Ohio Board of Pharmacy Consult Agreement

OSMA testifies in support of the Pharmacist Counseling Act – Ohio State Medical Association, 6/10/15 “Simply put, this bill is a turning point for the entire practice of pharmacy – the opportunities for pharmacists to provide more convenient services as a key member of the healthcare team have never been greater. Physicians, health plans, plan sponsors and patients can all benefit from the expanded powers granted to pharmacists in this bill,” said OPA Ceo Ernest Boyd. Last week, on the last day of the session in 2015, the Ohio Senate voted unanimously to pass HB 188, and then, in a meteoric time, a few hours later, the Ohio House of Representatives quickly passed the bill, where members voted unanimously to approve the bill and send it to Governor John Kasich`s office! We are waiting for the formal transfer to the governor`s office, where he will then have 10 days to respond to the bill. HB 188, when it comes into force, will simplify the paperwork of the consultation agreement so that several pharmacists can enter into an agreement with several physicians to manage the drug treatment of several patients. In addition, the bill will allow pharmacists acting under a medical consultation agreement to order blood and urine tests, analyze the results of those tests, and then remove, amend or add new drugs to the patient`s drug plan. This is an important step in the OPA`s efforts to make better use of pharmacist services to improve patient outcomes in the Ohio population. In addition to the consultation agreement provisions of the bill, the bill also allows pharmacists to grant patients who no longer have renewals (and if the doctor cannot be reached) up to an additional 30 days of medication (or the smallest possible unit of measurement) if the patient`s life could be affected by the absence of the prescription. This bill has been in the works for years and we thank all pharmacists, pharmacy students, the Ohio Health System Society of Pharmacists, the Ohio State Medical Association and other industry supporters for their support of its passage. We are grateful to the many OPA members who helped get this bill through the Legislative Assembly despite the great challenges we faced. To say that we have come a long way would be an understatement. Finally, many thanks to Representative Nathan Manning, Representative Stephen Huffman, Senator Gayle Manning and Senator Dave Burke for leading the prosecution as sponsors of the Legislative Assembly.

Thank you to Speaker Anne Gonzales, Speaker Shannon Jones, Speaker of the Senate Keith Faber, Speaker of the House Cliff Rosenberger and the other members of the Legislative Assembly who passed the bill and ultimately supported its passage. On December 15, the Ohio State Board of Pharmacy released new information about consultation agreements for pharmacists. Standard care agreements with cooperating physicians for certified nurses, certified nurse midwives and certified clinical specialized nurses must be updated before these advanced health care providers enter into consultation agreements with pharmacists. Updates to the supervisory agreements between physician assistants and supervising physicians should also be made before physician assistants enter into consultation agreements with pharmacists. In addition to supporting volunteers and members and the work of OPA legislative staff in building coalitions and meeting with legislators, supporting political campaigns is a big part of the advocacy process. We need to support the right legislators who support the pharmacy and the patients we serve, and we need to build on these recent successes by working towards even greater goals. Please consider financially supporting our legislative efforts by contributing to the OPA Pharmacy CCP. 100% of the apothical PAC money donated by pharmacists goes to candidates who support pharmacy in Ohio. Or if you want to make a commercial contribution to support the takeover`s investment in our advocacy program, consider being part of the OPA`s Legislative Defense Fund (DFL). (2) Clinical nurses, certified nurse midwives or certified nurse practitioners, if the conclusion of a consultation contract is approved by one or more cooperating physicians. A list of model agreements for medical consultations that can be used and customized for these purposes can be found here. The move, which was requested by the OPA and in consultation with the Medical Council and the Nursing Council, will allow pharmacists to work with providers who may need the additional expertise and resources to better activate patients for the treatment of chronic diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Effective December 16, amendments to Section 4729.39 of the Revised Ohio Code (House Bill 203 – 133rd General Assembly) expand the type of providers with whom a pharmacist can enter into a consultation agreement. While the amendment continues to approve consultation agreements between pharmacists and physicians, the amendment allows one or more pharmacists to enter into a consultation agreement with one or more of the following: Ohio House passes updated legislation on consulting contracts – Rep. Stephen Huffman, 6/30/15 Additional changes to Ohio laws will allow pharmacists to enter into consultation agreements with Certified Certificates Nurses, Certified Nurse Midwives, Certified Clinical Nurse Specialists and Physician Assistants as of December 16, 2020. Additional new rules will be adopted by the State Medical Board of Ohio (for physician assistants) and the Ohio Board of Nursing (for certified nurses, certified nurse midwives, and certified clinical nurse specialists) to establish the standards and requirements for these advanced health care providers to manage a patient`s medication treatment under a consultation agreement. At the General Assembly, which allowed pharmacists to work with physicians to manage patients` drug therapy, the Ohio Board of Pharmacy and Governor Mike DeWine issued emergency guidelines that extend collaboration from pharmacists to certified nurses (NOCs). Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS), Certified Nurse Midwives (NJCs) and Physician Assistants (PAs) in hospitals and institutional facilities. The guidelines are taken as the OPA works with legislators to draft permanent legislation to expand cooperation between pharmacists and intermediate-level providers in inpatient and outpatient settings. Expect announcements about these efforts in the coming weeks. Ohio Bill Would Expand Patient Care for Pharmacists – APhA Pharmacy Today, 12/17/15 Expired Prescription Deaths – Insulin Nation, 4/30/15 Ohio Bill to Protect Insulin Access Passports – Insulin Nation, 12/11/15 For more information on the OPA`s efforts to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, click here.

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