By admin 
PHOENIX (AZFamily) — A new law allows Arizona pharmacists to test and treat patients for common infections, a move aimed at improving healthcare for rural Arizonans.
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State lawmakers passed a measure, known as the “Test and Treat” bill, with bipartisan votes earlier this month. Gov. Katie Hobbs signed the bill into law Monday.
Arizona joins several other states in allowing pharmacists to test and treat patients for flu, strep throat, COVID-19 or similar illnesses and any condition related to an emerging public health threat.
It’s also intended to reduce the strain on emergency rooms and primary care offices amid a shortage of healthcare workers in the state.
The law directs Arizona pharmacists to notify a patient’s primary care provider within 72 hours after starting treatment.
Pharmacists are required to notify providers even sooner — within 48 hours — if the patient has an adverse reaction to the treatment.
Pharmacists will also need to refer patients to their provider or recommend a follow-up visit if the patient isn’t eligible to be treated or isn’t responding to the treatment.
The tests will have to be FDA-authorized and waived under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments.
In testing or treating patients who are under 18, pharmacists will need the consent of the patient’s parent or guardian. The law also lets pharmacists prescribe HIV prevention medications.
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State Rep. Chris Lopez, a Republican from Casa Grande, who sponsored the bill, argued that the law will make healthcare more affordable and accessible for people living in remote parts of the state.
“In rural Arizona, a routine infection can mean missing work, driving an hour or more, and paying urgent care or emergency room prices because there is no closer option,” he said in a statement.
Lopez argued that the law gives families “a safe, affordable option close to home while requiring a referral when a patient needs a higher level of care.”
However, opponents of the bill warned that the measure puts patients at risk, Arizona’s Family previously reported.
The Arizona Medical Association strongly opposed the bill earlier this year, arguing that while pharmacists are trained in medications, “they do not undergo the training required to safely diagnose patients.”
“Patients deserve high-quality care led by properly trained clinicians in coordination with the entire care team—not a shortcut that side-steps clinical expertise,” it said.
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