A bill to protect patients from being unable to fill prescriptions because their medical practitioner can't be reached for authorization is headed to the Senate.
The House passed the bill that allows pharmacists in Rhode Island to provide a one-time refill even if they are unable to get authorization, or the patient no longer has a prescriber.
“This bill is to help patients and providers in an environment where we simply do not have enough doctors, particularly primary care providers. Often a patient needs an appointment before the prescriber will authorize a refill, but it might be weeks or even months before an appointment is available. And in cases where a provider retires or stops practicing in Rhode Island, it can be extremely difficult for patients to find a new one. Until they do, they usually don’t have anyone who can authorize that refill,” said Representative McGaw. “Interrupting a patient’s prescription for reasons other than medical ones is not in their best interest. This bill provides an avenue for pharmacists, who are extensively trained, licensed and understand the benefits and risks of pharmaceuticals, to make a professional determination about whether to dispense a single refill as a stopgap measure when the prescriber can’t be reached or is no longer practicing.”
Portsmouth state Representative Michelle McGaw said the intent of her bill is to prevent interruptions in medical treatment, especially for people with chronic conditions.
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Photo: Spencer Platt / Getty Images News / Getty Images