Amends TCA Title 53 and Title 63.

This bill requires that a Schedule II opioid, Schedule II stimulant and Schedule IV benzodiazepine be dispensed in a lockable vial, when those drugs are in solid oral dosage form and are prescribed or dispensed with more than three days of medication. This requirement will not apply when the ultimate user requests that the drug not be in a lockable vial or when the prescription is dispensed in an institutional healthcare setting or will be administered by a healthcare professional. This bill authorizes the board of pharmacy to promulgate rules that establish additional exceptions to this bill, and authorizes a prescribing physician to specify that a prescription dangerous to children be dispensed in a lockable vial.<br /> <br /> This bill defines "lockable vial" as a disposable container that:<br /> <br /> (1) Has special packaging as defined in federal law; and<br /> (2) Has a locking-cap closure mechanism that can only be unlocked with a physical key; with a preset four-digit combination code; with a four-digit combination code the ultimate user selects; biometrically with fingerprint, facial, or voice recognition technology; or with a smartphone application.<br /> <br /> Under this bill, the dispensing pharmacy and its personnel will have no liability for any adverse consequences as a result of the failure of any lockable vial to prevent unauthorized access or for providing an ultimate user's combination code either online or verbally, if certain security requirements are met. <br /> <br /> Also, the prescribing physician, professional practice, or other organization will have no liability for any adverse consequences as a result of the failure of any lockable vial to prevent unauthorized access, or a patient not being able to access medication in a lockable vial in an emergency. <br /> <br /> This bill requires manufacturers of applicable drugs sold in the state that are required to be dispensed in a lockable vial to:<br /> <br /> (1) Register on the pharmacy connectivity networks used for electronic billing and payment;<br /> (2) Develop electronic billing codes for lockable vials for use in electronic billing whereby pharmacies will invoice the drug manufacturer for the cost of the lockable vial for each applicable prescription so dispensed. <br /> <br />