Washington State Regulatory Update April 2019
No. 1317 Chapter 246-887 WAC Updated
The amendments incorporate changes proposed by rulemaking petitions from the Washington State Office of the Attorney General Consumer Protection Division and Greenwich Biosciences by adding substances to Schedule I and Epidiolex to Schedule V.
No. 1318 Defining Emergency Medical Reasons
The Commission filed an interpretive statement to advise and clarify to pharmacists and to the public its current definition of emergency medical reasons as it is used in WAC 246-879-010(10)(e). The Commission does not interpret the meaning in the same way as Food and Drug Administration, in that the borrowing, lending, selling, purchasing, or transferring of medications between pharmacies to a practitioner to alleviate a temporary shortage or for another emergency medical reason does not constitute wholesaling. The Emergency Medical Reasons Interpretive Statement was filed with the Washington State Legislature Office of the Code Reviser under WSR 19-07-062 on March 19, 2019. It is on the Commission's "Policies, Procedures and Guidelines" web page.
What does this mean to pharmacists practicing in the state of Washington?
- Pharmacists must be aware of, and educate their staff, on the proper dispensing documentation and storage of Epidiolex as a Schedule V medication.
- Pharmacists must review the regulatory language that dictate the practice of transferring medication from one pharmacy to another for emergency reasons. Review your current polices and ensure that they meet the state's definition of emergency needs.
Washington State Regulatory Summary- 2018
The following law, excerpted here, was enacted to effect pharmacy practice by the Washington legislature during the 2018 session.
HB 1047 - Protecting the public's health by creating a system for safe and secure collection and disposal of unwanted medications. Effective June 7, 2018.
Pharmacies and other entities that sell medication in the state are encouraged to promote secure disposal of covered drugs by one or more approved drug take-back programs. Upon request, a pharmacy must provide materials explaining the use of approved drug take-back programs to its customers. The program operator must provide pharmacies with these materials upon request and at no cost to the pharmacy.
What does this new regulation mean for pharmacists practicing within the state of Washington?
- Pharmacists are encouraged to promote options for safe disposal of unused medications, especially controlled substances and opioids, to remove them from potential abuse within the community.
- Pharmacists should have information that can be provided to their patients if asked about proper disposal of unwanted medications, if asked.
For full regulatory language, refer to the Washington State Board of Pharmacy.
