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Senate approves amendment letting pharmacists designate up to three technicians to access controlled‑substances database
Summary
Senate amendment to SB178 allows a pharmacist in charge to designate up to three licensed pharmacy technicians to access the controlled‑substances database under supervision. Senators questioned safeguards for when the pharmacist is absent and the sponsor said database rules and audit trails limit misuse.
Sponsor Senator Vickers explained Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 178, which would allow the pharmacist in charge at each pharmacy to designate up to three licensed pharmacy technicians to access the state controlled‑substances database for legitimate review under the pharmacist’s direction.
"The thought was simply that it's up to the pharmacist in charge. He can designate up to three," Vickers said during floor debate, explaining the change was intended to align pharmacy practice with medical practice rules and to provide operational flexibility in busy pharmacies. He said technicians would not act on their own volition and that the database has "specific rules ... to make sure that that doesn't happen."
Senator Christensen asked what happens when the pharmacist in charge is absent; Vickers replied there is latitude for technicians to access the system on behalf of the rest of the staff. Vickers also told the body, anecdotally, that he has turned responsibilities over in his own pharmacy and emphasized the procedural safeguards in the database.
After discussion, the Senate adopted the amendment and a roll call to read the bill for a third time recorded 25 'yay' votes and no 'nay' votes; the clerk ordered the bill to be read for a third time.
