Pharmacies Grapple With Red Tape as States Try to Allow Pharmacists to Prescribe PrEP

Posted: September 30, 2020

Featured is CPS Executive Director, Emily Zadvorny, and CPS Past-President, Gina Moore, with their comments regarding the pharmacist's role in PrEP

"...As for big pharmacy chains, it’s not clear when or whether they will opt in, said Gina Moore, Pharm.D., M.B.A., assistant dean for clinical and professional affairs at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Moore, who served as president of the Colorado Pharmacists Society as the bill was being crafted, said that state laws allowing pharmacists to prescribe contraception and smoking cessation meds could provide some clues. “[For smoking cessation and contraception], we’ve seen three big chains that have opted in: King Soopers/Kroger, Albertsons/Safeway, and Costco, plus independent pharmacies,” she said. “As for Walgreens and CVS pharmacies offering PrEP, we aren’t sure what they will do yet, but if they opt in, very likely they will come up with their own training. HMOs will do their own thing.”

The current executive director of the Colorado Pharmacists Society, Emily Zadvorny, Pharm.D., BCPS, affirmed that there was no carrot or stick to encourage pharmacist buy-in. “Our board will promote the availability of protocols, and, fortunately we have seen a lot of interest from independent pharmacies, especially in central Denver.” Moore and Zadvorny said that getting pharmacist input early in the bill-crafting process was helpful in raising awareness." 

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