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4/10/2025
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House OKs McGaw’s bill allowing pharmacists to authorize a prescription refill if prescriber can’t be reached
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STATE HOUSE – The House of Representatives today approved legislation sponsored by Rep. Michelle McGaw to protect patients from being unable to fill vital prescriptions because their prescriber cannot be reached for authorization.
The legislation (2025-H 5633) allows pharmacists, in the event they receive a request for a prescription refill and are unable to readily obtain refill authorization from the prescriber, or the patient no longer has a prescriber, to dispense a one-time refill for continuation of the patient’s therapy for no more than 100 days if the medication under certain conditions.
Representative McGaw (D-Dist. 71, Portsmouth, Tiverton, Little Compton), who works as a consultant pharmacist serving the long-term care community, introduced the measure to prevent interruptions in necessary medical treatment, particularly for those with chronic conditions.
“This bill is to help patients and providers in an environment where we simply do not have enough doctors, particularly primary care providers. Often a patient needs an appointment before the prescriber will authorize a refill, but it might be weeks or even months before an appointment is available. And in cases where a provider retires or stops practicing in Rhode Island, it can be extremely difficult for patients to find a new one. Until they do, they usually don’t have anyone who can authorize that refill,” said Representative McGaw. “Interrupting a patient’s prescription for reasons other than medical ones is not in their best interest. This bill provides an avenue for pharmacists, who are extensively trained, licensed and understand the benefits and risks of pharmaceuticals, to make a professional determination about whether to dispense a single refill as a stopgap measure when the prescriber can’t be reached or is no longer practicing.”
With the recently announced closure of Anchor Medical Associates, which is where 25,000 Rhode Islanders see their PCPS, she added, there will soon be thousands more Rhode Islanders looking for PCPs, and many will likely find themselves in need of prescription refills before they find a new one.
Under the bill, the pharmacist would be allowed to provide the refill only if the medication is essential to life or continuation of therapy for a chronic condition, and in the pharmacist’s professional judgment, its interruption might produce undesirable health consequences or may cause physical or mental discomfort. The dispensing pharmacist would have to notify the prescriber within seven business days, or if no current prescriber exists, document that information within the pharmacy’s records. The bill would not apply to Schedule II-V narcotics.
The legislation now goes to the Senate, where Sen. Pamela J. Lauria (D-Dist. 32, Barrington, Bristol, East Providence) is sponsoring companion legislation (2025-S 0483).
For more information, contact:
Meredyth R. Whitty, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 222-1923
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