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House adopts naloxone distribution provisions and temporary pharmacy-licensure amendment
Summary
Lawmakers adopted an amendment to allow temporary licensure by endorsement for out-of-state pharmacists and approved changes to naloxone distribution rules; supporters cited prescription disruptions after major pharmacy closures, opponents raised competency concerns.
HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania House on June 25 amended and approved legislation affecting emergency medical services and opioid-overdose response, and adopted an amendment to allow temporary licensure by endorsement for out-of-state pharmacists to address prescription disruptions caused by major pharmacy closures.
The House considered Senate Bill 95, which expands naloxone distribution by permitting emergency medical services providers to dispense naloxone to caregivers of overdose patients. During floor consideration, Representative Mazzie (majority caucus chair) sponsored an amendment authorizing the State Board of Pharmacy to issue provisional licenses by endorsement to pharmacists licensed in other states for up to six months. Mazzie said the change was a temporary measure to address an immediate problem created by the closure of Rite Aid locations and the resulting backlog of an estimated 33 million stranded prescriptions.
Representative Grove supported the amendment, saying pharmacists across accredited schools meet standardized national requirements and that the licensure gap is largely administrative. Representative Rapp, minority chair of health, opposed the licensure provision and said the amendment did not require verification that other states’ standards matched Pennsylvania’s and explicitly stated applicants “shall not be required to demonstrate competency.” She said the amendment raised concerns about patient safety.
The amendment authorizing provisional licensure was adopted by a recorded vote of 158 ayes to 45 nays, as recorded by the clerk. The House then adopted a separate amendment offered by Representative Solomon to streamline EMS provisions and clarify prescription drug transparency measures; that amendment passed by recorded vote 111 ayes to 92 nays. The bill, as amended, was reprinted and agreed to on the floor.
The changes grant temporary administrative flexibility to licensed pharmacists from other states and broaden the circumstances under which naloxone can be provided following an overdose, according to floor summaries and sponsor remarks.
Supporters characterized the licensure amendment as a time-limited fix tied to an operational disruption; opponents asked for more safeguards to confirm out-of-state licensure standards and competency checks.
