Below are brief descriptions of some of the laws successfully lobbied for on behalf of pharmacy by Executive Director Richard Stevens and passed by the 2017 West Virginia Legislature.
House Bill 2518 – Amending the Pharmacy Practice Act, this new legislative rule permits a pharmacist or pharmacy intern to administer influenza and Human Papilloma Virus immunizations to a person age eleven (11) to eighteen (18) when prescribed by a physician and presented with a written informed consent by a parent and there are no contraindications to the person receiving the vaccine.
House Bill 2519 – This new law calls for the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Resources to contact neighboring states to discuss creation of a compact which would enable each state’s health care providers to be eligible to be paid for services provided to the other states’ Medicaid participants.
House Bill 2620 – This law creates the Office of Drug Control Policy to provide administrative support, research, coordination, planning and management of funding relating to the prevention, prosecution, reduction and treatment of substance abuse in the State.
House Bill 2653 – This law extends the Multi-State Tracking System for methamphetamines to 2023.
House Bill 2846 – This law permits high school students participating in a competency based pharmacy technician education and training program to be qualified as a pharmacy technician trainee.
Senate Bill 339 – This law creates the Legislative Coalition on Chronic Pain Management to include the WV Director of Public Health, physicians specializing in pain management and a pharmacist. The Coalition is to study the impact of pain medications and report to the Legislature its findings and recommendations for legislation.
Senate Bill 360 – This bill creates the Legislative Coalition on Diabetes Management, consisting of medical doctors and a pharmacist who is a Certified Diabetic Educator. The Coalition is to study the impact of diabetes in West Virignia and recommend measures to improve prevention of the disease.
Senate Bill 386 – Creating the WV Medical Cannabis Act, this new law requires a pharmacist or physician to be onsite of a dispensary during the hours the dispensary is open to receive patients and caregivers. The onsite pharmacist or physician shall, prior to assuming dispensary duties, successfully complete a four-hour continuing course developed by the Dept. of Health and Human Resources. The law prescribes procedures the pharmacist or physician must follow at the dispensary, including conditions for dispensing a medical cannabis to a patient.
