Governor Phil Scott Signs Emergency Procedures Law
Governor Scott signed a COVID-19 emergency bill to support Health Care and Human Service Provider Sustainability on March 30, 2020. The below text comes from the bill that was signed, and while we are waiting on the official text of the law this can provide initial guidance.
Sec. 11. PHARMACISTS; CLINICAL PHARMACY; THERAPEUTIC SUBSTITUTION DUE TO LACK OF AVAILABILITY
(a) During a declared state of emergency in Vermont as a result of COVID19, a pharmacist may, with the informed consent of the patient, substitute an available drug or insulin product for an unavailable prescribed drug or insulin product in the same therapeutic class if the available drug or insulin product would, in the clinical judgment of the pharmacist, have substantially equivalent therapeutic effect even though it is not a therapeutic equivalent. (b) As soon as reasonably possible after substituting a drug or insulin product pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, the pharmacist shall notify the prescribing clinician of the drug or insulin product, dose, and quantity actually dispensed to the patient.
Sec. 12. BUPRENORPHINE; PRESCRIPTION RENEWALS
During a declared state of emergency in Vermont as a result of COVID-19, to the extent permitted under federal law, a health care professional authorized to prescribe buprenorphine for treatment of substance use disorder may authorize renewal of a patient’s existing buprenorphine prescription without requiring an office visit.