Introduction
In a big transfer to boost public well being and increase HIV prevention measures, Florida has lately enacted the “John W. Rheay Act” (Fla. Stat. § 465.1861), efficient as of July 1, 2024. This laws goals to boost entry to essential healthcare providers, cut back obstacles to HIV prevention, and promote proactive well being administration throughout the state. By enacting the John W. Rheay Act, Florida is taking a powerful step within the ongoing battle in opposition to HIV, guaranteeing that extra people can obtain well timed screening and medicine.
Key Provisions of the John W. Rheay Act
The John W. Rheay Act authorizes pharmacists to tackle a extra lively position in HIV prevention via a structured certification course of. Under are the act’s major elements:
- Screening for HIV Publicity
- Licensed pharmacists can now conduct screenings for HIV publicity and supply screening outcomes to adults, offered, such licensed pharmacist shall even have the duty to advise sufferers to hunt additional medical session or therapy from a doctor.
- Shelling out of HIV Medicine
- Licensed pharmacists could now dispense HIV preexposure prophylaxis medicine pursuant to a legitimate prescription issued by a licensed and licensed well being care practitioner.
- Pharmacists licensed in accordance with Fla. Stat. § 465.1861(6) could order and dispense HIV postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) medicine pursuant to a written collaborative observe settlement between the pharmacist and a licensed doctor.
- Certification Necessities
- To change into licensed to display and dispense postexposure prophylaxis, pharmacists should:
- Maintain an lively and unencumbered pharmacy license. Be engaged in lively pharmacy observe.
- Possess a doctorate in pharmacy or at the least three years of expertise as a licensed pharmacist.
- Keep a minimal of $250,000 in legal responsibility protection.
- Full a Board of Pharmacy (BOP)-approved coaching course.
- To change into licensed to display and dispense postexposure prophylaxis, pharmacists should:
- Collaborative Follow Agreements (CPA)
- Pharmacists will work below written collaborative observe agreements with physicians, enabling them to order and dispense HIV PEP medicines. These agreements should embody, at a minimal, all the next:
- The Phrases and circumstances regarding the screening for HIV and the ordering and shelling out of HIV postexposure prophylaxis medicine by the pharmacist, such phrases and circumstances have to be acceptable for the pharmacist’s coaching.
- Particular affected person classes for screening and medicine shelling out.
- Report-keeping necessities for all HIV PEP orders.
- Processes for acquiring related affected person medical historical past.
- Course of and schedule for physicians to evaluation the pharmacist’s data.
- Proof of the pharmacist’s present certification by the Florida Board of Pharmacy pursuant to Fla. Stat. § 465.1861(6).
- The Pharmacist should submit a replica of the CPA to the Florida Board of Pharmacy.
- Pharmacists will work below written collaborative observe agreements with physicians, enabling them to order and dispense HIV PEP medicines. These agreements should embody, at a minimal, all the next:
- Affected person Notification Requirement
- A pharmacist who orders and dispends HIV PEP medicine should present the affected person with written info advising the affected person to hunt follow-up care from his or her major care doctor, and within the occasion the affected person signifies that she or he lacks common entry to major care, the pharmacist should adjust to the procedures of the pharmacy’s accredited access-to-care plan as offered in Fla. Stat. § 465.1861(7).
- Entry-to-Care Plans (ACP)
- Pharmacies offering providers below the CPA are required to submit an annual access-to-care plan to the BOP and the Division of Well being. This plan should embody:
- Training for sufferers on the significance of major care.
- Help sufferers in getting access to acceptable care settings.
- Collaborative partnerships with native well being facilities to make sure complete affected person care.
- Pharmacies offering providers below the CPA are required to submit an annual access-to-care plan to the BOP and the Division of Well being. This plan should embody:
Implications for Public Well being
The John W. Rheay Act is predicted to have a profound influence on public well being in Florida by:
- Rising Accessibility: By permitting pharmacists to conduct screenings and dispense medicines, the Act reduces obstacles to accessing HIV prevention providers, significantly in underserved areas.
- Encouraging Preventative Care: With a concentrate on training and follow-up care, the laws promotes proactive well being administration amongst sufferers susceptible to HIV publicity.
- Strengthening Healthcare Collaboration: The requirement for pharmacies to accomplice with well being facilities enhances the continuity of take care of sufferers, guaranteeing they obtain complete assist.
Conclusion
With the approval and enactment of the John W. Rheay Act, Florida is poised to make a big influence on HIV prevention and care. By permitting pharmacists to play an important position in screening and shelling out medicines, this laws not solely enhances accessibility to important well being providers but additionally fosters a tradition of prevention and consciousness.
To be taught extra about this matter, please contact the writer at mclare@foxrothschild.com or 941-308-2676. Extra info may be discovered at www.foxrothschild.com/healthlaw.
Mark Clare is an Affiliate and member of the Well being Care Transactions Follow Group at Fox Rothschild LLP. Mark relies in Sarasota, Florida and focuses on helping purchasers with company, well being legislation and M&A issues.