Relating to the practice of pharmacy, including the prescription and administration of vaccines and collaborative pharmacy practice

This bill relates to the practice of pharmacy including the prescription and administration of vaccines and collaborative pharmacy practice. The bill adds immunizations and vaccinations for COVID-19 to the treatments that may be ordered and administered by a pharmacist to patients ages years and older pursuant to statewide protocols developed by the board of pharmacy in consultation with the department of public health. The bill allows a pharmacist to order and administer point-of-care testing and treatment for influenza, streptococcus A, and COVID-19 at the point of interaction between a pharmacist and a patient to patients ages six years and older. The bill also allows a pharmacist to order and administer point-of-care testing at the point of interaction between a pharmacist and a patient in response to a public health emergency to patients ages six years and older. The bill allows a pharmacist to engage in a collaborative pharmacy practice under a collaborative pharmacy practice agreement to provide patient care and drug therapy management services to a patient. The bill allows a health carrier to pay for a service provided by a pharmacist under a collaborative pharmacy practice agreement if the health benefit plan provides for payment or reimbursement for a service when the service is within the lawful scope of practice of a practitioner or pharmacist.