Pharmacy made tremendous advances in the Commonwealth in the 2023 Regular Legislative Session that will dramatically improve patient care and advance practice. HB 2274, allowing pharmacists to test and treat for flu, COVID, strep and UTIs (urinary tract infections) under a statewide Board of Pharmacy protocol, is on Governor’s desk for signing, along with its companion, SB 948. The bills are the final piece in updating Virginia’s law to match the PREP Act. Notably, the Legislature also passed SB 1538 to clarify that Medicaid must reimburse for all the pharmacy-based services currently authorized in the Commonwealth. The bill applies to both Fee-for–Service and Managed Care. NACDS thanks the Virginia Association of Chain Drug Stores (VACDS), the Virginia Pharmacists Association (VPhA) and members for their tremendous efforts on the ground during this short session. NACDS will continue to update members as the bill signing process unfolds.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.