IMMUNIZING AGENT; PHARMACIST S.B. 219 (S-1):
SUMMARY OF BILL
REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE
Senate Bill 219 (Substitute S-1 as reported)
Sponsor: Senator Sylvia Santana
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Public Health Code to do the following:
-- Allow a pharmacist to order and administer an immunizing agent without direction of a physician if the pharmacist were administering to an individual three years old or older and was administering a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved or emergency-approved immunizing agent.
-- Allow a pharmacist to order and administer a diagnostic laboratory test if the test were waived by the FDA, did not require the use of specimen collected from male or female genitalia, and was used to screen specific illnesses, conditions, or diseases.
-- Require a pharmacist to report immunizations administered to any person over 21 years old to the Michigan Care Improvement Registry.
-- Require a pharmacist to complete training programs approved by the Michigan Board of Pharmacy to order or administer immunizing agents or diagnostic lab reports, except as described below.
-- Authorize a pharmacist who ordered or administered immunizing agents or diagnostic laboratory tests before May 12, 2023, to continue to order or administer the same immunizing agents or diagnostic laboratory tests until the effective date of the bill.
BRIEF RATIONALE
On May 11, 2023, Federal emergency orders related to the COVID-19 pandemic that authorize pharmacists to administer vaccines without the supervision of a doctor will expire. Pharmacists are a common and accessible medical professional in many communities around the State. Some believe that allowing this authority to expire and returning to a system of doctoral supervision would cause vaccine rates to decline in Michigan communities, and so it has been suggested that the authority be established in statute.
PREVIOUS LEGISLATION
(Please note: The information in this summary provides a cursory overview of previous legislation and its progress. It does not provide a comprehensive account of all previous legislative efforts on the relevant subject matter.)
The bill is a reintroduction of House Bill 6469 of the 2021-2022 Legislative Session.
Legislative Analyst: Alex Krabill
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
Date Completed: 4-21-23 Fiscal Analyst: Jonah Houtz
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.