PHARMACISTS/VACCINE ADMIN./TEST AND TREAT.

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View NCGA Bill Details2023-2024 Session
House Bill 654 (Public) Filed Monday, April 17, 2023
AN ACT TO MODIFY THE SCOPE OF PRACTICE OF IMMUNIZING PHARMACISTS, TO ALLOW PHARMACISTS TO TEST AND TREAT FOR CERTAIN ILLNESSES WITH CERTAIN MEDICATIONS APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF PHARMACY, AND TO PROVIDE FOR FAIR AND EQUITABLE REIMBURSEMENT OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES OR PROCEDURES THAT ARE PERFORMED BY A PHARMACIST WITHIN THAT PHARMACIST'S SCOPE OF PRACTICE AND THAT ARE EQUIVALENT TO SERVICES PERFORMED BY OTHER HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS.
Intro. by Potts, Sasser, Cotham, Pless.

Status: Ref to the Com on Health, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House (House action) (Apr 18 2023)
H 654

Bill Summaries:

  • Summary date: Apr 17 2023 - View Summary

    Amends GS 90-85.3A to allow a pharmacist to order and perform a CLIA-waived test to: (1) assist with clinical decision making related to the use and monitoring of medications and (2) treat influenza, COVID-19, pharyngitis caused by streptococcus, and other health conditions screened by using a CLIA-waived test in accordance with rules and protocols adopted by the Board of Pharmacy in consultation with the State Health Director and the North Carolina Medical Board. Prohibits a pharmacist from treating a health condition under GS 90-85.3A with any controlled Schedule 1-IV controlled substance. Defines CLIA-waived test as a lab test approved by the FDA and determined by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to qualify for a waiver under the federal Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 and safe for use in non-laboratory settings. Also defines FDA and ACIP (CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices).

    Amends GS 90-85.15B to authorize an immunizing pharmacist to administer vaccines either authorized by the FDA, or licensed by the FDA and recommended by the ACIP to persons at least three years of age or older, according to the standard immunization schedules of the ACIP. Allows pharmacy interns and technicians to administer those same vaccines to persons three years of age or older so long as the vaccines are administered under written protocols and the vaccination is ordered by the supervising immunizing physician. Deletes provisions of section limiting administration of vaccines by pharmacists to persons aged 18 and older unless certain exceptions apply. Specifies that if the patient is 18 years of age or younger, the immunizing pharmacist must notify any pediatrician or primary care provider identified by the patient's parent or guardian within 72 hours after administration of the vaccine or immunization. If the patient's parent or guardian does not identify a pediatrician or primary care provider, specifies that the immunizing pharmacist must direct the patient to information describing the benefits to a patient of having a pediatrician or primary care physician, prepared by any of the following entities: North Carolina Medical Board, North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians, North Carolina Medical Society, North Carolina Pediatric Society, or Community Care of North Carolina. Makes conforming and technical changes. Effective October 1, 2023.

    Enacts GS 58-50-296, pertaining to reimbursement and coverage of services provided by pharmacists. Requires that health care benefit plans offered by insurers in this State reimburse a pharmacist at the same rate that other advanced practice or mid-level health care providers, such as nurse practitioners or physician assistants, are reimbursed when providing the same or equivalent health care services or procedures if all of the following are met: (1) the service or procedure was performed within the pharmacist's licensed lawful scope of practice; (2) the health benefit plan would have provided reimbursement if the service or procedure had been performed by another health care provider; and (3) the pharmacist provided the service or procedure in compliance with any requirements of the insurer related to the service or procedure. Requires same insurers to accept credentialing for pharmacists employed or contracted with facilities that the insurers have delegated credentialing agreements to. Requires reimbursement to contracted health care facility or contracted pharmacist directly for services provided by a pharmacist within their scope of practice regardless of whether the pharmacist is a participating provider in the insurer’s network. Specifies that the participation of a pharmacy in a drug benefit provider network of an insurer offering a health benefit plan in this State does not satisfy any requirement that insurers offering health benefit plans include pharmacists in medical benefit provider networks. Specifies that GS 58-50-296 also applies to agents of an insurer offering a health benefit plan in this State and third-party administrators. Effective October 1, 2023, and applies to contracts entered into, renewed, or amended on or after that date.

    Permits the NC Board of Pharmacy to adopt temporary rules to implement the act.