Date: 03/04/2014

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB14-095

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, INSURANCE, & ENVIRONMENT

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Refer Senate Bill 14-095 to the Committee of the WPASS



10:16 AM -- SB14-095

Representative McCann presented Senate Bill 14-095. Under current law, prescription drug outlets can only compound drugs for office use by a medical practitioner. The bill allows prescription drug outlets to also compound drugs for hospitals located in the state. The Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) is responsible for promulgating rules that limit the amount of drugs a prescription drug outlet can compound to a hospital. The limit is to be no more than 10 percent of the total number of dosage units the prescription drug outlet dispenses on an annual basis.

10:18 AM -- Ronne Hines, representing DORA, testified in support of the bill. She discussed compounded drugs and the inequality that currently exists between hospitals and medical practitioners regarding compounded drugs. Ms. Hines stated that drug shortages have occurred due to the current limitation on hospitals to receive compounded drugs. She explained how a hospital may use stop-gap measures to obtain needed compound drugs by having an individual practitioner in a hospital take responsibility for the compounded drugs and store the drugs separately from the rest of the hospitals drug stock.

10:24 AM -- Chris Gassen, representing DORA, testified in support of the bill. He stated that while hospitals can compound drugs, they may not have the expertise or ingredients to compound certain preparations. He responded to questions about the types of compounded drugs a hospital would need to obtain from a prescription drug outlet, the shelf life for compounded drugs, and the 10 percent limitation for dosage units.

10:30 AM -- Thomas Kirschling, representing Denver Health, testified in support of the bill. He discussed situations in which a provider may need a compounded drug that is not available through the hospital pharmacy.

10:33 AM -- Janet Stephens, representing the Colorado Hospital Association, testified in support of the bill. She discussed the reasons why a hospital may need to obtain compounded drugs from a prescription drug outlet and the limited ability of some rural hospitals to be able to compound drugs.

10:35 AM -- Robin Hyman, representing PenCol Compounding Pharmacy, testified in support of the bill. She discussed situations in which compounded drugs are used and the processes used by compounding pharmacies. Ms. Hyman responded to questions about the formulas used by compounding pharmacies, the cost effectiveness of compounding pharmacies, and the credentials for compounding pharmacists.

10:42 AM -- Val Kalnins, representing the Colorado Pharmacists Society, testified in support of the bill. He said that Rx Plus Pharmacies also supports the bill. He stated the bill allows hospitals more flexibility, improves patient safety, and enhances patient care.
BILL:SB14-095
TIME: 10:45:04 AM
MOVED:McCann
MOTION:Refer Senate Bill 14-095 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 10-0, with one member excused.
SECONDED:Ginal
VOTE
Fields
Yes
Ginal
Yes
Humphrey
Yes
Joshi
Yes
Landgraf
Yes
McNulty
Yes
Primavera
Yes
Singer
Yes
Swalm
Yes
Schafer
Excused
McCann
Yes
Final YES: 10 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS




10:46 AM

The committee adjourned.