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Committee hears testimony on HB195 to expand limited pharmacist prescriptive authority; sponsors stress abortion restrictions
Summary
Supporters said HB195 would allow pharmacists to prescribe within their training to improve rural access and reduce costs, while sponsors and witnesses emphasized the bill does not change Alaska abortion law and excludes drugs on the FDA REMS list (including strong mention of mifepristone restrictions).
The Senate Finance Committee heard invited testimony in support of House Bill 195, which would authorize limited independent prescriptive authority for pharmacists to provide certain patient-care services within their training, and reviewed an accompanying fiscal note for regulatory changes.
Katie Georgiou, staff to Representative Mina, introduced the bill and told the committee the legislation is designed to allow Alaska-based pharmacists to 'practice at the top of their licensure' and to improve access to basic primary care services in rural communities. She said the bill is meant to clarify and operationalize intent from a prior bill and to define what "other patient care services" include.
Addressing constituent concerns raised on social media, Georgiou told the committee: "Nothing in HB195 changes how abortions will be conducted in the state of Alaska. Nothing in HB195 changes AS 18.16, which is our regulation of abortion laws." She added the bill explicitly excludes prescribing medications on the FDA's REMS (Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies) list.
An invited witness representing the Alaska Pharmacy Association described pharmacists' education and training, the UAA/Idaho State pharmacy program’s role in growing the state workforce, and clinical examples where pharmacist prescribing could speed care (for example, test-and-treat services for strep or influenza and resolving pharmacy-prescription issues in real time). The witness said pharmacist management of minor illnesses has been associated with lower costs in studies cited in testimony.
Senator Kiel reported a fiscal note from the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development, Business and Professional Licensing estimating increased costs of about $35,000 in FY27 and $30,000 in FY28 and out years to update regulations; these are receipt-supported costs. With no further questions, the committee set HB195 aside for further consideration; no committee advance or final reading was recorded at this hearing.
The bill will return for additional consideration where regulatory details and any amendment language may be addressed.
