Rhode Island 2025 Regular Session

Rhode Island Senate Bill S0692 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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5	5	2025 -- S 0692
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7	7	LC002231
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9	9	S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
10	10	IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
11	11	JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025
12	12	____________
13	13
14	14	A N A C T
15	15	RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- PHARMACIES
16	16	Introduced By: Senator Melissa A. Murray
17	17	Date Introduced: March 07, 2025
18	18	Referred To: Senate Health & Human Services
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21	21	It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
22	22	SECTION 1. Chapter 5-19.1 of the General Laws entitled "Pharmacies" is hereby amended 1
23	23	by adding thereto the following section: 2
24	24	5-19.1-37. Pharmacy technicians -- Scope of practice -- Pharmacy technician 3
25	25	dispensing process validation within institutional pharmacies. 4
26	26	(a) In accordance with chapter 19.1 of title 5 and adopted by the state board of pharmacy, 5
27	27	a pharmacy technician or pharmacy intern may perform technology-assisted dispensing process 6
28	28	validation for medications prepared for distribution by another pharmacy technician or intern 7
29	29	within an institutional pharmacy. 8
30	30	(b) Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following words and terms shall have the 9
31	31	following meanings: 10
32	32	(1) “Automated storage and distribution devices” means a mechanical device that delivers 11
33	33	drugs other than by administration, and uses automated data processing technology to: 12
34	34	(i) Provide effective storage and security of drugs contained in the device; 13
35	35	(ii) Limit access to authorized individuals; 14
36	36	(iii) Record the identity of all personnel who access the drugs stored within the device; 15
37	37	(iv) Provide documentation of storage and removal of contents; 16
38	38	(v) Provide ongoing documentation that monitors proper delivery of drugs to ensure patient 17
39	39	safety; and 18
40	40	(iv) Comply with all relevant statutes, rules and regulations. 19
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44	44	(2) “Controlled substance" means a drug or substance, or an immediate precursor of such 1
45	45	drug or substance, so designated under or pursuant to the provisions of chapter 28 of title 21. 2
46	46	(3) “Dispensing process validation” means the physical verification that ensures the drug, 3
47	47	drug dosage, and drug form selected is the correct drug, drug dosage, and drug form for the purpose 4
48	48	for which it was selected. When applicable, dispensing process validation is subject to, and occurs 5
49	49	after, licensed pharmacist drug utilization review and clinical conflict resolution. 6
50	50	(4) “Institutional pharmacy” means any pharmacy that is located within or off-site, and 7
51	51	contracted with, any hospital, clinic or dispensary in which drugs are compounded or dispensed to 8
52	52	its patients or patients of another licensed in-patient healthcare facility with whom it has a contract. 9
53	53	(5) “Supervision” means oversight and control by a licensed pharmacist who is responsible 10
54	54	for work performed by pharmacy technicians and pharmacy interns. 11
55	55	(6) “Technology” means an electronic system designed to achieve accuracy in drug product 12
56	56	identity verification including, but not limited to, barcode scanning and radio frequency 13
57	57	identification (RFID). 14
58	58	(c)(1) With regard to activities authorized, acting in compliance with this section, a licensed 15
59	59	pharmacist may delegate, and a pharmacy technician or pharmacy intern may perform under the 16
60	60	supervision of the pharmacist, technology-assisted dispensing process validation of medications 17
61	61	prepared for distribution by another pharmacy technician or pharmacy intern when such medication 18
62	62	will be administered to the patient by a licensed health care professional, including: 19
63	63	(i) Patient-specific medication orders; 20
64	64	(ii) Automated storage and distribution devices stock; 21
65	65	(iii) Repackaged medication from bulk to unit-of-use doses; and 22
66	66	(iv) Emergency kits. 23
67	67	(2) Acting in compliance with this section, a licensed pharmacist shall not delegate 24
68	68	dispensing process validation for: 25
69	69	(i) Controlled substances; or 26
70	70	(ii) Compounded products (whether sterile or non-sterile) unless the compounded products 27
71	71	have been previously verified by a licensed pharmacist (e.g., previously batched compounded 28
72	72	product). 29
73	73	(3) In delegating activities under this section, a licensed pharmacist shall use reasonable 30
74	74	professional judgment and shall ensure that authorized activities do not require the exercise of 31
75	75	discretion or clinical judgment by the pharmacy technician or pharmacy intern. 32
76	76	(d) (1) With regard to quality and control, the institutional pharmacy where activities 33
77	77	authorized in this section are conducted shall: 34
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81	81	(i) Document a pharmacy technician or pharmacy intern dispensing process validation 1
82	82	policy and procedure; 2
83	83	(ii) Maintain an institutional pharmacy-specific training program including a record of 3
84	84	pharmacy technicians and/or pharmacy interns trained; and 4
85	85	(iii) Maintain a continuous quality assessment system to periodically verify the accuracy 5
86	86	of the pharmacy technician or pharmacy intern dispensing process validation, including: 6
87	87	(A) Recording any errors which reach the patient; 7
88	88	(B) Recording any quality related events; and 8
89	89	(C) Specific limits of acceptable quality related event levels before reassessment. 9
90	90	(2) No pharmacy technician or pharmacy intern shall engage in authorized activities 10
91	91	without documentation of training. 11
92	92	(e) With regards to rules and regulations, the board of pharmacy shall make, adopt, amend, 12
93	93	and repeal such rules and regulations as may be deemed necessary by the board from time to time 13
94	94	for the proper administration and enforcement of this section. Such rules and regulations shall be 14
95	95	promulgated in accordance with the procedures specified in chapter 35 of title 42 ("administrative 15
96	96	procedures"). 16
97	97	SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 17
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104	104	EXPLANATION
105	105	BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
106	106	OF
107	107	A N A C T
108	108	RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- PHARMACIES
109	109	***
110	110	This act would authorize a pharmacy technician or pharmacy intern to perform technology-1
111	111	assisted dispensing process validation for medications prepared for distribution by another 2
112	112	pharmacy technician or intern within an institutional pharmacy. 3
113	113	This act would take effect upon passage. 4
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