What's happening
This bill allows pharmacists and certified nurse practitioners to administer hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and HPV vaccines.
Why it matters
Expanding vaccine access. By allowing pharmacists and nurse practitioners to administer hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and HPV vaccines, the bill could make it easier for adults to get these important immunizations without needing to visit a doctor’s office, improving convenience and potentially increasing vaccination rates.
Public health impact. Increased access to these vaccines can help prevent the spread of serious diseases, reduce outbreaks, and lower healthcare costs related to treating these infections, particularly for communities with limited access to primary care providers.
Empowering healthcare professionals. This legislation recognizes the training and capability of pharmacists and nurse practitioners, expanding their roles and responsibilities in preventive health care, which can help address healthcare provider shortages and reduce strain on traditional medical practices.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Let Pharmacists Give More Vaccines
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to higher education
- Committed to rules
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.1038
- Referred to higher education
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Let Pharmacists Give More Vaccines
In Assembly Committee · Higher Education · Sponsor John T. McDonald III
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4975
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
April 3, 2019
Introduced by Sen. BRESLIN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to authorizing the administration of vaccines for hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and human papillomavirus by a licensed pharmacist and by a certified nurse practitioner
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 7 of section 6527 of the education law, as amended by chapter 46 of the laws of 2015, is amended to read as follows:
7. A licensed physician may prescribe and order a patient specific order or non-patient specific regimen to a licensed pharmacist, pursuant to regulations promulgated by the commissioner, and consistent with the public health law, for administering immunizations to prevent influenza, pneumococcal, acute herpes zoster, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, human papillomavirus, meningococcal, tetanus, diphtheria or pertussis disease and medications required for emergency treatment of anaphylaxis. Nothing in this subdivision shall authorize unlicensed persons to administer immunizations, vaccines or other drugs.
§ 2. Paragraph a of subdivision 22 of section 6802 of the education law, as amended by section 2 of part DD of chapter 57 of the laws of 2018, is amended to read as follows:
a. the direct application of an immunizing agent to adults, whether by injection, ingestion, inhalation or any other means, pursuant to a patient specific order or non-patient specific regimen prescribed or ordered by a physician or certified nurse practitioner, who has a practice site in the county or adjoining county in which the immunization is administered, for immunizations to prevent influenza, pneumococcal, acute herpes zoster, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, human papillomavirus, meningococcal, tetanus, diphtheria or pertussis disease and medications required for emergency treatment of anaphylaxis. If the commissioner of
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10533-01-9
S. 4975 2
health determines that there is an outbreak of disease, or that there is the imminent threat of an outbreak of disease, then the commissioner of health may issue a non-patient specific regimen applicable statewide.
§ 3. Subdivision 7 of section 6909 of the education law, as amended by chapter 46 of the laws of 2015, is amended to read as follows:
7. A certified nurse practitioner may prescribe and order a patient specific order or non-patient specific regimen to a licensed pharmacist, pursuant to regulations promulgated by the commissioner, and consistent with the public health law, for administering immunizations to prevent influenza, pneumococcal, acute herpes zoster, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, human papillomavirus, meningococcal, tetanus, diphtheria or pertussis disease and medications required for emergency treatment of anaphylaxis. Nothing in this subdivision shall authorize unlicensed persons to administer immunizations, vaccines or other drugs.
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that:
(a) the amendments to subdivision 7 of section 6527 of the education law made by section one of this act shall not affect the expiration of such subdivision and shall be deemed to expire therewith;
(b) the amendments to subdivision 22 of section 6802 of the education law made by section two of this act shall not affect the expiration and repeal of such subdivision and shall be deemed repealed therewith; and
(c) the amendments to subdivision 7 of section 6909 of the education law made by section three of this act shall not affect the expiration of such subdivision and shall be deemed to expire therewith.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to authorizing the administration of vaccines for hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and human papillomavirus by a licensed pharmacist and by a certified nurse practitioner
Purpose or general idea of bill
Authorizes pharmacists and certified nurse practitioners to provide hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and human papillomavirus immunizations to adults.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 of the bill amends subdivision 7 of section 6527 of the educa- tion law, as amended by chapter 46 of the laws of 2015 to add hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and human papillomavirus to the list of diseases for which a licensed physician may prescribe and order a patient specific order or non-patient specific regimen to a licensed pharmacist for administering immunizations.
Read the full memo (697 words)
Section 2 of the bill amends subdivision 22 of section 6802 of the education law, as amended by chapter 46 of the laws of 2015 to hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and human papillomavirus to the list of diseases found in the definition of "administer", for the purposes of section 6801 of the education law.
Section 3 of the bill amends section 7 of section 6909 of the education law, as amended by chapter 46 of the laws of 2015 to add hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and human papillomavirus to the list of diseases for which a certified nurse practitioner may prescribe and order a patient specif- ic order or non-patient specific regimen to a licensed pharmacist for administering immunizations.
Section 4 of the bill is the effective date.
Justification
According to the World Health Organization, the development of vaccines is one of the most influential public health interventions for improving the world's health. Vaccines are vitally important in protecting not only an individual but our community. Strong immunization coverage rates create "herd immunity" that helps protect everyone, especially the vulnerable members of the community who cannot be vaccinated for certain reasons, such as individuals with severe allergies and those with weak- ened or failing immune systems, including infants, immunocompromised individuals, and the elderly.
Hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines carry recommendations for adults from the Federal Advisory Committee on Immun- ization Practices (ACIP). Adding these to the existing list of vaccines allowed to be administered to adults by pharmacists, greatly increases access in our communities, making it more likely that patients will receive the vaccine that is recommended for them. In fact, the National Institute of Health submits that primary care pharmacists see their patients somewhere between 1.5 - 10 times more frequently than they see primary care physicians. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5755826/)
Pharmacists have been effectively vaccinating New Yorkers for over a decade, helping to raise NY's adult vaccination rates. Enacting this bill will further that effort and bring NY in line with the 49 other states that allow pharmacists to immunize adults against Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B, and the 48 other states that allow pharmacists to immunize adults against HPV.
Prior legislative history
New Bill
Fiscal implications
Savings to the health care and public health systems by prevention of the covered diseases.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that: (a) the amendments to subdivision 7 of section 6527 of the education law made by section one of this act shall not affect the expiration of such subdivi- sion and shall be deemed to expire therewith; (b) the amendments to subdivision 22 of section 6802 of the education law made by section two of this act shall be subject to the expiration and reversion of such subdivision pursuant to section 5 of chapter 116 of the laws of 2012, as amended, when upon such date the provisions of section three of this act shall take effect; (c) the amendments to subdivision 22 of section 6802 of the education law made by section three of this act shall not affect the expiration of such subdivision and shall be deemed to expire there- with; and (d) the amendments to subdivision 7 of section 6909 of the education law, made by section four of this act shall not affect the expiration of such subdivision and shall be deemed to expire therewith.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.