An Act To Require a Pharmacist To Provide Prior Notification to and Obtain Consent fi'om the Prescribing Physician before Changing from One Formulation or Manufacturer of an Antiepileptic Drug to Another
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 1672
Committee Amendment CA_A-SA_A_S434 (Senate)

SENATE AMENDMENT ,,/+ "to COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to S.P. 644, 
L.D. 1672, Bill, "An Act To Require a Pharmacist To Provide Prior Notification to and 
Obtain Consent fi'om the Prescribing Physician before Changing from One Formulation 
or Manufacturer of an Antiepileptic Drug to Another" 
Amend the amendment by striking out everything after the title and before the 
summary and inserting the following: 
'Amend the bill by striking out the title and replacing it with the following: 
'Resolve, Regarding the Dispensing of Antiepileptic Drugs' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and before the summary and 
inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. Study. Resolved: That the Maine Board of Pharmacy, the Governor's 
Office of Health Policy and Finance, the Board of Licensure in Medicine and the 
DepaIiment of Health and Human Services, Office of MaineCare Services shall each 
designate one or more officials to conduct a study for the purpose of examining 
substitution within the antiepileptic class of drugs, current state laws governing 
substitutions generally, the powers available to prescribers under current substitution laws 
and whether there is a need to grant any additional powers to prescribers in this State for 
anyone class of drugs. This study must take into account the findings and opinions on 
this topic of the United States Food and Drug Administration and the American Medical 
Association and within any statistically valid peer-reviewed research in this area. The 
study group shall submit its findings in a report to the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters no later than 
January 15,2011. " 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces Committee Amendment "A" with a resolve that directs a 
study group to examine substitution within the antiepileptic class of medications, current 
state laws governing substitutions generally, the powers available to prescribers under 
current substitution laws and whether there is a need to grant any additional powers to 
prescribers in this State for anyone class of drugs. The study group shall submit its 
Page I - 124LR2249(04)-1 
SENATE AMENDMENT 
SENATE AMENDMENT;r "to COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to S.P. 644, L.D. 1672 
findings in a rep0\1 to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction 
over health and human services 
atters no later than January 15,2011. 
SPONSORED BY: 
7J1~. ( 
(Senator MARRACHE) 
COUNTY: Kennebec 
FISCAL ?-;OTE REQt:1RED 
(See attached) 
SENATE AMENDMENT 
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Approved: 03/17/1 0 Mac:.. 
LD 1672 
LR 2249(04) 
An Act To Require a Pharmacist To Provide Prior Notification to and Obtain Consent from the 
Prescribing Physician before Changing from ,One Formulation or Manufacturer of an Antiepileptic 
Drug to Another 
Fiscal Note for Senate Amendment "A" to Committee Amendment "A" 
Sponsor: Sen. Marrache of Kennebec 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Minor cost increase - Other Special Revenue Funds 
··.~iscal Detail and Notes 
. 
Additional costs to the Board of Pharmacy within the Office of Licensing and Registration, Depal1ment of 
Professional and Financial Regulation, the Board of Licensure in Medicine, affiliated with the Department of 
Professional and Financial Regulation, the Office of MaineCare Services in the Department of Health and Human 
Services and the Governor's Office of Health Policy and Finance to conduct the required study and submit the required 
report cari be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LR2249(04) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1