What's happening
This bill prohibits pharmacies from dispensing Schedule II controlled substances through drive-through windows, requiring in-person pickup inside the pharmacy.
Why it matters
Aims to reduce the risk of misuse or diversion of powerful painkillers and other Schedule II controlled substances (like oxycodone or Adderall) by requiring in-person pickup, which can allow pharmacists to better verify patient identity and watch for suspicious behavior.
Could make it more difficult or inconvenient for people with mobility issues, caregivers, or those relying on drive-throughs (such as during inclement weather or public health emergencies) to access their prescribed medications.
Reflects broader efforts to address opioid abuse and overdose risks by tightening controls at the point of dispensing, potentially increasing oversight and accountability for both patients and pharmacies.
May shift pharmacy workflow and staffing needs, as more patients will need to be served inside the building, possibly affecting wait times and in-store congestion.
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Who cares
Headline styles
No Drive-Thru Opioid Pickups
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to higher education
- Referred to higher education
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
8681
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
September 25, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. ROSENTHAL -- read once and referred to the Committee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to the prohibition of the dispensing of schedule II substances through a drive-through area
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 3333 of the public health law is amended by adding a new subdivision 6 to read as follows:
6. (a) No licensed, registered pharmacist, or a pharmacy intern acting in conformity with the provisions of section sixty-eight hundred six of the education law and regulations thereunder in a registered pharmacy may dispense a controlled substance listed in schedule II of section thirty-three hundred six of this article through a drive-through area of such pharmacy. Such prescriptions must be dispensed to a person physically present inside a pharmacy.
(b) For purposes of this subdivision "drive-through" means an area of a licensed pharmacy where a prescription may be dispensed to a person occupying a motor vehicle.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have become a law; provided however, that effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date is authorized and directed to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13393-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.