Senate Government Operations reviews H.588 to ease licensure rules and expand pharmacists' test‑and‑treat authority

The Senate Government Operations Committee on Thursday, April 2 continued consideration of H.588, an Office of Professional Regulation (OPR) bill that would alter licensing rules across multiple health and personal‑care professions and expand certain pharmacist authorities. The committee heard detailed explanations from OPR staff and asked for additional testimony from the commissioner of health on pharmacist testing and prescribing.

"We are removing the active practice requirement for APRNs," said Jen Cole, director of Oleg Yaron, describing section 14 of H.588 that would replace the two‑year active‑practice hours standard with continuing education requirements. Cole said the change aligns Vermont with most other states and that the board of nursing supports dropping the active‑practice requirement. Lauren Hibbert, deputy secretary of state, asked about patient outcomes; OPR staff replied that their research showed no statistically significant difference in outcomes tied to removing the requirement.

Committee members spent substantial time on pharmacy provisions in section 14a. Cole said the bill would expand pharmacist prescribing…