03/28/2023 03:00 PM House HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES

                 HB 112-PROFESSION OF PHARMACY                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
4:27:51 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR PRAX  announced that  the final order  of business  would be                                                              
HOUSE BILL  NO. 112, "An  Act relating  to the Board  of Pharmacy;                                                              
relating  to the  practice of  pharmacy;  relating to  pharmacies;                                                              
relating   to  prescription   drug   manufacturers;  relating   to                                                              
prescriptions for  epinephrine; relating to the  administration of                                                              
epinephrine; and providing for an effective date."                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
4:28:10 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE,  as prime sponsor, explained  that after                                                              
a multiple-year  process of examining  regulatory updates,  HB 112                                                              
would change  the statute.   At  the request  of the governor,  he                                                              
said that  regulations had  been reviewed,  and areas  that needed                                                              
changes were found.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
4:29:20 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  FIELDS  reiterated that  it  would  be helpful  if                                                              
work-based  learning  programs for  pharmacy  technicians  allowed                                                              
those under 18 years  of age to work.  He asked  whether the Board                                                              
of Pharmacy would need to update these regulations.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  RUFFRIDGE answered  that  current regulations  for                                                              
pharmacy  technicians require  the person  to be  18 years  of age                                                              
and  have  a high  school  diploma.   He  continued  that  statute                                                              
allows  the Board  of Pharmacy  to  control licensing  regulations                                                              
for pharmacy  technicians.   He  said that other  than having  the                                                              
board adjust the regulations, there would be no other barriers.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:30:48 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ASHLEY  SCHABER, Pharm  D,  MBA, BCPS,  NCPS,  Board of  Pharmacy,                                                              
Division  of Corporations,  Business  and Professional  Licensing,                                                              
Department  of  Commerce,  Community,  and  Economic  Development,                                                              
said that  the changes requested  would be regulatory;  therefore,                                                              
this would  not require  a change  in statute.   In response  to a                                                              
question  from Representative  Ruffridge,  she  answered that  the                                                              
board  is  already  discussing the  regulatory  changes,  as  this                                                              
would  optimize the  workforce by  increasing pharmacy  technician                                                              
training.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
4:32:18 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR PRAX opened public testimony on HB 112.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
4:32:43 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DUANE  WOOD,  representing self,  shared  that  he is  a  lifelong                                                              
Alaskan, and  a third-year  pharmacy student  who is working  as a                                                              
volunteer in rural  emergency medicine on Prince  of Wales Island.                                                              
He said that he  plans to work as a pharmacist  in the state after                                                              
he graduates.   He  explained that  changes in  the proposed  bill                                                              
would  improve the  ability of patients  and  the community  to be                                                              
served.   He  shared  a personal  story about  a  fatal allergy  a                                                              
friend had  and how  an EpiPen had  saved the  person's life.   He                                                              
pointed  out  that HB  112  would  improve  access to  EpiPens  by                                                              
allowing  pharmacists to  prescribe  them.   He  urged members  to                                                              
approve HB 112.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:35:00 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
AMITY  WINBORG, representing  self, shared  that she  is a  third-                                                              
year pharmacy student  in the joint doctorate pharmacy  program at                                                              
University of  Alaska and  Idaho State University.   She  said she                                                              
has  lived  in  Alaska  for  20  years  and  has  worked  in  both                                                              
community  and  hospital pharmacies.    She  advised that  HB  112                                                              
would  positively impact  patients.   She  explained that  patient                                                              
safety has been  at the forefront of her pharmacy  training, which                                                              
has led to new  health initiatives, like HB 112.   She stated that                                                              
creating  a pharmacy  technician  seat on  the  Board of  Pharmacy                                                              
would  ensure  that multiple  viewpoints  are  being  represented.                                                              
She  explained  that  HB  112 would  increase  patient  safety  by                                                              
ensuring  that   the  board  could  regulate   qualifications  and                                                              
entities.   She  reiterated that  it would  also increase  patient                                                              
access  to  EpiPens  by  allowing   pharmacies  to  prescribe  and                                                              
dispense them.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
4:37:29 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
BARRY CHRISTENSEN,  RPh, Co-Chair,  Legislative Committee,  Alaska                                                              
Pharmacist  Association, shared  that  he has  owned and  operated                                                              
Island Pharmacy for  49 years.  He testified in support  of HB 112                                                              
on behalf of the Alaska Pharmacist Association.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:38:36 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SCOTT WATTS,  representing self,  stated that  he is a  pharmacist                                                              
and supports  HB 112.  He explained  that, as a pharmacist  for 33                                                              
years in Juneau,  he can attest to the changes  the profession has                                                              
seen.    He  highlighted  that  the  bill  would  add  a  pharmacy                                                              
technician  to the  board  and increase  access  to  EpiPens.   He                                                              
added that the bill  would also provide the power  to the board to                                                              
support the Drug Supply Chain and Security Act.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:41:03 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  PRAX, after  ascertaining that  there was  no one else  who                                                              
wished to testify, closed public testimony.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
4:42:12 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE  moved to report HB 112  out of committee                                                              
with  individual  recommendations   and  the  accompanying  fiscal                                                              
notes.  There being  no objection, HB 112 was reported  out of the                                                              
House Health and Social Services Standing Committee.