. Senator Mike Chapman sponsored the bill and supporters told the committee the measure removes waste and improves immediate patient access to needed medications when community pharmacies are not available.
What the bill changes: Under current law hospitals may dispense a limited supply (48 hours in most cases) of prepackaged drugs in specific circumstances (for example, when no outpatient pharmacy is available within 15 miles by road, or when HIV post‑exposure prophylaxis is required). The…
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