Pharmacists; initiating treatment, dispensing, and administering of controlled substances.

Pharmacists; initiating treatment, dispensing, and administering of controlled substances. Includes in the practice of pharmacy initiating treatment, dispensing, and administering of certain drugs and devices by a pharmacist, provided that such pharmacist initiates treatment with, dispenses, or administers such drugs and devices in accordance with a statewide protocol developed by the Board of Pharmacy in collaboration with the Board of Medicine and Department of Health and set forth in regulations of the Board of Pharmacy. The bill clarifies that an accident and sickness insurance policy that provides reimbursement for a service that may be legally performed by a licensed pharmacist shall provide reimbursement for initiating treatment with, dispensing, or administering drugs and devices by a pharmacist when such initiation of treatment, dispensation, or administration is in accordance with regulations of the Board of Pharmacy. The bill directs the Board of Pharmacy to promulgate regulations to implement the provisions of the bill within 280 days of its effective date. The Board shall report to the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Education and Health and the Chairman of the House Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions by November 1, 2020, on the status of the regulations. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2021.