A. The purpose of this section is to reduce expensive and unnecessary wastage of excess drugs dispensed to residents of nursing homes. In order to determine if the use of bubble pack units and the return and reissuance of unadulterated drugs is cost-effective and administratively efficient there is hereby established a pilot program for dispensing and returning anti-ulcer and antiarthritics in bubble pack units. The pilot program shall terminate January 1, 1998.

B. For the purpose of this study, upon filling a prescription for residents of nursing facilities, a pharmacist shall dispense anti-ulcer and antiarthritics in bubble pack units when available.

C. Any prescription for anti-ulcer and antiarthritics dispensed by a pharmacist in bubble pack units for a resident of a nursing home that is unused and is unadulterated may be returned for credit to the issuing pharmacy. Such medication may be dispensed by the pharmacist to other nursing home patients. The Oklahoma Health Care Authority in concert with the State Board of Pharmacy shall promulgate permanent rules that will provide for the implementation of this subsection. The permanent rules shall be promulgated by the Board pursuant to the provisions of the Administrative Procedures Act.

D. The Oklahoma State Board of Health in concert with the State Board of Pharmacy shall promulgate rules to ensure the integrity of the collection of unadulterated anti-ulcer and antiarthritics within nursing facilities. The rules shall provide for a drug manifest form that shall accompany each shipment of unadulterated anti-ulcer and antiarthritics in bubble pack units from the nursing facility to the dispensing pharmacy.

E. The State Board of Health shall report the findings of the pilot program to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Governor by April 1, 1998.

F. For purposes of this section:

1. "Bubble pack units" means a sealed unit of use container packaged by a pharmacy or pharmaceutical manufacturer that bears the name of the drug, expiration date, and the name of the pharmacy dispensing the drug;

2. "Nursing facility" means a facility as defined by Section 1-1902 of Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes;

3. "Unadulterated" means medications that are properly stored, labeled and not past the expiration date; and

4. "Antiarthritics" means legend nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Added by Laws 1995, c. 299, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.