Permitting a pharmacist to initiate therapy for certain conditions consistent with the pharmacist's education, training and experience, adding pharmacists who initiate such therapy to the healthcare stabilization fund and allowing a pharmacist to dispense a one-time emergency refill of a noncontrolled prescription drug for up to a 90-day supply when no refills remain.
What changed between versions
The bill's purpose was broadened from solely regulating pharmacist therapy initiation to also addressing healthcare liability insurance standards and emergency drug supply provisions.
The specific section detailing the collaborative drug therapy management advisory committee and its authority to adopt statewide protocols for pharmacist therapy was removed.
Professional liability insurance limits for new policies were increased from $200,000/$600,000 to $500,000/$1,500,000, though pharmacists and optometrists remain exempt from these specific increases.
New requirements were added for insurers to notify the board of governors within 30 days of issuing basic coverage and to provide at least 30 days notice before terminating coverage.
New provisions allow for a 90-day emergency supply of noncontrolled prescription drugs to be filled when no refills remain.
The bill now includes language adding pharmacists who initiate therapy to the healthcare stabilization fund.
The provision allowing the board to revoke pharmacist licenses for violating therapy protocols was removed.
The effective date for the new insurance liability limits was set to January 1, 2022, replacing the previous July 1, 2022 date for the pharmacist section.