Bill description: This bill would allow pharmacists to prescribe minor drugs if approved by the State Board of Pharmacy.

Rating: +1

Does it give government any new, additional, or expanded power to prohibit, restrict, or regulate activities in the free market? Conversely, does it eliminate or reduce government intervention in the market? 

This bill would allow pharmacists to prescribe drugs with very specific conditions. The new text allows pharmacists to prescribe “drugs, drug categories or devices that are specifically authorized in rules adopted by the board.” Still, only drugs that “(i) Do not require a new diagnosis; (ii) Are minor and generally self-limiting; (iii) Have a test that is used to guide diagnosis or clinical decision-making and are waived under the federal clinical laboratory improvement amendments of 1988; or (iv) In the professional judgment of the pharmacist, threaten the health or safety of the patient should the prescription not be immediately dispensed. In such cases, only sufficient quantity may be provided until the patient is able to be seen by another provider.”

While the scope of deregulation here is minimal and depends on board rules, the bill could reduce the need to go primary care or other providers in order to obtain medicine. (+1)