BILL NUMBER: S4247A

SPONSOR: SKOUFIS
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the education law, in relation to the compounding,
dispensing and sale of pharmaceuticals

 
PURPOSE OF THE BILL:

The purpose of this bill is to allow veterinarians to possess and
dispense medications for administration and sale.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section one of the bill amends section 6807 of the education law as it
relates to allowing a pharmacist to dispense drugs, including compounded
drugs to a veterinarian for the purposes of administration or sale. The
bill provides a limitation on opioids and controlled substances as
determined by the Department of Health.

Section two of the bill relates to the effective date.
              

 
JUSTIFICATION:

This bill allows a veterinarian to maintain a stock of medications at
their practice for administration or sale with limitations on opioids
and controlled substances. Currently, a veterinarian is only allowed to
prescribe patient specific medication and cannot keep drugs in stock for
use in office or to prescribe for a specific patient. There are several
instances where a veterinarian will need to utilize a compounded drug in
an emergency situation to assist an animal.  Without the legal ability
to hold and dispense compounded medication, a veterinarian often has to
delay treatment by writing a prescription out to the patient and sending
them to a pharmacy that performs compounding or has a compounding medi-
cation in stock. This bill provides veterinarians with the flexibility
necessary to treat animals effectively especially in certain emergency
situations.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2019-20: S4343 REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION
2017-18: S3440 REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.