Published On: March 1, 2019171 words1 min readCategories: ArticleTags: ,

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Nearly 600 pharmacists, student pharmacists and pharmacy technicians from across Texas converged on Austin Tuesday to participate in Pharmacy Day at the Capitol to fight for pharmacy. Hailed as one of the biggest and most successful pharmacy lobby days in Texas, pharmacy advocates met with all 181 members of the Texas Legislature, or their staff members, urging them to recognize the value of pharmacy.

Pharmacy advocates lobbied issues that preserve and advance beneficiary access to pharmacy services, which included allowing pharmacists to provide medications for flu and strep throat—with a positive CLIA–waived test (SB 835/HB 1827)—and furnish non–diagnostic medications. They also advocated to clarify a physician’s ability to enter into collaborative practice with any pharmacist regardless of setting (SB 1056), and to expand pharmacist immunization authority for all Centers for Disease Control and Prevention–recommended vaccines to age seven or older without a prescription.

The event was organized by the Texas Pharmacy Association and hosted by all eight Texas pharmacy organizations, including NACDS. NACDS was also a sponsor for the event.