New Jersey - New Jersey AED Bill Passes House Committee, awaits Senate Action.

A New Jersey legislative hearing involving a bill that would prohibit the substitution of prescribed epilepsy drugs by pharmacists without prior notification and written consent of physician has has passed through a health committee in the New Jersey Assembly, while an identical bill awaits a vote in the State Senate.

Assembly Bill 3029 passed out of the Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee on June 4th unanimously. It has received it's second reading on the Assembly floor and awaits a final vote.

An identical bill in the Senate, SB 2071, was heard in the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee on June 15, though no vote was taken.

The AAN Professional Association (Academy) supports this important legislation, as the discretion for this decision should remain with the prescribing physician and should not be determined by coverage limitations.

Academy members practicing in New Jersey are encouraged to contact Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Chairman Joseph Vitale, who is also the sponsor of this important legislation, at SenVitale@njleg.org to show your support for S2071.

Update: The New Jersey State Legislature is adjourned until September. For more information or to learn how you can help, please contact Tim Miller, Health Policy Analyst at tmiller@aan.com or at (651) 695-2792.