Texas Legislation Would Allow Pharmacists to Provide Medications Under Protocol
Legislation in Texas, House Bill 2444, was filed earlier this
month to allow pharmacists to furnish certain medications pursuant to a physician protocol and receive compensation for their services and procedures.
The Texas Pharmacy Association (TPA) worked with Texas Representative Kevin Roberts to develop the legislation, which would allow pharmacists to furnish a limited list of medications based on the results of CLIA-waived tests, including medications for the flu and strep after attaining authorization under a written protocol from a physician.
This change would allow Texas pharmacists to provide valuable services to their patients. Other states have taken different approaches. In Washington and Wisconsin and several other states, pharmacists can provide similar services under their broad collaborative practice authority. Others, including Idaho and California, have issued statewide protocols which alleviate the need for pharmacists to identify a physician to sign off before offering services to patients.