Many of ASHP's state affiliates are very active in the legislative process each year. This activity can focus on general advocacy, lobbying, Legislative Days, testimony, or having their own legislation introduced. Quite a few state affiliates have promoted legislation highlighting the value of pharmacy recently, and we wanted to highlight three of these efforts.

The affiliates in Georgia, Texas and West Virginia have supported legislation this session which promotes the importance of pharmacists in the safe and effective treatment of patients. Georgia (GSHP) had legislation introduced that focuses on safe medications practices. Texas (TSHP) is supporting legislation that enhances the role of pharmacists in the implementation and modification of a patient's drug therapy. And, West Virginia (WVSHP) is supporting legislation that identifies pharmacists and pharmacies as health care providers.

In mid-February, the Safe Medications Practice Act was introduced into the Georgia General Assembly as HB 361. GSHP has drafted this bill; it is their first attempt to draft and pass legislation to advance health-system pharmacy practice. The bill authorizes, in Georgia Code, clinical pharmacy practice in hospitals and promotes collaborative practice between pharmacists, physicians and other clinicians to enhance the safety of medication use. It gives pharmacists the authority to order and interpret laboratory tests necessary to improve the safety of medication therapy. It also requires pharmacists, physicians and other clinicians to work collaboratively to assess and monitor patients to prevent medication misadventures. GSHP is working with the state medical association, the hospital association, and other pharmacy organizations to gain support for passage of the Safe Medications Practice Act and aiming to get this legislation passed by 2010. The Georgia General Assembly page with the link to Georgia HB 361; Safe Medications Practice Act:

This legislative session, the Texas Society is promoting HB 427/SB 381. The bill would allow pharmacists to sign prescriptions under protocols with physicians. More than 10 years ago, Texas passed a law that allows pharmacists to manage drug therapy under protocols. They can change dose, manage patients, etc. They can also call in prescriptions as an 'agent of the physician' under TX law. However the Board of Pharmacy's opinion is that they cannot 'sign' prescriptions because the law doesn't specify that. This bill is limited to pharmacists in institutional (hospital) settings in a compromise with the Medical Association, which is wary about community pharmacists writing prescriptions, particularly in "in-store" clinics. The Texas Legislature page with the link to Texas HB 427/SB 381: [PDF]

And, in West Virginia, WVSHP is promoting legislation that clarifies that pharmacists and pharmacies are health-care providers. This legislation was created in response to findings by the West Virginia State Supreme Court in a case where a pharmacist applied for protection under the Medical Professional Liability Act and was denied that claim by the state supreme court. This occurred because pharmacists were not included in the Liability Act when it was initially created. The West Virginia legislature page with the link to SB 379: