The proposed bill, SB1085, amends Arizona law to allow pharmacists to independently order, perform, and interpret certain medical tests and initiate treatment for eligible patients aged six and older who test positive for specific conditions, including influenza and group A streptococcus pharyngitis. The bill establishes that pharmacists must follow a statewide written protocol approved by the Arizona State Board of Pharmacy in consultation with the Arizona Medical Board. It also requires pharmacists to use evidence-based clinical guidelines and maintain records of testing results for seven years.

Key changes from current law include the expansion of the age limit for treatment from three to six years, the removal of the authority for pharmacists to test and treat COVID-19, and the requirement for pharmacists to refer patients to their primary care provider under certain conditions. Additionally, the bill specifies that pharmacists can only delegate testing tasks to licensed pharmacy staff and clarifies that no cause of action can be established against a primary care provider for adverse outcomes resulting from treatments initiated by pharmacists without a prescription.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 32-1979.04
Senate Engrossed Version: 32-1979.04