Colorado Advanced/Expanded Scope of Practice

Tables of Contents:
  1. Sources of Practice Information
  2. Collaborative Pharmacy Practice and Statewide Protocols
  3. Pharmacists Independent Prescribing Authority
  4. Vaccination Authority
  5. Pharmacists Administration of Medications Authority
  6. Technician Scope of Practice
  7. Additional Resources
  8. Contact Us!

 

Sources of Practice Information

All Laws – Pharmacists, Pharmacy Business, and Pharmaceuticals Practice Act

“Practice of Pharmacy” Definition (39). (source SB21-094)
“Pharmacist Care Services” Definition (35.5) (source SB21-094)

  • All laws that govern our practice are located in the Pharmacists, Pharmacy Business, and Pharmaceuticals Practice Act which is officially in Colorado Revised Statutes (CRS) Title 12, Division of Professions and Occupations, Article 280.
  • Specifically, what constitutes the “Practice of Pharmacy” is under Part 1 General Provisions: Definitions 12-280-103 (39), was expanded via the sunset process in 2021 with SB21-094, and is the basis of much of the expanded scope of practice we see in Colorado today.
  • Additionally, the old “pharmaceutical care” term was updated and optimized to be “Pharmacist Care Services” Definition (35.5) also in SB21-094.
  • Other provisions such as therapeutic substitution and prescription adaptation were also optimized in 2021 and can be found in other part of the Act.
  • Finally, all collaborative practice laws are found in Part 6 of the Act.

All Rules

Rules are meant to clarify statutes/laws or provide additional regulatory information to the profession.  They are promulgated through rulemaking with the Board of Pharmacy via a stakeholder process and are officially maintained on the Secretary of State website.  Rules may be located from links on the Board of Pharmacy website.  Always seek the most recent date of Rules when searching on the SOS website.

Board of Pharmacy

Secretary of State 

 

Collaborative Pharmacy Practice and Statewide Protocols

Collaborative practice in Colorado has two broad categories.

  1. Collaborative Practice Agreements
    1. Law - Part 6 of the Pharmacists, Pharmacy Business, and Pharmaceuticals Practice Act.
    2. Rules - Board Rule 17.00.
    3. Collaborative Drug Therapy Management (CDTM)
      • “Collaborative drug therapy management” (CDTM) is a collaborative practice agreement involving a higher level of disease complexity and/or decision making.
      • Rule 17 has specific sections that apply only to CDTM.
           d. Potential reimbursement: CO Provider Status and Payment for Services
           e. Training and Resources
      • Sample templates 

Protocols are developed by the Colorado Pharmacists Society as general guidance for pharmacist professionals in Colorado.  All aspects of this document should be tailored to specific practice sites. CPS bears no liability for the utilization of this template protocol.
     

    2. Statewide Protocols (SWP)

    1. Law Part 6 of the Pharmacists, Pharmacy Business, and Pharmaceuticals Practice Act.
    2. Rules - 17.00.50
    3. Appendices
      1. Hormonal contraception
      2. Smoking cessation
      3. PrEP/PEP
      4. Statin therapy
      5. Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD)
    4. Potential reimbursement: CO Provider Status and Payment for Services
    5. Training and Resources: See the CPS Statewide Protocols Webpage  

Pharmacists Independent Prescribing Authority

In specific instances, pharmacists in CO have independent prescriptive authority. Much of this was established in the Pharmacy Practice Sunset bill (SB21-094). Pharmacists should only practice commensurate with clear education and training in this category.  The following are allowed instances of independent prescriptive authority by pharmacists in Colorado: 

 

Vaccination Authority

  1. Pharmacists
    1. Rules - Pharmacy Rules 19.00.00 (Administration) and 19.01.00 (Vaccines and Immunizations)
  2. Technicians
    1. Law -  Pharmacists, Pharmacy Business, and Pharmaceuticals Practice Act

      1. Section 12-280-103-Definitions

        1. 38.5 (VIII)-Other activities as authorized and defined by the board by rule
    2. Rules - Pharmacy Rules 19.00.00 (Administration) and 19.01.00 (Vaccines and Immunizations)

 

Pharmacists Administration of Medications Authority

Laws- Pharmacists, Pharmacy Business, and Pharmaceuticals Practice Act

Section 12-280-103. (1) “Administer” means the direct application of a drug to the body of a patient or research subject by injection, inhalation, ingestion, or any other method.

 

Technician Scope of Practice:

Prior to 2019, technicians did not have a legally defined scope of practice and were not regulated in any way in Colorado. With the passage of HB19-1242, technician practice was defined and has been refined both in law and rule since.

Law  -  Pharmacists, Pharmacy Business, and Pharmaceuticals Practice Act -Section 12-280-103-Definitions (38.5)

For Technician Vaccine Scope of Practice, please see Vaccination Authority section above

 

Additional Resources



 

 CONTACT US!

We are always striving to advance reimbursement and payment for pharmacy professional services in Colorado. Please email us with thoughts, needs, challenges, etc. [email protected].