CS/HB 389 - Practice of Pharmacy

• Expands the definition of pharmacy practice to include initiating, modifying, or discontinuing drug therapy for chronic health conditions under a collaborative pharmacy practice agreement between a pharmacist and physician.

• Creates collaborative pharmacy practice agreements allowing qualified pharmacists to manage chronic conditions (arthritis, asthma, COPD, type 2 diabetes, HIV/AIDS, obesity, and board-adopted conditions) with physician oversight, requiring 20-hour initial training and $250,000 liability insurance.

• Authorizes pharmacists to test, screen for, and treat minor, nonchronic health conditions (influenza, streptococcus, lice, skin conditions, minor uncomplicated infections) under written protocols with supervising physicians, requiring 20-hour certification course and $250,000 liability coverage.

• Requires pharmacists practicing under collaborative agreements to complete 8-hour biennial continuing education; pharmacists treating minor conditions must complete 3-hour biennial continuing education addressing relevant health conditions.

• Effective July 1, 2020; Board of Pharmacy must adopt implementing rules in consultation with Boards of Medicine and Osteopathic Medicine; pharmacists must maintain patient records for 5 years and report public health significant diseases to Department of Health.