ASSEMBLY, No. 2130

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED JUNE 3, 1996

By Assemblywomen WRIGHT, VANDERVALK, Assemblymen Asselta and Garrett

An Act concerning home health care and supplementing P.L.1991, c.377 (C. 45:11-45 et seq.).

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1.    Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law to the contrary, a home health care agency licensed pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.) or its employees who are registered professional nurses may purchase, store or transport for the purpose of administering to their home health patients the following noncontrolled drugs: sterile saline solution, sterile water, adrenalin/epinephrine, benedryl and heparin flush solution. Such drugs shall only be administered pursuant to a standing order by a health care professional licensed to prescribe drugs in New Jersey.

    The New Jersey Board of Nursing, in consultation with the New Jersey Board of Pharmacy, may adopt rules and regulations establishing minimum standards for the purchase, storage, handling, use and disposal of such drugs pursuant to this act.

    2.    This act shall take effect on the 60th day after enactment.

STATEMENT

    This bill would permit home health agency nurses to carry various noncontrolled prescription drugs without a specific patient prescription. These drugs include sterile saline solution, sterile water, adrenalin/epinephrine, benedryl and heparin flush solution which are often needed by home care nurses for both routine and emergency use. The bill would enable home health agencies to stock such medications and allow their nurses to carry and use them in situations where a health care professional has prescribed their use. Several states, including New Hampshire, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, Texas,

Michigan, Arkansas, California and New Mexico, have passed similar legislation permitting home health agency nurses to carry saline solution and sterile water.

Allows home health care agencies to possess and administer certain noncontrolled prescription drugs.