RESOLUTION NO: 119-1-23
TITLE: Point-of-Care Testing and Treatment by Pharmacists
ACTION: PASS
WHEREAS, pharmacists, as highly accessible health care providers, have played a vital role in the public health response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic; and
WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic and related emergency declarations allowed for an expanded scope of practice for pharmacists, allowing them to order and administer COVID-19 tests and therapeutics; and
WHEREAS, pharmacists, as recognized members of the health care team, can expand patient access to early testing and initial treatment for common illnesses; and
WHEREAS, some states allow Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988-waived point-of care testing and initiation of protocol-based treatment by pharmacists (ie, “test and treat”); and
WHEREAS, there is variability across states in allowances and requirements for pharmacists to conduct point-of-care testing and initiate treatment; and
WHEREAS, NABP Resolution No 117-1-21 encouraged the states to continue to allow pharmacists to provide all point-of-care testing;1
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that NABP conduct a survey of the states and jurisdictions to collect data on allowances, any barriers to access, and requirements for pharmacist point-of-care testing and treatment, and, if appropriate, convene a task force to further study the issue and make recommendations to expand and standardize the practice across the United States and its jurisdictions.
(Resolution passed at the 119th Annual Meeting in Nashville, TN.)
1https://nabp.pharmacy/news/news-releases/state-boards-of-pharmacy-response-to-pandemics-and-other-natural-disasters-resolution/