An act relating to pharmacist scope of practice

This bill expands the scope of practice for pharmacists in Vermont to allow them to order, test, screen, treat, and prescribe for certain health conditions under state-approved protocols. It directly affects licensed pharmacists, the Department of Health, and healthcare providers by enabling pharmacists to administer medications like vaccines and epinephrine auto-injectors, treat conditions such as influenza and strep throat, and perform waived laboratory tests. The bill requires state protocols to be approved by the Commissioner of Health with public comment opportunities and ensures health insurers cannot deny reimbursement for pharmacist-provided services that would otherwise be covered by physicians or nurses. It also establishes procedures for invalidating protocols if they pose public health risks and sets an effective date of July 1, 2023.