Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

S.B. 193 First Substitute (2023GS)

Sponsor

Sen. Vickers, E.

Final action

Governor Signed 3/15/2023

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Spencer J. Cox

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• defines terms;
• prohibits a health insurer from taking certain actions with respect to a clinician-administered drug; and
• authorizes a physician to issue orders regarding methadone under certain circumstances.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

PHARMACEUTICAL AMENDMENTS
GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Evan J. Vickers
House Sponsor: 
Steve Eliason
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill addresses certain prescription drugs.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ defines terms;
▸ prohibits a health insurer from taking certain actions with respect to a
clinician-administered drug; and
▸ authorizes a physician to issue orders regarding methadone under certain
circumstances.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
ENACTS:
31A-22-658
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
58-37-23
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 
31A-22-658
 is enacted to read:
 31A-22-658.
Provider administered drugs.
(1) As used in this section:
(a) "Clinician-administered drug" means an outpatient prescription drug as defined in
Section 
58-17b-102
 that:
(i) cannot reasonably be self-administered by the patient to whom the drug is
prescribed or by an individual assisting the patient with self-administration;
(ii) is typically administered:
(A) by a health care provider; and
(B) in a physician's office or a health care facility as defined in Section 
26-21-2
; and
(iii) is not a vaccine.
(b) "Health insurer" means a person who offers health care insurance, including a
health maintenance organization as defined in Section 
31A-8-101
.
(2) A health insurer may not require a pharmacy to dispense a clinician-administered
drug directly to an enrollee with the intention that the enrollee will transport the drug to a
health care provider for administering.
Section 2. Section 
58-37-23
 is enacted to read:
 58-37-23.
Methadone orders authorized.
(1) As used in this section:
(a) "Emergency medical order" means a medical order as defined in Section
58-17b-102
 for up to a 72-hour supply of methadone.
(b) "General acute hospital" means the same as that term is defined in Section 
26-21-2
.
(c) "Qualified pharmacy" means a pharmacy that is located on the premises of a general
acute hospital that is licensed as a:
(i) class A pharmacy as defined in Section 
58-17b-102
; or
(ii) class B pharmacy as defined in Section 
58-17b-102
.
(d) "Qualified practitioner" means a practitioner who:
(i) is registered with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration to issue an
emergency medical order; and
(ii) is working at a general acute hospital.
(2) A qualified practitioner may issue an emergency medical order to a qualified
pharmacy to dispense up to a 72-hour supply of methadone on behalf of the qualified
practitioner:
(a) to relieve acute withdrawal symptoms while the qualified practitioner makes
arrangements to refer the patient for substance use disorder treatment; and
(b) in accordance with 21 C.F.R. Sec. 1306.07 and applicable regulation or guidance
issued by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration regarding an emergency medical
order.