ARIZONA
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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HB 2548: pharmacists; prescribing authority; treatments |
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PRIME SPONSOR: Representative Barto, LD 15 BILL STATUS: Caucus & Cow |
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Outlines additional prescribing and
administering authority for pharmacists and requires the Board of Pharmacy
(Board) and the Department of Health Services (DHS) to adopt rules for
implementation.
History
Laws 2017, Chapter 117 granted authority for pharmacists to prescribe and administer oral fluoride varnish and tobacco cessation drug therapies. The law requires a pharmacist who wishes to administer oral fluoride varnish to successfully complete a course accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education. Outlines assessment, tracking and record keeping requirements. In addition, they were granted emergency refill protocols.
The legislation permits a licensed pharmacist to prescribe and dispense tobacco cessation drug therapies with the prescriptive authority limited to nicotine-replacement tobacco cessation drug therapies. Requires prescribing pharmacists to complete a course of training which includes: epidemiology and health consequences of tobacco-containing products, the components of tobacco dependence, assessments of a patient's willingness to quit, development of a quit plan and relapse prevention strategies, approved medications for nicotine addiction, effectiveness of current drug therapies, and nonpharmacological and behavioral interventions.
Further, the law requires prescribing pharmacists of nicotine-replacement tobacco cessation drug therapies to: notify the designated primary care provider within 72 hours after prescription of medication and maintain records that are available to the primary care provider upon request. This law exempts pharmacists who are filling or refilling prescriptions for another provider or who are recommending nonprescription tobacco cessation therapies to a patient without a prescription. (A.R.S. § 32-1979.03)
Provisions
1. Allows a licensed pharmacist to prescribe and administer to a person, who is six years of age or older, pursuant to the rules and protocols adopted by the Board and consistent with national guidelines, the following:
a. A Tuberculin skin test and interpret the results for treatment referral purposes;
b. Prescription medications approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for an eligible patient who tests positive for influenza or strep throat;
c. FDA approved and listed drugs; and
d. Extend routine, chronic medications for an additional 30 to 60 days if they are not controlled substances. (Sec. 1)
2. Requires a pharmacist to be board certified and meet all board requirements as prescribed in rule to prescribe and administer treatments. (Sec. 1)
3. Requires prescribing pharmacists to:
a. Report the administration to the person's primary care provider or physician within 48 hours after prescribing treatment; and
b. Maintain record of treatment. (Sec. 1)
4. States that no cause of action is established against a person's primary care provider or physician for any adverse reaction, complication or negative outcome that arises from the administration of any immunization, vaccine or emergency medication if it is administered without a prescription by the patient's primary care provider or physician. (Sec. 1)
5. Requires the Board to adopt rules for prescribing and administering treatments regarding:
a. Recordkeeping and reporting requirements;
b. Pharmacist certification requirements and qualifications; and
c. Completing patient self-assessments before prescribing and administering treatments, if appropriate. (Sec. 1)
6. Requires DHS, by rule, to establish and maintain a list of treatments that a pharmacist may administer pursuant to a prescription order only. (Sec. 1)
7. Exempts DHS from rulemaking requirements for purposes of this act and sets a deadline of six months after the effective date of this section. (Sec. 1)
8. Prohibits pharmacists from prescribing or administering a treatment to a minor without written consent of the minor's parent or guardian. (Sec. 1)
Amendment:
Committee on Health & Human Services
1. Adds Beta 2 agonists to the list of drugs pharmacists can prescribe.
2. Changes the extending of medication to up to 60 days.
3. Requires pharmacists to report the administration to the primary care provider within 72 hours.
4. Adds that the primary care provider and physician is protected from a cause of action for prescribing.
5. Strikes emergency from medication in the section establishing no cause of action.
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8. ---------- DOCUMENT FOOTER ---------
9. Fifty-fourth Legislature HB 2548
10. First Regular Session Version 2: Caucus & Cow
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