NC bill could allow pharmacists to test and treat flu and strep throat :: WRAL.com

A new bill making its way through the North Carolina Senate
is looking to expand the role of pharmacists when it comes to influenza and
strep throat.

Senate Bill 335 aims to allow pharmacists to test and treat
flu and strep throat.

Currently, patients must first go to a doctor’s office,
urgent care, or emergency room to be diagnosed and prescribed medication.

Republican State Senator Benton Sawrey spoke on the bill Wednesday
in the Senate Health Committee, noting the bill would speed up the time it
takes to get medicine to those in need.

“The average weight time to see a family physician in the
United States is about 20 days,” shared Sawrey. “This bill cuts out that time
and gives you direct access to retail or community pharmacies.”

Jay Campbell, executive director of the North Carolina Board
of Pharmacy, shared the board is supportive of the effort to expand access to
care.

“I think it has the potential to have a very positive public
health impact,” said Campbell. “I think this is the kind of thing that could be
very useful given accessibility of pharmacies in some places in the state where
it might be a little more difficult to get into a physicians office.”

The legislation comes as North Carolina experiences a deadly
flu season.

New state data Wednesday reported 484 people have died from
the flu statewide this season, an increase of 20 from the week prior. At least
five of those deaths have been children.

The North Carolina Association of Pharmacists Executive
Director Penny Shelton spoke before lawmakers in the health committee to
underscore how the bill could help combat the spread of flu.

“If they are not treated earlier, people spread it and that’s
part of the issue we’re dealing with,” said Shelton. “Emergency rooms this year
were completely overwhelmed with flu cases. If we had this type of ability in
place this past flu season, we would’ve been able to prevent a lot of those
cases and some of those deaths.”

Pharmacists would test using CLIA-Waived tests, which are
proven to have low error rates and even approved for use at home. The tests can
provide results for things like flu and strep in minutes without having to send
a sample to a lab.

Campbell shared conducting testing is something the pharmacy
industry has already demonstrated it can handle.

“We had a lot of experience during COVID under some federal
waivers that allowed pharmacists to essentially test for and treat COVID,” said
Campbell. “I think what that experience proved to my mind beyond any doubt, is
that pharmacists do possess the skill to provide those services safely. “

The bill would establish clear protocols and guidelines
pharmacists must follow. Sawrey shared it would involve input from the state’s
pharmacy board, medical board, and health director.

Patients in some cases would still be referred to a primary
care doctor. The bill states this would include instances where a patient needs
stronger antiviral medications.

SB335 also requires insurers to cover a patient’s care the same as if it occurred in another healthcare setting like a doctor’s office or urgent care.

The bill passed unanimously in the Senate Health Committee. It
could be brought up for a vote on the floor soon.