The Massachusetts House of Representatives passed HB 4930 “Relative to Expanding Access to Reproductive Rights” by a vote of 136 – 17. This bill will now be considered by the State Senate. This legislation provides legal protections for Massachusetts health care providers, including pharmacists, from prosecution by out-of-state jurisdictions for legally protected health care and reproductive health care services and products provided in Massachusetts to out-of-state residents. This language is designed to protect these providers from criminal prosecution and associated civil lawsuits from states that prohibit access to legal health care and reproductive health services and products.
Also in Massachusetts, the Commonwealth’s Senate today unanimously passed SB 2955 which will allow pharmacists to prescribe, dispense and administer HIV prevention drugs. This bill now goes to the House for their consideration.
Finally in Massachusetts, the Board of Pharmacy has announced that additional guidance will be provided now that the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (Food and Drug Administration) has updated the emergency use authorization (EUA) for Paxlovid™ to permit prescribing by pharmacists, subject to the terms of that EUA. Any prescribing must comply with the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) and DPH’s prescribing guidance.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.