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SF1012 • 2021

Healthcare professionals-right to prescribe medication.

AN ACT relating to professions and occupations; allowing licensed prescribers to prescribe any medication to treat COVID-19 as specified; limiting disciplinary action for licensed prescribers and pharmacists as specified; requiring pharmacists to fill prescriptions for any medication prescribed to treat COVID-19; and providing for an effective date.

Healthcare Labor
Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor
Senator Bouchard
Last action
2021-10-26
Official status
inactive
Effective date
3/1/2021

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide additional details about the specific rules prescribers must follow or the exact nature of disciplinary actions that are limited.

Healthcare Professionals Can Prescribe COVID-19 Medication

This act allows licensed prescribers to prescribe any medication for treating COVID-19, protects them from disciplinary action if they follow the rules, and requires pharmacists to fill these prescriptions.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows licensed prescribers in Wyoming to give out prescriptions for any medicine that can treat or help with COVID-19.
  • Protects doctors and other healthcare workers who prescribe such medicines from being punished by their licensing board if they follow the rules.
  • Requires pharmacists to fill prescriptions given by licensed prescribers for treating COVID-19, as long as it is legal under federal and state laws.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Licensed healthcare professionals in Wyoming who prescribe medications.
  • Pharmacists in Wyoming who fill prescriptions.
  • Patients who need medication to treat COVID-19.

Terms To Know

Prescriber
A doctor or other health care professional who can legally write prescriptions for medicine.
Pharmacist
A person trained to prepare and distribute medicines, as well as provide advice on their use.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not apply to certain strong medications that are controlled by federal law.
  • This act did not become a law because it failed to move forward after being introduced.

Bill History

  1. 2021-10-26 Senate

    S Failed Introduction 11-18-1-0-0

  2. 2021-10-26 Senate

    S Received for Introduction

  3. 2021-10-21 LSO

    Bill Number Assigned

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
21LSO-1039
2021
STATE OF WYOMING
21LSO-1039
Numbered
2.0

SENATE FILE NO. SF1012

Healthcare professionals-right to prescribe medication.

Sponsored by: Senator(s) Bouchard and Representative(s) Laursen

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to professions and occupations; allowing licensed prescribers to prescribe any medication to treat COVID-19 as specified; limiting disciplinary action for licensed prescribers and pharmacists as specified; requiring pharmacists to fill prescriptions for any medication prescribed to treat COVID-19; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1.

W.S. 33
‑
24
‑
159 is created to read:

33
‑
24
‑
159.

Prescriptions required to be filled.

Any person who practices pharmacy in accordance with the provisions of this act and who
receives an order for a prescription from a person who is licensed to legally prescribe medication in Wyoming to treat COVID
‑
19, as defined by W.S. 1
‑
1
‑
141(a)(ii) or any variant thereof, shall fill and provide that prescription to the patient for who it is prescribed.

Section 2.

W.S. 33
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24
‑
122 by creating a new subsection (d) and 33
‑
26
‑
402 by creating a new subsection (c) are amended to read:

33
‑
24
‑
122.

Revocation or suspension of license and registration; letter of admonition; summary suspension; administrative penalties; probation; grounds.

(d)

Unless specifically prescribed by law, the board shall take no action to suspend, revoke, refuse to renew or restrict the license, impose conditions or take any other disciplinary actions against any pharmacist who fills a prescription as required by W.S. 33
‑
24
‑
159 for any
medication or medical treatment received from a person who is licensed and authorized to prescribe medication in the state of Wyoming to treat COVID
‑
19 as defined by W.S. 1
‑
1
‑
141(a)(ii) or any variant thereof.

33
‑
26
‑
402.

Grounds for suspension; revocation; restriction; imposition of conditions; refusal to renew or other disciplinary action.

(c)

Unless specifically prescribed by law, the board shall take no action to suspend, revoke, refuse to renew or restrict the license, impose conditions or take any other disciplinary actions against a person who is licensed and authorized to prescribe medication in the state of Wyoming from prescribing any medication or medical treatment that the prescriber reasonably believes is likely to be effective in treating COVID
‑
19 as defined by W.S. 1
‑
1
‑
141(a)(ii) or any variant thereof. In consultation with their health care provider, each competent adult has the right to make their own health care decisions pursuant to article 1, section 38(a) of the Wyoming Constitution.

This section shall not apply to prescriptions for substances
that are listed as Schedule I or Schedule II controlled substances as prescribed under federal law or by the Wyoming Controlled Substances Act of 1971.

Section 3
.

T
his act is effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution
.

(END)

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SF1012