Pharmacists/Test and Treat.

SB 414 allows licensed pharmacists (specifically clinical pharmacist practitioners) to test for and treat certain conditions like influenza, COVID-19, and strep throat using FDA-approved CLIA-waived tests, without requiring a physician referral. It mandates that health insurers cover these pharmacist-provided services at the same level as services from other healthcare providers, if performed within the pharmacist’s scope of practice. The bill prohibits pharmacists from treating conditions with controlled substances (Schedules I-IV) and requires statewide protocols for implementation by October 1, 2025. This directly affects pharmacists, patients seeking these specific services, and health insurers across North Carolina.