HP0060
LD 77
Session - 126th Maine Legislature
 
LR 601
Item 1
Bill Tracking, Additional Documents Chamber Status

An Act To Require Health Care Practitioners To Distribute Free Samples of Medication in Certain Circumstances

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §1725  is enacted to read:

§ 1725 Distribution of free samples of medications

A health care practitioner, as defined in section 1711-C, subsection 1, paragraph F, who is authorized to prescribe medications under Title 32, chapter 117, shall provide free samples of medication to a patient prior to submitting to a pharmacy a prescription for the same medication in order to test the reaction of the patient and the effectiveness in treatment of the disease or condition of the patient if the health care practitioner:

1 Availability.   Has available free samples in the correct dosage for the patient;
2 Appropriateness.   Determines that providing free samples to the patient is appropriate for the patient; and
3 Timeliness.   Determines that providing free samples to the patient will not delay necessary treatment.

SUMMARY

This bill requires health care practitioners to distribute free samples of medication to a patient in order to test the reaction of the patient and the effectiveness in treatment of the patient's disease or condition. The requirement to distribute free samples depends on availability, appropriateness and timeliness.


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