PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
(Board of Pharmacy)
Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 246-873-090 Hospital standards -- Administration of drugs.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 18.64.005(7).
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The issue being examined relates to the practice of pharmacy in a hospital setting. The Board of Pharmacy rule, WAC 246-873-090, states verbal orders for drugs shall only be issued in an emergency or unusual circumstance. The prescribing practitioner must authenticate (sign) the prescriptions within forty-eight hours. Several hospitals have asked the board to review the rule and consider eliminating the requirement for authenticating the prescription.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: No other state or federal agencies regulate this subject.
Process for Developing New Rule: Collaborative rule making.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Lisa Salmi, Department of Health, Board of Pharmacy, P.O. Box 47863, Olympia, WA 98504-7863, phone (360) 236-4828, fax (360) 586-4359, Lisa.Salmi@doh.wa.gov.
June 3, 2002
D. H. Williams
Executive Director