Signed by Governor Phil Murphy

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that requires certain healthcare practitioner referrals to pharmacies be made in accordance with certain professional standards in New Jersey.

Highlights:

• Specifies that healthcare practitioners are prohibited from referring a patient to a healthcare service in which the practitioner, the practitioner's immediate family, or a combination of both has a significant beneficial interest, except for the exceptions provided for in statutes (Sec. 1).

• Expands the exceptions under which a health care practitioner can refer a patient to a health care service to include the exception in which a practitioner, a practitioner's immediate family, or a combination of both has a significant beneficial interest in a pharmacy and whose application for a permit to operate a pharmacy site was approved prior to the effective date (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes health care practitioners to refer patients to pharmacies, licensed prior to the effective date of section 2 of P.L.1989, c.19, in which the practitioner, the practitioner's immediate family, or a combination of both to have a significant beneficial interest will allow for the continuity of care and facilitate ongoing collaboration between the practitioner and pharmacy with respect to medication adherence, efficient and effective drug refill management, and reduction in the incidence and severity of adverse medication-related events (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall take effect immediately upon passage and approval by the Governor (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text