as introduced - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 02/09/2010 01:48am
A bill for an act
relating to health; prohibiting pharmacists from substituting epilepsy drugs
without prior consent and notification; proposing coding for new law in
Minnesota Statutes, chapter 151.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
new text begin
For the purposes of this section, the following
definitions apply.
new text end
new text begin
(a) "Antiepileptic drug" means any drug, formulation of a drug, or therapeutic drug
product prescribed for the treatment of epilepsy or for the treatment or prevention of
seizures.
new text end
new text begin
(b) "Epilepsy" means a neurological condition characterized by recurrent seizures.
new text end
new text begin
(c) "Seizure" means an acute clinical change secondary to a brief disturbance in
the electrical activity of the brain.
new text end
new text begin
(a) A pharmacist shall not substitute an
antiepileptic drug for the prescribed antiepileptic drug without:
new text end
new text begin
(1) prior consent from the patient or the patient's parent, legal guardian, or spouse;
and
new text end
new text begin
(2) notifying the prescribing physician within ten days of the substitution, if the
pharmacist knows or has reason to know that the patient has, for the prior 60 days, used
the antiepileptic drug being replaced by the substitution.
new text end
new text begin
(b) For the purposes of this section, prohibited substitutions include substituting:
new text end
new text begin
(1) a brand antiepileptic drug for the prescribed brand antiepileptic drug;
new text end
new text begin
(2) a generic antiepileptic drug for the prescribed brand antiepileptic drug;
new text end
new text begin
(3) a brand antiepileptic drug for the prescribed generic antiepileptic drug; and
new text end
new text begin
(4) a generic antiepileptic drug by one manufacturer for a generic antiepileptic
drug of a different manufacturer.
new text end
new text begin
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end