Law Expands Opportunities for Pharmacists

On June 6, 2016, Governor Hickenlooper signed Senate Bill 16-135 into law while sponsors of the bill (Representative Joann Ginal), and representatives from the Colorado Pharmacists Society, CU Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Regis University School of Pharmacy watched. The bill amends both the Pharmacy Practice Act and the Colorado Insurance Code to expand practice opportunities for pharmacists, and provides a pathway for reimbursement of pharmacy services.

Key components of the bill include:

• Provides reimbursement opportunities for pharmacists that provide healthcare services otherwise provided by a physician or advanced practice nurse
• Calls on insurance plans to include pharmacists in their network of providers
• Expands collaborative practice agreements to one or more patients cared for by the collaborating physician or advance practice nurse
• Expands collaborative practice agreements to a treatment protocol rather than a single drug
• Provides for the development of Statewide Drug Therapy Protocols to be jointly developed by the Boards of Pharmacy, Medicine, and Nursing in collaboration with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

The bill will go into effect on August 10, 2016. The rule making process will also be subject to public comment and hearings.  The Colorado Pharmacists Society has been a key stakeholder with the development and passage of this bill, along with the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science and Regis University School of Pharmacy who brought together the task force and worked diligently to get the bill passed. A special thanks to Emily Zadvorny, Gina Moore, legislative liaisons Jerry Johnson, Tanya KellyBowry and Brad Young, the Provider Status Task Force, our two primary bill sponsors Senator Irene Aguilar and Rep. Joann Ginal, and Kim Ward for making the bill a reality.

What’s happening in Colorado?

Are you interested in how to initiate clinical pharmacy services as part of a Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) model? The University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science invites you to participate in a five-week Colorado ECHO learning series. For more information, contact Gina Moore, PharmD, MBA, or register for the series directly here.