Pharmacists; authorize to test for and administer treatment for minor, nonchronic health conditions.
SB 2675 would expand the scope of practice for Mississippi pharmacists by allowing them to test or screen for, and then initiate or administer treatment for, certain minor, nonchronic health conditions. The bill specifically lists conditions such as influenza, strep throat, COVID-19, other respiratory illnesses, lice, urinary tract infections, and certain skin conditions like ringworm and athlete’s foot. It also allows the Mississippi State Department of Health or the Board of Pharmacy to identify additional qualifying conditions, including other public health threats and other ailments that can be screened with CLIA-waived tests.
The bill also authorizes pharmacists to use CLIA-waived tests or other safe screening procedures, and to delegate the administrative and technical portions of those tests to pharmacy interns or technicians under supervision. In addition, it amends the definition of the “practice of pharmacy” to expressly include ordering, performing, and interpreting certain tests, as well as initiating, administering, or modifying drug therapy. The act is set to take effect July 1, 2025.
SB 2675 would amend Mississippi pharmacy law, particularly Section 73-21-73, to broaden the legal authority of pharmacists and clarify that certain testing and treatment activities fall within the practice of pharmacy. It would also reinforce that pharmacists are health care providers within their scope of practice and could affect how pharmacies operate, including staffing and delegation of CLIA-waived testing tasks. The bill further addresses reimbursement by stating that pharmacists may prohibit denial of coverage under health benefit plans for covered services performed within their license scope when those services would be covered if performed by a physician, APRN, or physician assistant. The bill also brings forward the state’s step-therapy override statute without changing its text, preserving existing insurer override procedures.
The bill’s overall tone is supportive of expanding pharmacist authority and improving access to care, especially for routine, short-term conditions that can be safely managed in a pharmacy setting. The caption and statutory changes suggest a policy goal of increasing convenience, reducing delays, and using pharmacists more fully as accessible health care providers. No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no documented opposition or formal debate in the supplied materials.
The main policy issues likely to arise from SB 2675 are the expansion of pharmacists’ clinical role, the delegation of testing tasks to interns and technicians, and the reimbursement language affecting health plans and pharmacy benefit arrangements. Potential concerns could include whether pharmacists should diagnose or initiate treatment for listed conditions, how to ensure patient safety and appropriate referral for more serious illness, and whether insurers and pharmacy benefit managers would be required to cover pharmacist-provided services on the same basis as physician or advanced practice provider services. Because no committee discussion or vote record is included, no specific lawmakers, agencies, or stakeholder groups are identified as having raised objections in the available materials.