SB 23-162

Senate Bill 23-162, titled "Increase Access To Pharmacy Services," aims to enhance pharmacy services in Colorado by allowing pharmacy technicians to perform more tasks under the supervision of pharmacists. The bill also requires that most pharmacy technicians be certified and allows pharmacists to supervise up to eight technicians instead of six in certain settings. Additionally, it permits reimbursement for vaccine administration to children through Medicaid when pharmacies are enrolled with the CDC's Vaccines for Children program. This bill was signed by the governor on May 4, 2023, and will take effect on August 7, 2023. The new rules primarily affect pharmacy technicians, pharmacists, and families seeking vaccine services for children under Medicaid.

Official Summary

The act: Amends the practice of a pharmacy technician to include performing point-of-care testing and patient care technical tasks as specifically trained for and delegated by a supervising pharmacist; Requires the majority of pharmacy technicians to be fully certified by the state board of pharmacy when 3 or more pharmacy technicians are on duty; and Changes the supervision ratio for pharmacists to include supervising up to 8, rather than only 6, pharmacy technicians when the pharmacy, other than a pharmacy located in a hospital, is a central fill pharmacy that is not a public-facing pharmacy and is acting as an agent of an originating pharmacy to fill or refill a prescription. The act authorizes reimbursement under the medical assistance program for dispensing or administering vaccines to children under 19 years of age. To be eligible to receive reimbursement, the pharmacy or pharmacist must be enrolled in good standing with the federal centers for disease control and prevention vaccines for children program administered by the department of public health and environment (department). Until the department determines a framework for participation by pharmacies or pharmacists, the department is not required to enroll pharmacies receiving reimbursement for the administration of vaccines through the medical assistance program as vaccines for children providers. APPROVED by Governor May 4, 2023 EFFECTIVE August 7, 2023 NOTE: This act was passed without a safety clause and takes effect 90 days after sine die. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

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