Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Pharmacist Administration topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee backs bill letting pharmacists administer long‑acting addiction treatments; vote 16‑0
Summary
The House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee recommended Ought to Pass for Senate Bill 250, a bill that would allow pharmacists to administer controlled medications (including long‑acting injectables for opioid use disorder) under collaborative practice agreements and to receive reimbursement for administration.
The House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee voted in executive session to report Senate Bill 250 Ought to Pass. The bill would authorize pharmacists to administer controlled medications when done under a collaborative practice agreement with a prescribing provider and would allow pharmacists to bill Medicaid or other payers for the administration service.
Sen. David Roche, the prime sponsor, said the bill does not give pharmacists prescribing authority; it only allows pharmacists to administer medications that a licensed prescriber has ordered. “A pharmacist in good faith, in the course of his or her professional practice, may sell and dispense controlled drugs,” the sponsor said, explaining the bill’s intent is to remove ambiguity and expand access to long‑acting injectable medications used in medication‑assisted treatment for opioid use disorder.
Testimony at the public hearing emphasized access in rural communities and the benefits of long‑acting formulations. Dr. John Peters, a family physician who now works in addiction medicine, told the committee long‑acting injectables dramatically reduce overdose deaths and that allowing pharmacists to administer them would get treatment to patients who otherwise face long travel or wait times. “People on buprenorphine are 80 percent less likely to die from a fatal overdose than people who aren't,” Peters said.
Albertsons Company pharmacist Dr. Sydney Jackson described pharmacy training and said her company already administers long‑acting injectables in other states under collaborative practice agreements. She testified the measure would help reduce transportation barriers and bring care closer to rural patients. Several committee members expressed support; Representative Polozov moved Ought to Pass in executive session, and Representative Delamis seconded. The committee roll call recorded the motion passing 16 to 0.
The committee placed the bill on the consent calendar following the unanimous vote.
