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Senate rejects bill to mandate VIPPS standards for online pharmacies
Summary
First substitute SB 146, which would have required Internet-prescribing entities and online pharmacies to meet Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites (VIPPS/VIPs) accreditation and other safeguards, failed on the Senate floor after extended debate over patient safety and rural telemedicine concerns.
The Utah Senate voted down first substitute Senate Bill 146 after extended floor debate that split members over how best to regulate Internet prescribing and protect patient safety.
Sponsor Senator Knudson argued the substitute implements Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites (VIPPS/VIPs) standards and other safeguards developed by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy to close a regulatory gap for online-prescribing operations. "This bill changes Utah law to reflect what has taken place in 31 other states with regard to Internet prescribing," Knudson said, emphasizing the need to guard against questionnaires that lack clinical verification.
Supporters, including medical-association witnesses cited in the debate and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s congressional testimony, framed the bill as a patient-safety measure aimed at preventing access by minors and identifying clinical risks tied to lifestyle drugs sold online. Opponents warned that a statutory accreditation requirement could unintentionally restrict legitimate telemedicine and rural providers and that there were no known documented deaths in Utah tied to the vendor singled out in the discussion.
Senator Bramble, explaining his no vote, said an independent review found no complaints against the vendor and cautioned against impeding nascent internet medicine. Senator Greiner and others recounted law-enforcement experience with prescription diversion and said the risks of online prescribing merited stricter standards. After roll-call explanations and debate the substitute received 7 yes votes and 19 no votes, with 3 absent; it therefore failed on the floor.
What this means: The Senate declined to impose the VIPPS-based accreditation requirement statewide. Sponsors and advocates may pursue narrower changes, voluntary accreditation measures, or administrative approaches through the Department of Health and professional boards.
