SF 296 – Pharmacists Providing Vaccines; Collaborative Pharmacy Practice

SF 296, as amended, allows pharmacists to administer an immunization or vaccination for COVID-19 to patients 18 and older. It also states that pharmacists may now, in consultation with the Department of Public Health, order and administer the following to those patients six years old and older:

• Point-of-care testing and treatment for the flu, strep A, and COVID-19
• Point-of-care testing in response to a public health emergency

Pharmacy collaborative practice agreements (CPAs) are also permitted under this bill. CPAs create formal practice relationships between pharmacists and prescribers. They allow the prescriber (e.g., a physician or nurse practitioner) to delegate certain patient-care functions to the pharmacist with the intent of increasing access to care.

These agreements have been done in Iowa since the early 2000s, and this section of the bill would allow the Board of Pharmacy to change any administrative rules if needed. The bill also allows a health carrier to reimburse for the services provided under these agreements. [4/28: 48-0 (Excused: Nunn, Schultz)]