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PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. Section 155A.3, Code Supplement 1995, is 1 2 amended by adding the following new subsection: 1 3 NEW SUBSECTION. 25A. "Pharmacy technician" means a person 1 4 registered by the board who is in a technician training 1 5 program or who is employed by a pharmacy under the 1 6 responsibility of a licensed pharmacist to assist in the 1 7 technical functions of the practice of pharmacy. 1 8 Sec. 2. Section 155A.6, subsections 2, 3, and 4, Code 1 9 1995, are amended to read as follows: 1 10 2. A person desiring to be a pharmacist-intern in this 1 11 state shall apply to the board for registration. The 1 12 application must be on a form prescribed by the board. A 1 13 pharmacist-internmustshall be registered during internship 1 14 training and thereafter pursuant to rules adopted by the 1 15 board. 1 16 3. The board shall establish standards for pharmacist- 1 17 intern registration and may deny, suspend, or revoke a 1 18 pharmacist-intern registration for failure to meet the 1 19 standards or for any violation of the laws of this state, 1 20 another state, or the United States relating to prescription 1 21 drugs, controlled substances, or nonprescription drugs, or for 1 22 any violation of this chapter or chapter 124, 124A, 124B, 126, 1 23 147, or 205, or any rule of the board. 1 24 4. The board shall adopt rules in accordance with chapter 1 25 17A on matters pertaining to pharmacist-intern registration 1 26 standards, registration fees, conditions of registration, 1 27 termination of registration, and approval of preceptors. 1 28 Sec. 3. Section 155A.6, Code 1995, is amended by adding 1 29 the following new subsections: 1 30 NEW SUBSECTION. 5. A registration program for pharmacy 1 31 technicians is established for the purposes of identification, 1 32 tracking, and disciplinary action for the violation of federal 1 33 drug laws or regulations, state drug or pharmacy laws, or 1 34 board rules by pharmacy technicians. The registration shall 1 35 not include any determination of the competency of the 2 1 registered individual and, notwithstanding section 272C.2, 2 2 subsection 1, shall not require continuing education for 2 3 renewal. The ultimate responsibility for the actions of a 2 4 pharmacy technician working under a licensed pharmacist's 2 5 supervision shall remain with the licensed pharmacist. 2 6 NEW SUBSECTION. 6. A person who is or desires to be a 2 7 pharmacy technician in this state shall apply to the board for 2 8 registration. The application must be submitted on a form 2 9 prescribed by the board. A pharmacy technician must be 2 10 registered pursuant to rules adopted by the board. 2 11 NEW SUBSECTION. 7. The board may deny, suspend, or revoke 2 12 a pharmacy technician registration for any violation of the 2 13 laws of this state, another state, or the United States 2 14 relating to prescription drugs, controlled substances, or 2 15 nonprescription drugs, or for any violation of this chapter or 2 16 chapter 124, 124A, 124B, 126, 147, or 205, or any rule of the 2 17 board. 2 18 NEW SUBSECTION. 8. The board shall adopt rules in 2 19 accordance with chapter 17A on matters pertaining to pharmacy 2 20 technician registration applications, renewals, fees, 2 21 termination of registration, and any other relevant matters. 2 22 Sec. 4. Section 155A.33, Code 1995, is amended to read as 2 23 follows: 2 24 155A.33 DELEGATION OFNONJUDGMENTALTECHNICAL FUNCTIONS. 2 25 A pharmacist may delegatenonjudgmentaltechnical 2 26 dispensing functions toassistantspharmacy technicians, but 2 27 only if the pharmacist is physically present to verify the 2 28 accuracy and completeness of the patient's prescription prior 2 29 to the delivery of the prescription to the patient or the 2 30 patient's representative. 2 31 EXPLANATION 2 32 This bill provides for the designation of individuals who 2 33 are employed by and assist with the technical functions of a 2 34 pharmacy practice as pharmacy technicians. Procedures and 2 35 standards for pharmacy technician registration with, and 3 1 payment of fees to, the board of pharmacy examiners are 3 2 provided for, as well as for denial, suspension, and 3 3 revocation of registration. Registration does not determine 3 4 the competency of a pharmacy technician, and the licensed 3 5 pharmacist is regarded as ultimately responsible for the 3 6 actions of a pharmacy technician under the pharmacist's 3 7 supervision. Continuing education will not be required for 3 8 registration renewal. The bill provides that, in their 3 9 supervisory capacity, pharmacists may delegate technical 3 10 dispensing functions to pharmacy technicians provided the 3 11 pharmacist is physically present to verify prescription 3 12 accuracy and completeness. 3 13 BACKGROUND STATEMENT 3 14 SUBMITTED BY THE AGENCY 3 15 Regarding sections 1, 3, and 4 of the bill, there are 3 16 approximately 5,000 persons in Iowa who are employed by 3 17 licensed pharmacies as "pharmacy technicians". Currently, the 3 18 board cannot completely identify who these persons are or 3 19 where they are employed. Furthermore, the term "pharmacy 3 20 technician" is not defined in Iowa law. These persons have 3 21 direct access to prescription drugs and controlled substances. 3 22 Some of these persons are employed at more than one pharmacy. 3 23 Some become involved in drug diversion. In early 1994 an 3 24 opinion survey of all Iowa-licensed pharmacists was conducted. 3 25 Sixty-five percent of the pharmacists who responded to the 3 26 survey (1,387 pharmacists) agreed that pharmacy technicians 3 27 should be registered with the Iowa board of pharmacy 3 28 examiners. In April 1994 the Iowa pharmacy technician 3 29 advisory task force concluded a six-month study and issued a 3 30 77-page final report containing 16 recommendations. The task 3 31 force recommended, among other things, that "pharmacy 3 32 technicians in Iowa should be required to register with the 3 33 Iowa board of pharmacy examiners for the purposes of 3 34 identification, tracking, and disciplinary action." The board 3 35 agrees that it needs to implement the recommendations of the 4 1 task force by defining "pharmacy technician" and by 4 2 establishing a registry of all persons who are employed as 4 3 pharmacy technicians in Iowa. The board also needs the 4 4 ability to deny, suspend, or revoke a pharmacy technician 4 5 registration and needs the authority to adopt rules pertaining 4 6 to the registration of pharmacy technicians. The purpose of 4 7 these sections is to give the board regulatory authority over 4 8 persons who are employed as pharmacy technicians in Iowa and 4 9 to enhance the board's ability to protect Iowa citizens from 4 10 the harmful effects of unlawful drug distribution and to allow 4 11 the board to establish an information and disciplinary 4 12 clearinghouse for pharmacy technicians similar to that already 4 13 in place for pharmacists. 4 14 Regarding section 2 of the bill, the board needs broader 4 15 ability to deny, suspend, or revoke a pharmacist-intern 4 16 registration. The purpose of this section is to establish 4 17 grounds for which the board may deny, suspend, or revoke a 4 18 pharmacist-intern registration which are uniform with the 4 19 grounds for which the board may deny, suspend, or revoke other 4 20 licenses and registrations under its jurisdiction. This will 4 21 give the board the ability to deal with problems that arise 4 22 when a person who is employed as a pharmacist-intern becomes 4 23 involved in any of the following: pharmaceutical diversion or 4 24 unlawful distribution of drugs; unauthorized practice of 4 25 pharmacy; or any other unlawful activity relating to the 4 26 practice of pharmacy or the distribution of controlled 4 27 substances, precursor substances, prescription drugs, or 4 28 nonprescription drugs in Iowa. 4 29 LSB 3301DP 76 4 30 rn/jj/8.2
Text: SSB02166 Text: SSB02168 Text: SSB02100 - SSB02199 Text: SSB Index Bills and Amendments: General Index Bill History: General Index
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