Revision: Nov. 2, 2021, 10:44 a.m.
HB 1022 - AS INTRODUCED
2022 SESSION
22-2137
05/08
HOUSE BILL 1022
AN ACT permitting pharmacists to dispense the drug ivermectin by means of a standing order.
SPONSORS: Rep. Cushman, Hills. 2; Rep. Kofalt, Hills. 4; Rep. Sheehan, Hills. 23; Rep. Yakubovich, Merr. 24; Rep. Blasek, Hills. 21; Rep. Torosian, Rock. 14; Rep. Harley, Rock. 20; Rep. T. Lekas, Hills. 37
COMMITTEE: Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs
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ANALYSIS
This bill allows pharmacists to dispense invermectin pursuant to a standing order entered into by licensed health care providers.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
22-2137
05/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Two
AN ACT permitting pharmacists to dispense the drug ivermectin by means of a standing order.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Section; Invermectin; Dispensing. Amend RSA 318 by inserting after section 47-l the following new section:
318:47-m Ivermectin; Dispensing.
I. In this section, "standing order" means a written and signed protocol authored by one or more physicians licensed under RSA 329:12 or one or more advanced practice registered nurses licensed under RSA 326-B:18. Such agreement shall specify a protocol allowing the pharmacist licensed under RSA 318:18 to dispense ivermectin under the delegated prescriptive authority of the physician or APRN, specify a mechanism to document screening performed and the prescription in the patient's medical record, and include a plan for evaluating and treating adverse events. Any such prescription shall be regarded as being issued for a legitimate medical purpose in the usual course of professional practice.
II. Licensed pharmacists following standing orders may dispense ivermectin to persons in this state without a prior prescription.
III. A pharmacist, pharmacy, physician, or APRN issuing or following standing orders shall be prohibited from seeking personal financial benefit by participating in any incentive-based program or accepting any inducement that influences or encourages therapeutic or product changes or the ordering of tests or services.
IV. The pharmacist shall provide each recipient of ivermectin pursuant to this section with a standardized information sheet written in plain language, which shall include, but is not limited to, the importance of follow-up care, and health care referral information. Nothing on the information sheet shall discourage the recipient from using ivermectin for the treatment of COVID-19.
V. The board of medicine shall not deny, revoke, suspend, or otherwise take disciplinary action against a physician based on a pharmacist's failure to follow standing orders provided the provisions of this section and the rules adopted under this section are satisfied. The board of nursing shall not deny, revoke, suspend, or otherwise take disciplinary action against an APRN based on a pharmacist's failure to follow standing orders provided the provisions of this section and the rules adopted under this section are satisfied. The board of pharmacy shall not deny, revoke, suspend, or otherwise take disciplinary action against a pharmacist who follows standing orders based on a defect in those standing orders provided the provisions of this section and the rules adopted under this section are satisfied.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.