On Wednesday, April 8, 2020, the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued new guidance under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREP Act) that authorizes licensed pharmacists to order and administer COVID-19 tests, as long as the tests are authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
According to the guidance issued by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, expanding COVID-19 testing across America is a critical component in the federal govenrment’s response to the pandemic. The guidance notes that pharmacists, in partnership with other healthcare providers, are well positioned to aid COVID-19 testing expansion, due to their status as trusted healthcare professionals with established relationships with their patients.
The guidance also cited the fact that the majority of Americans live close to either a retail or independent community-based pharmacy and that proximity reduces travel to testing locations. Pharmacists also have strong relationships with medical providers and hospitals to appropriately refer patients when necessary.
HHS Secretary Alex Azar issued the following statement: “Giving pharmacists the authorization to order and administer COVID-19 tests to their patients means easier access to testing for Americans who need it. Pharmacists play a vital role in delivering convenient access to important public health services and information. The Trump Administration is pleased to give pharmacists the chance to play a bigger role in the COVID-19 response, alongside all of America’s heroic healthcare workers.”
HHS Assistant Secretary for Health Brett P. Giroir, M.D., also issued a statement, “In an effort to expand testing capabilities, we are authorizing licensed pharmacists to order and administer COVID-19 tests to their patients. The accessibility and distribution of retail and independent community-based pharmacies make pharmacists the first point of contact with a healthcare professional for many Americans. This will further expand testing for Americans, particularly our healthcare workers and first responders who are working around the clock to provide care, compassion and safety to others.”
A Word of Caution
As noted by Tom Buckley, Legislative Chair at the Connecticut Society of Health-System Pharmacists, “This is federal authorization. Connecticut has not yet released anything with regard to procedure, regulation or reimbursement. The Governor announced that CVS will be having 2 drive-through testing sites in CT within a week or so (Stamford and New London). We don’t know if pharmacists will be ordering and administering at these sites.”
This indicates that before administering the tests, pharmacists should check with their individual state’s procedure on ordering and administering the COVID-19 tests.
A PDF outline of priorities for testing patients with suspected COVID-19 infection can be found here.