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Government Affairs Report
February 2021 Update

by Christopher W. Crank, PharmD, MS, BCPS; ICHP Executive Vice President

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there is not a lot of news on the legislative front. The fall veto session was cancelled. One bill of interest that was being considered for the veto session was SB3266, Facility-Provided Medications. The proposed bill would have amended the University of Illinois Hospital Act, the Ambulatory Surgical Treatment Center Act, the Hospital Licensing Act, and the Pharmacy Practice Act, which would have required hospitals, facilities, and pharmacies to offer a patient any unused portion of a facility-provided medication upon discharge when it is administered to a patient at the hospital, facility, or pharmacy and is required for continuing treatment. ICHP worked closely with the Illinois State Medical Society, the Illinois Hospital Association, and our pharmacy directors to minimize the overall workload impact of this change that would have also positively impacted many patients. The proposed bill was amended to require 24 hours advanced notice for the discharge medications. In addition, the legislation was adjusted to eliminate the requirement for pharmacist counseling on the prescriptions. The counseling requirement was placed on the ordering provider. SB3266 is one piece of legislation that we expect will return in the spring session. ICHP will keep you posted.