This bill seeks to enhance the role of pharmacists in treating opioid use disorder by granting them the authority to initiate, prescribe, administer, and dispense specific medications for this purpose. It modifies existing legal definitions and practices in Minnesota Statutes, particularly by expanding the definition of "practitioner" to include pharmacists authorized to prescribe drug therapy for opioid use disorder. The bill also removes previous references to self-administered hormonal contraceptives and other medications, while explicitly updating the practice of pharmacy to encompass the initiation and management of drug therapy for opioid use disorder.

Additionally, the legislation revises the grounds for disciplinary action against pharmacists and pharmacy interns, ensuring adherence to updated standards of practice that prioritize patient safety and ethical conduct. It introduces provisions that require pharmacists to provide counseling on the proper use of medications and prohibits the delegation of prescribing authority, although pharmacist interns may assist under supervision. The bill also clarifies prescription requirements for controlled substances and establishes new violations for conduct that does not conform to accepted healthcare standards, ultimately aiming to improve the management of opioid use disorder while holding pharmacists accountable to higher professional standards.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 151.01, 151.071, 151.37, 152.11, 152.12