Access to Legal Pharmaceuticals Act

Summary

Access to Legal Pharmaceuticals Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require any pharmacy receiving prescription drugs or prescription devices in interstate commerce to: (1) ensure that any in stock prescription that one pharmacist refuses to fill on the basis of a personal belief is filled by another pharmacist employed by the pharmacy without delay; (2) ensure that any individual who presents a prescription for an item that is not in stock which one pharmacist refuses to order on the basis of a personal belief is immediately informed that the product can be ordered by the pharmacy and to order such product without delay; and (3) not employ any pharmacist who engages in any conduct with the intent to prevent or deter an individual from filling a valid prescription, including refusing to return a prescription form, refusing to transfer a prescription, or subjecting the individual to humiliation or harassment. Provides that this Act does not require the pharmacy to keep any particular product in stock nor does it apply with respect to a product for a health condition if the pharmacy does not keep in stock any product for such condition. Sets forth civil penalties. Allows a private cause of action for a violation of this Act.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

1. 14 April 2005

   Introduced

   Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3685-3686)

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 14 April 2005

   Introduced

   Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3685)

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 14 April 2005

   Introduced

   Introduced in Senate

   Source: IntroReferral

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

• Introduced in Senate · 14 April 2005 · Official file

Documents

3 official files

• Introduced in Senate (text)

  Introduced in Senate · EN · 14 April 2005

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in Senate (PDF)

  Introduced in Senate · EN · 14 April 2005

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 14 April 2005

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• Sen. Lautenberg, Frank R. [D-NJ] · D · Sponsor
• Sen. Corzine, Jon S. [D-NJ] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA-6] · D · Sponsor
• Sen. Clinton, Hillary Rodham [D-NY] · D · Cosponsor
• Sen. Inouye, Daniel K. [D-HI] · D · Cosponsor
• Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ] · D · Cosponsor
• Patty Murray · D · Cosponsor
• Rep. Akaka, Daniel K. [D-HI-2] · D · Cosponsor
• · sshr00 · Standing

Related records

• related to → To amend the Public Health Service Act with respect to the responsibilities of a pharmacy when a pharmacist employed by the pharmacy refuses to fill a valid prescription for a drug on the basis of religious beliefs or moral convictions, and for other purposes.
• related to → Access to Legal Pharmaceuticals Act