Colorado Legislative Council Staff

NO FISCAL IMPACT

TITLE:            CONCERNING REQUIREMENTS FOR PROCESSING PRESCRIPTIONS.

Summary of Assessment

            This bill makes changes to the requirements for the completion of a prescription by licensed health care professionals. The changes would impact practitioners licensed by the Medical Board, the Dental Board, and the Pharmacy Board, as well as advanced practice nurses, optometrists, and physical therapists.

            The bill requires all prescription drugs to include a description of the purpose for the prescription or the symptoms being treated unless otherwise requested by the patient, representative, caregiver, or the practitioner. The bill allows prescriptions to be hand written and requires pharmacists to verify the identity of any person retrieving a schedule II controlled substance prescription. The bill would become effective 90 days after adjournment of the Legislature, unless a referendum petition is filed and approved by the voters.

            The changes are not expected to significantly impact the workload of the boards in the Division of Registrations, Department of Regulatory Agencies. Although the provisions could result in an increased number of complaints, the number of additional complaints, as well as the cost to investigate them, are expected to be minimal. Notification of practitioners of these changes would be accomplished through their next regularly scheduled mailing. The bill will not affect any other state agency, or unit of local government. Therefore, this bill is assessed as having no fiscal impact.

Departments Contacted

            Regulatory Agencies              Health Care Policy and Financing      Higher Education

            Personnel