Now that the Ohio Senate Finance Committee completed its work, a House-Senate Conference Committee will determine whether to keep – or cut – pro-patient, pro-pharmacy solutions when finalizing the bill prior to a final vote. NACDS RxIMPACT needs your help fighting the tide of interests advocating the removal of this critically needed language from the bill. Help us tell members of the House-Senate Conference Committee to preserve the vaccine access language in the state budget and ultimately all state legislators to vote YES to a state budget bill that modernizes patient vaccine access!
In August of 2020, the Federal Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREP Act) granted pharmacists, pharmacy interns and licensed technicians’ temporary authority to administer immunizations to children three years old and older. Although a May 11 guidance extends many authorities like the provision of flu and COVID-19 vaccinations for those 3 and up until December 2024, it did not extend pharmacies’ ability to provide children with all other routine ACIP-recommended vaccines. Therefore, it is critical to families that Ohio codify children’s access to vaccines at pharmacies.
Language has been added to the state budget bill (HB 33) to preserve the ability of pharmacists, pharmacy interns and pharmacy technicians to administer all ACIP-recommended vaccines to patients who are five years of age and older. It eliminates the onerous requirement for a prescription for patients ages 7-12. If a child does not have a pediatrician or other primary care provider, the language requires pharmacies to inform the child's parent or legal guardian of the importance of well child visits and refer patients when appropriate.
Temporary federal PREP Act allowances have allowed pharmacy providers to play a vital role in connecting the broader public to essential healthcare services. Over the last three years, pharmacies have taken extraordinary measures to meet Ohioans’ need for essential healthcare services. From keeping doors open and lights on in the early days of the pandemic, to getting shots in arms and providing important testing services, the pharmacy community has played a vital role in expanding patient access to care and helping communities reopen and return to normal. Throughout 2019-2022 pharmacies provided 14.3 million vaccines to Ohioans.
With 87% of Ohioans saying it is very or somewhat easy to access pharmacies, ranking their accessibility the highest among healthcare destinations tested, pharmacies have effectively connected millions of patients – including those who do not otherwise have a primary care provider – to important healthcare services. In fact, a poll commissioned by NACDS and conducted by Morning Consult found that 62% of Ohioans believe “learning the lessons of the pandemic means keeping in place policies that make it easier for patients to access services from pharmacists and other pharmacy team members.”
Help us demonstrate to legislators the importance of this legislative remedy to patients in the communities we serve! To act, simply enter your contact information, click "Send Message" and the system will send personalized messages to your state legislators.
If you have any questions or would like any assistance, please contact Jill McCormack via email or at 717-592-8977 or Heidi Ecker via email or telephone at 703-837-4121.