Committee forwards bill to add certified pharmacy technician to Idaho Board of Pharmacy

The Senate Health and Welfare Committee on a voice vote sent House Bill 286 to the floor with a due-pass recommendation. The bill would add a certified registered pharmacy technician to the Idaho Board of Pharmacy and also add an additional pharmacist to keep the board's membership at seven.

Supporters told the committee that pharmacy technicians now handle most day-to-day pharmacy operations and that a technician voice on the board would bring operational perspective to regulatory and disciplinary decisions. "If you go to the pharmacy today to pick up a prescription chances are you are going to encounter a pharmacy technician," said Senator Camille Blaylock, the bill sponsor, describing the technician's routine role. Caroline Merritt of the Idaho Society of Health System Pharmacy said the bill requires a technician to hold a certified pharmacy technician designation and at least three years' experience before serving on the board.

Proponents said the bill raises the board's size to seven to preserve an odd number of voting members and to keep pharmacist representation broad across practice settings. "We opted to add a technician and a pharmacist at the same time rather than replacing a pharmacist, because we didn't want to dilute that pharmacist voice on the board," Merritt said. Jessica Bowen, a hospital director who began as a pharmacy technician, said technicians "are at the forefront of pharmacy operations and their insight should be represented in decision making." Charlene Harper, a practicing pharmacy technician and technician representative for the Idaho Society of Health System Pharmacy, described expanded roles such as automation specialist and regulatory coordinator that she said support adding technician representation.

The committee discussed cost and board composition. Senator Shippey asked about the practical benefits; Blaylock and witnesses replied that technicians bring "boots on the ground" operational knowledge that pharmacists may not have. Senator Shippey noted the fiscal note's projection of roughly $2,800 in additional annual cost; Pam Eaton, president and CEO of the Idaho State Pharmacy Association, said the Board of Pharmacy can absorb the cost from licensing fees.

Senator Wintrow moved the committee recommendation; the motion was seconded and carried on a voice vote. The committee did not record a roll-call tally in the transcript.