HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2433 FILED ON: 1/17/2019
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1931
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Louis L. Kafka
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to the availability of prescription medication during an emergency.
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PETITION OF:
Name: | District/Address: | Date Added: |
Louis L. Kafka | 8th Norfolk | 1/10/2019 |
Paul R. Feeney | Bristol and Norfolk | 2/1/2019 |
Walter F. Timilty | Norfolk, Bristol and Plymouth | 1/31/2019 |
Carolyn C. Dykema | 8th Middlesex | 2/1/2019 |
Gerard J. Cassidy | 9th Plymouth | 1/30/2019 |
John H. Rogers | 12th Norfolk | 2/1/2019 |
John Barrett, III | 1st Berkshire | 1/29/2019 |
Kate Hogan | 3rd Middlesex | 1/29/2019 |
Stephan Hay | 3rd Worcester | 1/31/2019 |
Carmine Lawrence Gentile | 13th Middlesex | 2/1/2019 |
Bruce J. Ayers | 1st Norfolk | 2/1/2019 |
James K. Hawkins | 2nd Bristol | 2/1/2019 |
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2433 FILED ON: 1/17/2019
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1931
By Mr. Kafka of Stoughton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1931) of Louis L. Kafka and others relative to the availability of prescription medication during an emergency. Public Health. |
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 1178 OF 2017-2018.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)
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An Act relative to the availability of prescription medication during an emergency.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
Chapter 111 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-
Section 236. (a) The department shall, in consultation with the board of registration in pharmacy, the division of insurance, the office of Medicaid and the Massachusetts emergency management agency, develop and publicize a statewide plan for ensuring the availability of prescription medications during a state of emergency declared by the governor. The plan shall, at a minimum:
(1) allow for early refills of prescriptions, if the current amount that a patient possesses is not expected to last beyond 10 days of the date of the declaration of emergency; provided, however, that a pharmacist shall confirm such prescription with the prescriber before each refill;
(2) ensure that vehicles delivering medications to pharmacies and hospitals shall be given the same road access available to other emergency vehicles;
(3) coordinate among pharmaceutical manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, pharmacists and other industry stakeholders;
(4) avoid duplicative or redundant supply chain infrastructure; and
(5) create a safety net system, including a toll-free telephone number and a website for persons to contact during the emergency for assistance in locating prescription medication, in the event no medications are available to them locally.
(b) If the governor declares a state of emergency pursuant to section 2A, chapter 639 of the acts of 1950, or any other applicable law, the commissioner shall implement the statewide plan for ensuring the availability of prescription medications for the duration of the state of emergency.