The Pharmacist Prescribing Authority Act (SB 526), which has now been approved by the Senate Health and Human Services and Government Operations committees, will likely be voted on by the West Virginia Senate before Friday, March 14th.

This important legislation would authorize pharmacists to prescribe low-risk medications to patients, which do not require a new diagnosis, are minor and generally self-limiting, and have a test that is used to guide diagnosis or clinical decision-making and is waived under the federal Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) of 1988. If in the professional judgement of the pharmacist a situation constitutes a patient emergency, he or she can also act.

Pharmacists play a unique and vital role in our healthcare system. Every day, we engage with patients where they live, work, and shop – offering frequent and trusted touchpoints within our communities. Through these interactions, we hear firsthand about the needs of our patients and witness the challenges they face in accessing healthcare. SB 526 would allow us to better meet these needs by empowering pharmacists to expand access to care, particularly for rural and underserved populations.

Help NACDS RxIMPACT tell state senators to support SB 526 and support the health of West Virginians. Please type in your contact information, and the letter-writing system will populate a letter to your state legislator. 

Our profession, our industry, and our patients are depending on you. If you have any questions about this communication, please contact Heidi Ecker, Vice President of Government, Political, and Digital Communications via email at Hecker@nacds.org.