Support SB 147/HB 195: Pharmacist Limited Prescriptive Authority & Patient Care Services

Advocacy 

SUPPORT HB 195/SB 147 to Expand Alaskans’ Access to Pharmacist Care 

Where to start with your advocacy:  

• Send a letter of support 

• Call your legislators 

• Meet with your legislators 

Go to akleg.gov and scroll down to “Who Represents Me?” for their contact info. Have a story to share? Contact akpharmacistsassociation@gmail.com. 

More than 300,000 Alaskans live in areas with a shortage of primary care. In many communities, the local pharmacy is the most accessible point of healthcare. HB 195/SB 147 would help keep care within reach when clinics are closed or far away, especially for rural and remote communities. 

The legislation: 

1. Expands patients’ access to pharmacist-provided care. HB 195/SB 147 would modernize Alaska’s Pharmacy Practice Act to expand access to pharmacist-provided care. The legislation would allow trained pharmacists to provide certain limited services independently for general health and wellness, disease prevention, and minor, everyday conditions under defined guardrails. These services are focused on routine, lower-acuity conditions already being managed by pharmacists in many states. That means Alaskans can get faster care closer to home, from the trusted, local professionals they already know. 

1. Maintains professional and patient-safety standards. Patient safety and clinical accountability are central to HB 195/SB 147. Under this legislation:  

• Pharmacists must stay within the scope of their training, education, and experience and consult with or refer patients to other providers when appropriate. 

• Collaborative practice agreements must be in writing, include protocol approved by a practitioner who is not a pharmacist, and define the nature and scope of patient care services the pharmacist may provide. 

• Pharmacist licensure and renewal standards include additional education requirements, and pharmacists who prescribe, administer, or dispense controlled substances must register with Alaska’s Controlled Substance Prescription Database. 

HB 195/SB 147 would make it easier for Alaskans to get quality care from the trusted health professionals in their own communities.  

By allowing pharmacists to provide care consistent with their education, training, and experience within a structured, safe framework, the legislature can help close longstanding provider gaps, strengthen accountability, and build a more resilient health care system for every Alaskan.