Health™ Point-of-Care Testing Program Become a patient care destination

Support the health of your community while expanding your practice

• Capitalize on the growing point-of-care testing market while increasing over-the-counter product purchases

• Increase access to convenient point-of-care testing in your community while reinforcing your pharmacy as a patient care destination

• Consult and test in a single visit

• Support your patients as they navigate the consumer-driven healthcare market

Upon enrollment gain access to:

• Point-of-Care Testing Resource Center

• Continuing education courses

• Member-only reduced pricing on tests and supplies

• Physician-signed collaborative practice agreement*

Enjoy exclusive access to a variety of program benefits

• Testing protocols that outline the process to screen patients

• Physician collaborative practice agreements that enable pharmacists with prescriptive authority to test and prescribe*

• 24/7 access to a member-only, web-based resource center, including Continuing Education courses on diagnosis and treatment

• Forms, templates and promotional materials are available online and can be customized with your pharmacy’s logo

According to the Journal of the American Pharmacy Association, pharmacists (along with interns and assistants in some cases) conducted more than 350 clinical interventions during the pandemic involving more than 150 million individuals. This included testing and administering parenteral antibodies, vaccinations and antiviral therapies. Interventions helped avert an estimated one million plus deaths, eight million hospitalizations and $450 billion in health care costs. The number of lives touched by pharmacists continues to grow.

In 2022, state legislators introduced 178 bills related to pharmacists’ scope of practice, payment for pharmacistprovided care services and/or designation of pharmacists as providers in 38 states. Several bills addressed public health concerns, including immunizations, contraceptives and HIV PrEP and PEP prescribing authority, indicated the National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations. As of December 2022, 44 bills in 26 states had been signed into law [see box].

The PREP Act (and subsequent amendments), in short, is an emergency measure allowing pharmacists nationwide to perform added functions, including administering COVID-19 tests, vaccines and treatments, while exempting them from liabilities.

“Pharmacies were life-saving players during the pandemic,” said Hannah Fish, PharmD, director of strategic initiatives, National Community Pharmacists Association. “They’re not call centers or mail order. There’s touch points. Pharmacists can move the needle, impacting patient care. COVID shone a light on healthcare, with legislators looking at some cries we’ve heard for years.”

But changes have been limited. “There’s pockets of examples, but they’re not nationwide,” added Fish.

Benefits of expanded access

NACDS continues to pressure the Biden Administration to extend current pharmacy access so pharmacists in more states can perform additional functions, including diagnosing minor ailments, monitoring chronic health conditions and providing other convenient, cost-effective services. It is urging states to update laws permanently and asking Congress to create “reliable billing pathways” for pharmacies, said Chris Krese, SVP Congressional relations and communications, NACDS. “Patients have long trusted pharmacists,” he added. “This view has only increased among patients and policymakers. Why jeopardize pharmacy access?”

According to NACDS, 90% of Americans live within five miles of a pharmacy. Pharmacies are open longer than doctors’ offices and appointments do not take weeks to secure. This was crucial during the pandemic. It remains important moving forward, particularly in states allowing expanded scopes of practice. “Pharmacies can do things