HB 533

AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE A PHARMACIST TO TEST OR SCREEN FOR AND INITIATE OR ADMINISTER TREATMENT FOR MINOR, NONCHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS; TO DEFINE THE TERM "MINOR, NONCHRONIC HEALTH CONDITION"; TO AUTHORIZE A PHARMACIST TO DELEGATE THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND TECHNICAL TASKS OF PERFORMING CERTAIN TESTS TO AN INTERN OR PHARMACY TECHNICIAN ACTING UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE PHARMACIST; TO AUTHORIZE A PHARMACIST TO PROHIBIT THE DENIAL OF REIMBURSEMENT UNDER HEALTH BENEFIT PLANS FOR SERVICES AND PROCEDURES PERFORMED BY A PHARMACIST THAT ARE WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE PHARMACIST'S LICENSE, AND WOULD BE COVERED IF THE SERVICES OR PROCEDURES WERE PERFORMED BY A PHYSICIAN, AN ADVANCED PRACTICE REGISTERED NURSE, OR A PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT; TO AMEND SECTION 73-21-73, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCLUDE IN THE DEFINITION OF THE TERM "PRACTICE OF PHARMACY", ORDERING, PERFORMING, AND INTERPRETING CERTAIN TESTS AND INITIATING, ADMINISTERING, OR MODIFYING DRUG THERAPY; TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 83-9-36, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH RELATES TO PRESCRIBING PRACTITIONERS, STEP THERAPY OR FAIL-FIRST PROTOCOLS AND OVERRIDE PROCEDURES, FOR THE PURPOSE OF POSSIBLE AMENDMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.