HLS 17RS-3414 ORIGINAL
2017 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 162
BY REPRESENTATIVE HOFFMANN
BOARDS/COMMISSIONS: Urges and requests the La. Board of Pharmacy to recognize
more than one accredited pharmacy technician certification program
1 A RESOLUTION
2To urge and request the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy to recognize more than one accredited
3 pharmacy technician certification program prior to adopting final rules pursuant to
4 its administrative rulemaking initiative entitled "Regulatory Project 2015-19 -
5 Pharmacy Technicians".
6 WHEREAS, pharmacists are highly educated healthcare professionals who provide
7convenient, high-quality healthcare services, including medication management therapy,
8immunizations, long-acting injectable medications, disease management, point-of-care
9testing, and patient assessments and screenings to a great number of patients; and
10 WHEREAS, Louisiana pharmacists work in partnership with other healthcare entities
11and providers to improve patient outcomes and public health in this state; and
12 WHEREAS, in an effort to improve patient care, Louisiana pharmacists and
13pharmacy owners support a practice environment that utilizes and promotes well-qualified
14pharmacy technicians as essential members of the pharmacy care team; and
15 WHEREAS, certified pharmacy technicians in Louisiana are paraprofessionals who
16work exclusively under the direct supervision of a licensed pharmacist and assist pharmacists
17in preparing and dispensing prescription medications, administrative duties, and performing
18pharmacy care services; and
19 WHEREAS, the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy requires a certified pharmacy
20technician to complete six hundred hours of board-approved training and pass a nationally
21accredited certification examination; and
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HR NO. 162
1 WHEREAS, because no single training and certification method meets the needs of
2all pharmacy technicians or community pharmacies, pharmacists and pharmacy owners
3support multiple pathways for certified pharmacy technicians so that those technicians may
4complete a certification program that is best suited for the work they will perform in their
5unique practice setting, whether that setting is a hospital, a community-based provider, a
6long-term care facility, a nuclear pharmacy, or other pharmacy location; and
7 WHEREAS, the National Commission for Certifying Agencies is a nationally
8recognized third party agency that accredits certification programs which are able to meet
9and comply with its standards, and has accredited more than one pharmacy technician
10certification exam; and
11 WHEREAS, though the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy has the authority to approve
12multiple nationally accredited certification programs, the board has chosen to recognize only
13one such program, resulting in a statewide monopoly for the sole company that administers
14the only board-approved examination; and
15 WHEREAS, without competition, monopolistic pricing could cause financial
16difficulty, obstacles to practice, and undue strain for professionals who provide vital
17healthcare services.
18 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
19Legislature of Louisiana does hereby urge and request the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy to
20expand upon its exclusive agreement with the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board, and
21to change its definition of "approved certification examination" in order to recognize more
22than one pharmacy technician certification program accredited by the National Commission
23for Certifying Agencies prior to adopting final rules pursuant to the administrative
24rulemaking effort that the board has entitled "Regulatory Project 2015-19 - Pharmacy
25Technicians".
26 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
27chairperson and the executive director of the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy.
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HR NO. 162
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HR 162 Original 2017 Regular Session Hoffmann
Urges and requests the La. Board of Pharmacy to expand upon its exclusive agreement with
the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board, and to change its definition of "approved
certification examination" in order to recognize more than one pharmacy technician
certification program accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies.
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