Substitute House Bill No. 421 Summary

• Authorizes licensed pharmacists to administer specific drugs by injection, including opioid antagonists (long-acting/extended-release forms), antipsychotic drugs (long-acting/extended-release forms), hydroxyprogesterone caproate, medroxyprogesterone acetate, and cobalamin, if prescribed by a physician and patient has an ongoing physician-patient relationship.

• Requires pharmacists administering injectable drugs to complete a state board of pharmacy-approved course in drug administration and maintain current basic life-support certification from the American Red Cross or American Heart Association.

• Mandates pharmacists obtain patient consent before administration, observe patients for adverse reactions, notify the prescribing physician after administration, and follow a physician-established protocol specific to the drug and patient condition.

• Allows pharmacists to administer epinephrine or diphenhydramine in emergency situations resulting from adverse reactions to drugs they administered.

• Requires the state medical board to adopt rules establishing standards for physicians prescribing drugs that pharmacists may administer, in consultation with the state board of pharmacy.