Van Drew-Ruiz Wheelchair Ramp Measure Advances

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senators Fred H. Madden and Joseph F. Vitale that would prohibit pharmacists from refusing to dispense medication solely on the basis of philosophical, moral or religious reasons was approved today in the Senate by a vote of 31-6.

“The sole purpose of this legislation is to ensure quality access to health care,” said Senator Madden, D-Camden and Gloucester, who sits on the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee. “A patient seeking a prescription that has been legally prescribed by a licensed medical professional should be provided their medication without undue delay or compromise. It is my hope that with this bill’s passage, the citizens of New Jersey will be able to go into their local pharmacy and have their prescriptions filled with no problems. Pharmacies should also recognize the importance of this legislation and its positive effect on our health care network.”

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senators Fred H. Madden and Joseph F. Vitale that would ban pharmacists from refusing to dispense medication solely on the basis of philosophical, moral or religious reasons was approved today by the Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee.

“The purpose of this legislation is to help ensure that patients have access to quality healthcare and receive the medicine they need,” said Senator Madden, D-Camden and Gloucester, who sits on the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee. “People need affordability and access to the medicine that has been legally prescribed to them by their physicians.”

TRENTON – Senator Joseph F. Vitale, chair of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee, issued the following…

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senators Fred H. Madden and Joseph F. Vitale that would prohibit pharmacists from refusing to dispense medication solely on the basis of philosophical, moral or religious reasons was approved today by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee.

“The sole purpose of this legislation is to ensure quality access to health care,” said Senator Madden, D-Camden and Gloucester, who sits on the Senate Health panel. “A patient seeking a prescription that has been legally prescribed by a licensed medical professional should be provided their medication without undue delay or compromise. It is my hope that with this bill’s passage, the citizens of New Jersey will be able to go into their local pharmacy and have their prescriptions filled with no problems. Pharmacies should also recognize the importance of this legislation and its positive effect on our health care network.”

TRENTON – Legislation to help residents expedite the construction of wheelchair ramps through a quicker application review process was unanimously approved Thursday by the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee.

The bill, S-1195, sponsored by Senator Jeff Van Drew, D-Cape May, Cumberland and Atlantic, would require construction officials to issue a permit for a wheelchair ramp at a residence within three business days of receiving an application, instead of the current time frame of 20 business days.

TRENTON -A measure sponsored by Senators Fred H. Madden and Joseph F. Vitale which prohibits pharmacies from refusing to dispense medication solely on the basis of the philosophical, moral or religious beliefs held by their employees has been signed into law by Governor Jon Corzine.

“This new law will work to ensure equal access to quality health care,” said Senator Madden, D-Camden and Gloucester. “A patient seeking a prescription that has been legally prescribed by a licensed medical professional should be given their medication without undue delay or compromise. People choosing to work in the medical field must be able to work together toward one common goal – to help protect the health and well-being of patients.”

“Discussions of morals and matters of conscience are admirable, but should not come into play when subjective beliefs conflict with objective medical decisions,” said Senator Joseph F. Vitale, Chairman of the Senate Health panel. “Pharmacies have a duty to objectively meet the medical needs of their patients, whatever their own personal beliefs or chosen faith. This new law ensures that they fulfill prescriptions based on known medical outcomes, and not subjective personal beliefs.”