Committee adopts substitute to clarify and expand pharmacists' patient-care authority
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Summary
The House Labor and Commerce Committee adopted a committee substitute for HB 195 that clarifies pharmacists' authority to provide certain patient-care services, strengthens collaborative practice agreements and limits independent diagnosis except via CLIA-waived tests, and invited pharmacy and board officials to testify.
Juneau — The House Labor and Commerce Committee on Feb. 11 adopted a committee substitute for House Bill 195 aimed at clarifying and expanding pharmacists’ authority to provide defined patient-care services and to strengthen collaborative practice agreements in Alaska.
Representative Genevieve Mina presented the committee substitute (version N), and staff explained key changes: Section 1 prevents the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development from charging fees or requiring board approval for collaborative practice agreements while requiring each agreement to clearly define permitted patient-care services; Section 7 clarifies that pharmacists may not make new medical diagnoses except when performing CLIA‑waived tests; Section 8 narrows controlled-substance prescribing so that pharmacists would not prescribe opioids except when providing medication‑assisted therapy in a clinical setting. Section 13 sets an effective date of Jan. 1, 2027.
"This is not unlimited authority," Dr. Brandy Sigmund, executive director of the Alaska Pharmacy Association, told the committee. Sigmund said the committee substitute reflects several months of stakeholder meetings among the Alaska Board of Pharmacy, the Alaska State Medical Association and pharmacy providers and focused on statutory clarity and guardrails to keep pharmacists practicing within their education, training and a standard‑of‑care framework.
Sigmund described routine examples where expanded pharmacist authority could improve access and efficiency, such as resolving a missing nebulizer prescription for a child at the point of care, and said federal systems and tribal health organizations have long used similar authorities safely.
Dr. Ashley Shaver, representing the Alaska Board of Pharmacy, said the changes align license authority with education and training and that the CS reflects collaboration with the Alaska Medical Association. The committee recorded support from stakeholder organizations, including the Alaska Healthcare and Hospital Association and several tribal health organizations referenced in prior hearings.
Representative Hall moved to adopt the CS (LS0909\/N) as a working document; the motion was adopted without objection. Staff set an amendment deadline for HB 195 at 10 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 13. The committee also noted it will schedule a second hearing for HB 293 (genetic counselor licensing) and agreed to set an amendment deadline after that hearing.
Next steps: HB 195, as adopted in committee substitute form, moves forward with an upcoming amendment deadline; the committee has invited additional stakeholders and will resume consideration in a subsequent hearing.
