Amended Substitute House Bill 188 Summary

• Authorizes pharmacists to dispense or sell non-Schedule II dangerous drugs without a prescription when prior prescription records exist, pharmacy cannot reach prescriber, drug is essential to patient life or chronic care, and supply does not exceed 72 hours (or 30 days for non-controlled substances if consistent therapy documented)

• Expands pharmacist consult agreements with one or more physicians to allow pharmacists to manage drug therapy including adjusting doses, discontinuing drugs, administering drugs, and adding drugs to patient therapy within agreement parameters

• Allows physicians to prescribe drugs via telemedicine for patients with no prior physical examination using appropriate technology for non-controlled substances, consistent with minimal standard of care for in-person evaluation

• Reforms nursing license renewal procedures including staggered odd/even-year renewal schedules for registered nurses and licensed practical nurses with September 15 application deadlines

• Establishes nurse education grant program funded by $10 of each biennial nursing license renewal fee through December 31, 2023, supporting partnerships between education programs and health care facilities to increase enrollment capacity