Progress of Pharmacist Collaborative Practice: Status of State Laws and Regulations and Perceived Impact of Collaborative Practice

Abstract

To determine the current status and features of states' laws on pharmacist collaborative practice, barriers and facilitators to the passage of such laws, pharmacists' satisfaction with present regulations, and pharmacy leaders' perceptions regarding the impact of collaborative practice on pharmacist-physician relationships and on patients' perceptions of pharmacists. Cross-sectional survey. United States. Executives of state pharmacy organizations and officers of state pharmacy boards. Presence and features of collaborative practice law, perceptions regarding effects of collaborative practice on pharmacist-physician relationships, and patients' perceptions of pharmacists. Of 48 states responding to the survey, 32 (66%) had existing pharmacist collaborative practice laws; 23 states (48%) allowed pharmacists to initiate and modify therapy, whereas 9 (19%) allowed only modification of therapy. Dependent collaborative practice was permitted in 31 states (65%). Most state laws applied to hospital, long-term care, and community settings. Five of the 32 states with pharmacist collaborative practice laws had made changes to broaden the provisions since the original laws were enacted. Nine states out of 16 that did not have collaborative practice laws indicated plans to pursue passage of such laws. Overall, collaborative practice was viewed as having a positive effect on pharmacist-physician relationships and a slightly positive effect on patients' perceptions of pharmacists. Respondents believed that pharmacists currently involved in collaborative practice were mostly satisfied with present laws, although some respondents mentioned the need for further revisions to the laws. Significant progress has been made in passing and implementing laws on pharmacist collaborative practice. As positive experience is gained, good opportunities exist to broaden current laws and increase pharmacists' involvement in collaborative practice.