WSR 17-13-097

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

[Filed June 19, 2017, 7:10 p.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 246-901-130 Pharmacist to pharmacy technician ratio, the pharmacy quality assurance commission (commission) is considering updating the rule to change the pharmacist to pharmacy technician ratio to reflect current practice.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 18.64A.040.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Currently the pharmacist to pharmacy technician ratio is one pharmacist to three pharmacy technicians. The commission determined a need to open the rule to considering amending or eliminating the ratio. This could eliminate or reduce the need for single pharmacy request for modifications to the ratio.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.

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. Stakeholders will be invited to participate in rule-writing workshops and provide input throughout the rule-making process. Interested parties can sign up to receive information, updates, or provide comments to the commission at WSPQAC@doh.wa.gov or Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission, P.O. Box 47852, Olympia, WA 98504-7852, or by contacting Megan Mikkelsen, policy analyst at the department of health, (360) 236-4617 or megan.mikkelsen@doh.wa.gov.

June 19, 2017

Tim Lynch, PharmD, MS, Chair

Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission