We applaud and share in California pharmacists’ efforts on behalf of patient access to their services as the California state Senate approved its pharmacist provider status bill (SB 493) late last week, a significant step in becoming law. The legislation is now with the California State Assembly for consideration. I appreciate the efforts by California Senator Hernandez, an optometrist, in sponsoring and shepherding the passage of SB 493 to help address California’s shortage of primary care services.

The legislation not only expands the scope of practice for pharmacy, but also specifically names pharmacists as providers. SB 493 recognizes pharmacists’ education, training, and abilities as health care providers by expanding the list of services pharmacists can provide in the state.

If signed into law, examples of new authorities for pharmacists in California would include ordering and interpreting tests to monitor and manage the efficacy and toxicity of drug therapies and initiating and administering routine vaccinations.

In a brief note posted on the California Pharmacists Association (CPhA) website, CPhA described months of lobbying and member letter-writing. We join CPhA, the California Society of Health-System Pharmacists, and other groups in celebrating this important step forward, and thank those involved for all their hard work.

For more details on California’s provider status legislation, we’ve just posted a news article on pharmacist.com.