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A 7230

Establishes duties for pharmacies when pharmacists employed by such pharmacy refuse to fill prescriptions on the basis of personal beliefs

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn

The bill requires pharmacies to ensure patient access to legally prescribed meds when a pharmacist refuses to fill a prescription on personal beliefs, including alt access options

REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION
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Bill Summary · A 7230

Summary: Assembly Bill A 7230

Overview

A 7230, introduced March 21, 2025 and currently referred to the Higher Education committee, seeks to address how pharmacies handle prescriptions when a pharmacist employed by the pharmacy declines to fill a prescription based on personal beliefs. The bill’s primary sponsor is Assembly Member Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn. A companion measure exists in the Senate (S 4253), and the bill has several related Assembly measures from prior sessions.

Purpose and intent

  • To establish duties and procedures for pharmacies to ensure patient access to legally prescribed medications when a pharmacist refuses to fill a prescription on grounds of personal beliefs.
  • The goal is to balance pharmacists’ rights with patients’ access to medications and to reduce disruption in care caused by conscience-based refusals.

Key provisions (conceptual summary)

  • Duties of pharmacies: The bill would require pharmacies to adopt practices and processes to accommodate patients who encounter a refusal by a pharmacist, aiming to maintain timely access to prescriptions.
  • Transfer and access options: The bill would address options for patients to obtain their prescriptions through an alternative, non-objecting pharmacist within the same facility or through a transfer to another pharmacy, ensuring continuity of care.
  • Patient notification and information: Pharmacies may be required to inform patients of available alternatives and provide information about how to obtain the prescribed medication without undue delay.
  • Recordkeeping and compliance: Pharmacies would likely need to document refusals and the steps taken to ensure access, and to demonstrate compliance with the statute.
  • Protections and limitations: The measure would define the boundaries of permissible refusals and protections for patients’ right to access prescribed medications, aiming to prevent discrimination-based denial of service.
  • Enforcement and penalties: The bill would specify enforcement mechanisms and possible penalties for non-compliance, potentially including oversight by prescribing or licensing authorities.

Who would be affected

  • Pharmacies and their corporate or independent operators.
  • Pharmacists employed by pharmacies who may object to filling certain prescriptions on personal beliefs.
  • Patients seeking prescriptions who may be affected by conscientious refusals.
  • Regulatory bodies overseeing pharmacy practice and professional conduct.
  • Insurers and third-party payers, indirectly, by requiring compliant access procedures.

Timeline and legislative process

  • Introduced: March 21, 2025.
  • Status: Referred to Higher Education (committee stage) on March 21, 2025 (listed twice in the legislative record).
  • Next steps: The bill would progress through committee hearings, potential amendments, and, if approved, floor consideration in the Assembly and Senate. A companion Senate bill (S 4253) exists, which may advance in parallel.

Related legislation

  • Related Assembly bills from prior sessions: A 6753, A 883, A 4659, A 8949, A 331, A 2722, A 6778, A 9487.
  • Companion: S 4253 (noted as a companion measure).

Notes

  • This summary reflects the bill’s stated scope as introduced and does not include text-based specifics such as exact procedures, timelines, or penalties, which would be clarified in the bill’s full language and any subsequent amendments.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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