OLYMPIA, Wash.- A bill empowering Washington’s Secretary of Health to issue standing orders for drugs or devices which mitigate public health threats has passed the State Senate.
The policy, SB 6095, was requested by the Department of Health (DOH). It would allow the department to more quickly address public health crises by making medical supplies required for combatting problems including COVID-19 and the opioid crisis more readily available.
A 2019 law allowed the DOH to create standing orders for opioid reversal medications such as Narcan. The new bill would expand the previous law to other public health challenges.
A group of senate Republicans argue that the policy gives unreasonable additional authority to the state’s executive branch, and expressed worry that it could impede individual medical freedom.
In response to these concerns, an amendment to the bill stating that standing orders may not force a person to take a drug or prohibit a person from receiving medicine was proposed by Senator Lynda Wilson (R) and adopted by the chamber.
Despite the amendment passing, Wilson voted against the final passage of the bill.
SB 6095 now awaits introduction in the State House.
