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Senate adopts technical fix to allow pharmacists to provide PrEP and STI prevention services
Summary
Senators adopted an amendment clarifying pharmacy authority to prescribe, dispense and administer pre‑exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV and other related prevention medications; sponsors said the change fixes language adopted earlier in the FY2025 budget.
The Senate voted to adopt Amendment 21, described on the floor as a technical correction to statutory language adopted in the FY2025 budget that authorizes pharmacists to prescribe, dispense and administer pre‑exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV and medications for STI prevention.
Senator Julian Cyr, who spoke in favor of the amendment, said the change was intended to “add some clarifying language, so the Department of Public Health can realize its letters of intent.” He framed the amendment as a public‑health measure to expand access to lifesaving prevention medications and reduce disparities in access to PrEP.
Senator Cyr cited CDC estimates of lifetime cost savings from prevented HIV infections and noted that community availability of PrEP has been linked to reduced HIV prevalence in localities that widely use the medication. He urged adoption as a cost‑effective public‑health intervention.
The clerk announced the voice vote and the chair stated “the ayes have it; amendment is adopted.” The transcript records floor appreciation of the amendment’s passage.
