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7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill addresses certain prescription drugs.
10 Highlighted Provisions:
11 This bill:
12 ▸ defines terms;
13 ▸ prohibits a health insurer from taking certain actions with respect to a
14 clinician-administered drug; and
15 ▸ authorizes a physician to issue orders regarding methadone under certain
16 circumstances.
17 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
18 None
19 Other Special Clauses:
20 None
21 Utah Code Sections Affected:
22 ENACTS:
23 31A-22-658, Utah Code Annotated 1953
24 58-37-23, Utah Code Annotated 1953
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26 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
27 Section 1. Section 31A-22-658 is enacted to read:
28 31A-22-658. Provider administered drugs.
29 (1) As used in this section:
30 (a) "Clinician-administered drug" means an outpatient prescription drug as defined in
31 Section 58-17b-102 that:
32 (i) cannot reasonably be self-administered by the patient to whom the drug is
33 prescribed or by an individual assisting the patient with self-administration;
34 (ii) is typically administered:
35 (A) by a health care provider; and
36 (B) in a physician's office or a health care facility as defined in Section 26-21-2; and
37 (iii) is not a vaccine.
38 (b) "Health insurer" means a person who offers health care insurance, including a
39 health maintenance organization as defined in Section 31A-8-101.
40 (2) A health insurer may not require a pharmacy to dispense a clinician-administered
41 drug directly to an enrollee with the intention that the enrollee will transport the drug to a
42 health care provider for administering.
43 Section 2. Section 58-37-23 is enacted to read:
44 58-37-23. Methadone orders authorized.
45 (1) As used in this section:
46 (a) "Emergency medical order" means a medical order as defined in Section
47 58-17b-102 for up to a 72-hour supply of methadone.
48 (b) "General acute hospital" means the same as that term is defined in Section 26-21-2.
49 (c) "Qualified pharmacy" means a pharmacy that is located on the premises of a general
50 acute hospital that is licensed as a:
51 (i) class A pharmacy as defined in Section 58-17b-102; or
52 (ii) class B pharmacy as defined in Section 58-17b-102.
53 (d) "Qualified practitioner" means a practitioner who:
54 (i) is registered with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration to issue an
55 emergency medical order; and
56 (ii) is working at a general acute hospital.
57 (2) A qualified practitioner may issue an emergency medical order to a qualified
58 pharmacy to dispense up to a 72-hour supply of methadone on behalf of the qualified
59 practitioner:
60 (a) to relieve acute withdrawal symptoms while the qualified practitioner makes
61 arrangements to refer the patient for substance use disorder treatment; and
62 (b) in accordance with 21 C.F.R. Sec. 1306.07 and applicable regulation or guidance
63 issued by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration regarding an emergency medical
64 order.