Community pharmacists are both medication experts and America's most accessible health care providers. The services they can provide to their patients and communities extend far beyond dispensing, but current laws and regulations can create barriers to those services. NCPA is committed to working with our members and state partners to remove the barriers preventing pharmacists from practicing to the full scope of their training and expertise.

• Scope of Practice Legislation 2021

While certainly not a comprehensive list, the following are areas where NCPA is active related to expansion of pharmacists’' scope of practice and insurance coverage or compensation for pharmacists' patient care services.

• Immunizations
• Hormonal Contraceptives
• Tobacco Cessation
• Point-of-Care Testing
• Long Acting Injectables/Medication Administration

Letters of Support and Comments

Practice Authority and Payment for Service

Colorado

• Letter of Support for Colorado HB 20-1061
  This legislation would increase patient access to HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) medications by authorizing pharmacists to prescribe and dispense PrEP or PEP. HB 20-1061 also requires carriers to cover HIV infection prevention drugs prescribed or dispensed by a pharmacist and to provide an adequate consultative fee to those pharmacists.

District of Columbia

• Response letter to DC Health – Board of Pharmacy COVID-19 Testing Guidance
  The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS), National Grocers Association (NGA), Food Industry Association (FMI), and National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) response letter to DC Health – Board of Pharmacy guidance on COVID-19 Testing by pharmacists.

Louisiana

• Letter of Support for Louisiana House Bill 459
  This legislation will provide reimbursement for healthcare services and procedures performed by pharmacists within the scope of the pharmacist’s license pursuant to the Louisiana Pharmacy Practice Act, if such benefits would be ordinarily paid if the service was performed by another healthcare provider.

Missouri

• Letter of Support for Missouri HB 2304
  This legislation would increase patient access to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) pre-exposure (PrEP) and post-exposure (PEP) medications by authorizing pharmacists to initiate and furnish these lifesaving drugs.

New Hampshire

• Letter of Support for New Hampshire HB 1404
  This legislation would increase patient access to HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medications by authorizing pharmacists to initiate and furnish HIV PrEP medications.

New Jersey

• Letter of Support for New Jersey S 2436
  This legislation will allow pharmacists to order and administer CLIA-waived coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) tests that have been authorized by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA). In addition, S 2436 requires health benefits plans and Medicaid to provide coverage for the tests, alleviating a barrier for patients looking to get tested.

New Mexico

• Joint Letter of Support for New Mexico HB 42
  The legislation would require reimbursement of patient-care services provided by appropriately certified pharmacists. Improving patient access to care requires reimbursement for services provided by clinicians in New Mexico, including pharmacists, at a level equivalent to other advanced practice providers.

Vermont

• Letter of Support for Vermont S 220
  This legislation would expand pharmacist scope of practice not limited to prescribing (self-administered hormonal contraceptives, opioid antagonist, tobacco cessation products e.t.c.), furnishing tests for SARS-CoV, and performing therapeutic substitution.

West Virginia

• Joint Letter of Support for West Virginia SB 787
  This legislation would require paid benefits for pharmacist provided health care services rendered within the pharmacist’s scope of practice if such benefits would ordinarily be paid if the service was performed by another health care provider.

Miscellaneous

• Submitted comments to CO BOP on proposed pharmacy rules and regulations that would authorize pharmacists to order and administer COVID tests, and extend beyond use dates for low risk compounded sterile products.

• Response letter to NGA
  The American Pharmacists Association (APhA), National Alliance of State Pharmacy Association (NASPA), and National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) response letter to the National Governors Association memorandum on the distribution of COVID-19 Vaccine. The letter explains how independent community pharmacists can play a role in the vaccine distribution efforts, help patients to access the COVID-19 vaccine, and recommend steps the States can take to ensure independent community pharmacists have the authority to provide the services their patients need.