House Bill 195 - Summary

• Amends North Carolina pharmacy practice law to permit pharmacists to substitute interchangeable biological products (biosimilars) for prescribed brand-name biological products, matching existing authority for generic drugs.

• Defines "interchangeable biological product" as any biological product determined by the FDA to meet standards under 42 U.S.C. § 262(k)(4) or deemed therapeutically equivalent by the FDA.

• Requires pharmacists to communicate the specific biological product name and manufacturer dispensed to the prescriber within a reasonable time using electronic medical records, e-prescribing systems, pharmacy benefit management systems, or other prevailing means.

• Allows prescribers to prohibit substitution by indicating "Dispense as Written" on the prescription, consistent with existing rules for generic drug substitution.

• Effective October 1, 2015, with the communication requirements expiring October 1, 2020.