Grand Canyon Times

The Arizona Senate has passed a bipartisan bill aimed at expanding healthcare options for residents by allowing pharmacists to conduct medical tests and treatments. The legislation, known as SB 1214, will now move to the Arizona House of Representatives for consideration.

Senate President Pro Tempore T.J. Shope, who sponsored the bill, stated that this measure is designed to address the state's physician shortage by enabling pharmacists to independently test and treat certain medical conditions. "This bill is an important step to help ensure Arizonans can receive routine health care services when they need them," said Senator Shope. He emphasized the demand from citizens wanting to access diagnoses and treatments at local pharmacies.

SB 1214 permits pharmacists in Arizona, who are licensed by the Arizona State Board of Pharmacy (ASPB), to order, perform, and interpret FDA-authorized tests waived under the federal Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA). It allows them to initiate treatment for eligible patients testing positive for various conditions such as influenza group A streptococcus pharyngitis, COVID-19 or other coronavirus respiratory illnesses, HIV preexposure prophylaxis or postexposure prophylaxis, and other health threats identified by DHS.

The Arizona State Board of Pharmacy would maintain jurisdiction over setting protocols for these independent tests and treatments. Pharmacies would also be required to communicate with a patient's primary care provider if one is available to ensure continuity of care.