Pursuant to the third enactment clause of House Bill 1304 and Senate Bill 830 passed during the 2020 General Assembly Session, the Board of Pharmacy convened a work group on September 23, 2021 to develop recommendations related to the addition of duties and tasks that a pharmacy technician registered by the Board may perform. Regarding the current pharmacist to pharmacy technician ratio, the work group voted 6:2 to decline a recommendation to eliminate the pharmacist to pharmacy technician ratio.

Regarding vaccine administration, the work group voted 7:1 to include a recommendation in this report to permanently authorize a pharmacy technician, who has obtained and maintains national certification, to administer vaccines consistent with the authority and training required under the Health and Human Services PREP Act; this would require legislative action.

Regarding product verification, the work group voted unanimously to recommend that the Board of Pharmacy further explore the subject of pharmacy technician product verification.

Regarding the ability to clarify prescriptions, the work group voted unanimously to include a recommendation in this report to allow a pharmacy technician to clarify the number of refills and drug quantity for Schedule VI new prescriptions or refill prescriptions; this would require legislative action.

Regarding the acceptance of new oral prescriptions, the work group voted 6:2 to not allow pharmacy technicians to accept new prescriptions.

Regarding the transfer of prescriptions, the work group voted unanimously to recommend that a nationally certified pharmacy technician be allowed to electronically transfer a Schedule VI refill prescription that is not an on-hold prescription when authorized by the pharmacist-in-charge; this would require either legislative or regulatory action.

Regarding the ability to take medication histories from patients, the work group voted unanimously to recommend the Board of Pharmacy clarify regulations, if necessary, to clearly authorize pharmacy technicians to independently take medication histories to include drug name, dose, and frequency.