(a) Not later than January 1, 2006, the Commissioner of Consumer Protection, in consultation with the Commission of Pharmacy, shall establish and operate a two-year pilot program to allow not more than ten pharmacists licensed under this chapter who are determined eligible in accordance with subsection (c) of this section and employed by or under contract with a licensed community pharmacy, to enter into a written protocol-based collaborative drug therapy management agreement with one or more physicians licensed under chapter 370, to manage the drug therapy of individual patients receiving drug therapy for diabetes, asthma, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, osteoporosis, congestive heart failure or smoking cessation, including patients who qualify as targeted beneficiaries under the provisions of Section 1860D-4(c)(2)(A)(ii) of the federal Social Security Act, in accordance with subsections (b) to (d), inclusive, of this section and subject to the approval of the licensed community pharmacy. Each patient's collaborative drug therapy management shall be governed by a written protocol specific to that patient established by the treating physician in consultation with the pharmacist.

(b) A collaborative drug therapy management agreement may authorize a pharmacist to implement, modify or discontinue a drug therapy that has been prescribed for a patient, order associated laboratory tests and administer drugs, all in accordance with a patient-specific written protocol. Each protocol developed, pursuant to the collaborative drug therapy management agreement, shall contain detailed direction concerning the actions that the pharmacist may perform for that patient. The protocol shall include, but need not be limited to, (1) the specific drug or drugs to be managed by the pharmacist, (2) the terms and conditions under which drug therapy may be implemented, modified or discontinued, (3) the conditions and events upon which the pharmacist is required to notify the physician, and (4) the laboratory tests that may be ordered. All activities performed by the pharmacist in conjunction with the protocol shall be documented in the patient's medical record. The pharmacist shall report to the physician through oral, written or electronic manner regarding the implementation, administration, modification or discontinuation of a drug therapy that has been prescribed for a patient not later than twenty-four hours after such implementation, administration, modification or discontinuation. The collaborative drug therapy management agreement and protocols shall be available for inspection by the Departments of Public Health and Consumer Protection. A copy of the protocol shall be filed in the patient's medical record.

(c) In order to be selected for participation in the program, a pharmacist shall be responsible for demonstrating, in accordance with this subsection, the competence necessary for participation in each drug therapy management agreement into which such pharmacist may enter. The pharmacist's competency shall be determined by the Commission of Pharmacy using criteria based on the continuing education requirements of sections 20-599 and 20-600.

(d) The Commissioner of Consumer Protection and the Commission of Pharmacy shall evaluate the pilot program established under this section and shall submit a report of the commissioner's findings and recommendations to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public health, human services and general law, not later than December 31, 2008, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a. Such report shall include an evaluation of the data collected with respect to improved medication management and cost savings, based on patient outcomes.

(e) Records or information collected or maintained pursuant to this section shall not be disclosed pursuant to subsection (a) of section 1-210 for a period of six months from the date such records or information were created or collected and shall not be subject to subpoena or discovery or introduced into evidence in any judicial or administrative proceeding except as otherwise specifically provided by law.

(f) For purposes of this section, “community pharmacy” means a pharmacy licensed under section 20-594 that stores and dispenses legend drugs, as defined by section 20-571, and legend devices, as defined by said section 20-571, and from which related pharmaceutical care services are provided, primarily to noninstitutionalized patients living in a community setting.

(P.A. 05-217, S. 2.)

History: P.A. 05-217 effective July 6, 2005 (Revisor's note: The subsection designator “a” was inserted editorially by the Revisors at the beginning of the section).