Pursuant to Iowa Code section 155A.46, the Board has developed, in collaboration with the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, statewide protocols which authorize a pharmacist to:
- Order and dispense an FDA-approved opioid antagonist to reverse opioid-related overdose,
- Order and dispense nicotine-replacement tobacco cessation products,
- Order and administer immunizations,
- Initiate point-of-care testing and treatment of acute influenza, and
- Initiate point-of-care testing and treatment of acute Group A streptococcal (GAS) pharyngitis.
The statewide protocols authorize the pharmacist to be the ordering practitioner under these protocols.
Point-of-Care Test and Treat - COVID 19
At this time, the Board has not approved a statewide protocol for testing and treating for COVID-19.
- Federal HHS issued a 12th Amendment to its PREP Act Declaration in which it authorizes pharmacists, through December 31, 2029, to order and administer COVID-19 therapeutics which are:
- Authorized or approved by FDA and
- Administered orally, intramuscularly, or subcutaneously
- The amendment also authorizes qualified technicians and interns to administer COVID-19 therapeutics
- Individuals who will be ordering and/or administering COVID-19 therapeutics must:
- Maintain current CPR certification
- Complete ACPE-approved training which includes:
- Hands-on injection technique, if administering intramuscular therapies,
- Clinical evaluation of indications and contraindications of COVID-19 therapeutics,
- Recognition and treatment of emergency reactions to COVID-19 therapeutics, and
- Any other training required by the FDA.
- Training programs which are known to the Board at this time (note this may not be all-inclusive and does not imply Board endorsement):
- CEimpact: Test and Treat Training for Pharmacists
- Pharmacists (10 hours, $199)
- CEimpact: Point of Care Testing
- Technicians (4 hours, $49)
- APhA: Pharmacy-Based 8-hour Test and Treat Certificate Training Program
- Pharmacists (8 hours, $255 - $475)
- NCPA: Pharmacy Point-of-Care Testing Certification
- Pharmacists or Technicians (20 hours, $295 - $495)
- CEimpact: Test and Treat Training for Pharmacists
- Pharmacists are required to be readily and immediately available to technicians when administering COVID-19 therapeutics
- Pharmacies must retain records of the order/administration of COVID-19 therapeutics and report the administration to the patient’s primary care provider, if known.
- Pharmacies which intend to order/administer COVID-19 therapeutics (pursuant to the HHS PREP Act or by Board-approved SWP, if available) shall update the pharmacy profile in the board’s database to indicate “yes” to the pharmacy service “Statewide Protocol - COVID-19 Test and Treat”.
Location
DIAL Headquarters
6200 Park Avenue
Suite 100
Des Moines, IA 50321
Website(s)