Panel hears bill to ease refill rules for certain injectable testosterone prescriptions

Representative Popovici Mueller introduced House Bill 126, a bipartisan measure intended to reduce the burden on patients who receive injectable androgen prescriptions that are federally scheduled. The bill would add a provision to the Controlled Drug Act permitting a 92‑day supply after a patient has previously filled 12 monthly prescriptions from the same medical practice over a one‑year period; the prescription would need to include a prescriber statement that the medication treats chronic low testosterone.

The sponsor told the committee the one‑year period was a compromise to address concerns about diversion; the intent is to allow providers who have established a sustained treatment relationship to reduce the logistical and financial burden of monthly in‑person pharmacy visits. Representative Popovici Mueller said the bill was intended to strike a balance between access and safeguards: the prescriber’s attestation and the 12‑month history would reduce the risk of misuse while lowering patient burden.

Committee members questioned which party—prescriber or pharmacist—would bear the compliance obligation for the attestation language. The sponsor said the attestation is intended to appear on the written prescription itself so pharmacists would not need to independently confirm compliance; the sponsor characterized the practical responsibility as primarily on the prescriber and the patient.

Lawmakers discussed whether a broader change to the statutory 34‑day supply standard for controlled substances would be preferable. The sponsor said he supported further study of the underlying 34‑day rule but brought the narrower bill forward as an incremental, bipartisan improvement for this medication class. No committee vote on HB126 occurred during the hearing.