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Board of Pharmacy outlines new prescribing and vaccination authorities, staff and vacancy challenges
Summary
The Board of Pharmacy described FY25–26 rulemaking that enables pharmacists to prescribe self-administered hormonal contraceptives and expands vaccination authority; staff vacancies and interim leadership slowed some operations but the board said impacts were minimal thanks to interim appointments.
Dr. Allison Hill, chair of the District of Columbia Board of Pharmacy, told the committee the board issued final rulemaking under Title 17 Chapter 65 to establish a regulatory framework allowing pharmacists to prescribe and dispense self-administered hormonal contraceptives and that the board is building training and certification processes for pharmacists to use the new authority.
"This rule represents an important step in increasing access to timely reproductive health care," Hill said, linking pharmacists' accessibility to improved care for communities with barriers to traditional clinics. The board also described efforts to expand vaccination authority under the Community Health Amendment Act of 2025 and to support pharmacists with training through vendor DCRx.
Committee members asked whether leadership vacancies (executive director and supervisory pharmacist positions) affected inspections or licensing. A DC Health representative said minimal impact resulted from interim appointments and an offer had been made for the executive director post; the supervisory pharmacist position will be posted after no applicants were identified earlier.
The board said delegated authority exists for staff to approve routine licensing decisions (updated procedures Dec. 2025), and the board receives delegated-approval reports before each meeting. Members of the committee requested more detailed delegated-authority audits and processing-time data for oversight.
