cbaker_admin
Fri, 08/28/2020 – 10:30
Members of the Florida Board of Pharmacy Rules Committee voted on August 24 to add “heart failure” to a list of chronic conditions that pharmacists in the state could treat if proposed legislation passes. The proposal would widen a new state law that allows pharmacists who have written collaborative agreements with physicians to treat some patients for certain chronic health conditions. The rule also would implement legislation to allow certain pharmacists to test and treat patients for influenza, streptococcus, lice, skin conditions, and uncomplicated infections if pharmacists have written protocol agreements with physicians. The law, passed during this year’s legislative session, was a priority of House Speaker Jose Oliva (R-Miami Lakes), who has sought to overhaul the health care system. The Board of Pharmacy Rules Committee vote unanimously in favor of adding heart failure despite warnings that doing so could delay the rule-making process and potentially keep the regulations from being implemented in time for the 2020 influenza season. The board members also agreed to delay until October discussions about whether mental health should be added to the list of chronic conditions that could be treated by pharmacists. The full Board of Pharmacy is set to consider the proposed regulation this week.
