House OKs Bill Expanding Pharmacy Collaboration Beyond Doctors

STATE HOUSE — On April 16, the House of Representatives approved legislation introduced by Rep. Joseph J. Solomon Jr. (D-Dist. 22, Warwick) that would expand collaborative pharmacy agreements (CPAs) to include non-physician health care providers as well as pharmacists.

A collaborative pharmacy agreement occurs when licensed pharmacists with advanced training and experience agree to work in collaboration with physicians for the purpose of drug therapy management of patients. The legislation (2026-H 7424) would allow other health care providers to enter into such agreements.

The measure now moves to the Senate where similar legislation (2026-S 2866) has been introduced by Sen. Bridget Valverde (D-Dist. 35, North Kingstown, East Greenwich, South Kingstown).

“Collaborative practice agreements improve health care by allowing providers to delegate certain services to pharmacists,” said Solomon. “This can include such things as medication management, ordering labs and educating patients. It has been a health care success story as well as a tremendous benefit for independent pharmacies. This bill expands that program by allowing these pharmacists to enter into similar agreements with nonphysician health care providers, such as nurse practitioners and physician associates.”

The Department of Health and the Rhode Island Pharmacists Association both testified in favor of the legislation. Todd Brothers, a clinical associate professor at the University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy, told the House Committee on Health and Human Services, “From a clinical standpoint, pharmacists are doctoral-trained medication experts. Collaborative practice allows health care teams to respond efficiently to conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, anticoagulation management, heart failure and infectious diseases, where timely medication adjustment directly impacts hospitalization and long-term outcomes.”

This report was provided by the Legislative Press and Public Information Bureau.