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Committee adopts substitute expanding pharmacist protocol for flu, strep and COVID-19
Summary
The Senate Health Committee adopted a substitute bill (1120-5) allowing pharmacists to provide specified treatments for influenza, strep throat and COVID-19 to patients age 5 and up, requires a board-developed protocol posted online and grants qualified immunity to implementing boards; the substitute passed with no objection.
Senator Romanchek moved and the Senate Health Committee adopted a substitute (1120-5) that would allow pharmacists to provide treatment and related services for influenza, strep throat and COVID-19 to patients 5 years and older. The committee chair announced no objections and accepted the substitute by voice vote.
In explaining the substitute, Senator Romanchek said the measure directs the Pharmacy Board to develop a treatment protocol outside the standard rulemaking process, maintain the current protocol on its website, and review it every two years. "It requires the pharmacy board to review the protocol every 2 years and make revisions as the board considers necessary," the sponsor said.
The substitute also permits — but does not require — the Pharmacy Board to adopt implementing rules and includes a provision granting the Pharmacy Board and the Medical Board qualified civil-immunity for harms allegedly arising from a pharmacist's use of the protocol. The substitute expressly does not permit pharmacists to treat respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
The substitute was moved, explained on the record and adopted with no objection; no formal roll-call vote was recorded in the transcript.
