2008 Legislative Session

Success! Removal of 72 hour Limitation on Dispensing Controlled Substances by ARNPs

"This bill repeals the provision limiting ARNPs from dispensing more than 72 hours of controlled substances."
Governor Christine Gregoire, March 25, 2008.

2008 Legislative Wrap Up

SB 6267: Passage of 72 hour Prescriptive Authority Bill
This bill eliminates the 72 hour limitation on dispensation by ARNPs of Schedules II-IV drugs. It becomes effective June 12th, 2008.

SB 6739: Passage of Psychiatric NP Bill
This bill grants authority to psychiatric ARNPs to specifically and directly manage the care of patients who are involuntarily detained in hospitals and mental health treatment centers. This bill will allow evaluation and treatment centers to use psychiatric NPs when legally mandated evaluations and documents are required (which is already within the psychiatric NP scope of practice but has been limited to physicians).

HB 2549: Passage of Medical Home/Primary Care Shortage Bill
This bill addresses the shortage of primary care providers in WA State by establishing “medical home” pilot projects in small primary care practices, as well as funding research on medical home reimbursement. AUWS joined a coalition of health care and business organizations in promoting this bill; ARNPs are included in this legislation.

HB 3123: Passage of Safe RN Staffing Bill
This bill requires hospitals to establish a nurse staffing committee composed of at least 50% direct care nurses.

HB 2647: Passage of the Children’s Safe Product Act
This bill gives Washington the nation's strongest toy standards for lead, cadmium and phthalates, chemicals that can cause developmental defects.

2008 Legislative Agenda

Priority Issue: HB 2497 / SB 6267 – Removal of 72 hour dispensing limitation on Schedule II-IV drugs

• SHB 5805 passed in 2000, which allowed ARNPs to prescribe Schedule II-IV drugs under a joint practice agreement (JPA); it also put a limit on the amount dispensed (typically, drug company samples). When we eliminated the JPA in 2005, we did not eliminate the 72 hour limitation.
• Sample medications have changed since 2000; many have become scheduled drugs. This limitation is affecting patients’ access to medication, including insomnia and anti-seizure medications as well as methadone.

Monitoring:

• Keep abreast of health care bills affecting WA residents’ access to care
• Ensure ARNPs are included in the language of all health care bills wherever "physician" is written
• Follow the legal efforts about rules for pharmacies and pharmacists in filling prescriptions they may find objectionable
• Maintain ARNP autonomy