Statewide Protocols (SWPs)

In Colorado, Senate Bill 16-135 and House Bill 18-1313 together allow for the provision of health care services by pharmacists to increase public health care access. CPS was instrumental in passing the authorizing laws to allow SWPs and has worked to implement them as well. SWPs are formed and approved collaboratively among the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Boards of Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy. The approved SWPs in Colorado are:

• HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP)
• Hormonal Contraception
• Smoking Cessation
• Statin Therapy

Any entity can propose a new statewide protocol for public health care services via a SWP by contacting the Colorado State Board of Pharmacy.

The most current protocols can be found on the State Board of Pharmacy website here. 

HIV PrEP and PEP (effective November 2020)

• Protocol - Rule 17 Appendix C
  
• State Board of Pharmacy Rules – Rule 17
• PrEP/PEP Law (HB 20-1061)

COMPREHENSIVE PRE-EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS (PREP) AND POST-EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS (PEP) EDUCATION FOR PHARMACISTS

The University of Colorado has launched the “COMPREHENSIVE PRE-EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS (PREP) AND POST-EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS (PEP) EDUCATION FOR PHARMACISTS” training program, an ACPE accredited educational training program.

CPS endorses this on-demand program and recommends it for all Colorado Pharmacists. 

Access Training

Expanding HIV Prevention in Colorado and Nationwide: A PEP/PrEP Training Guide for Pharmacists

• ExchangeCME: https://www.exchangecme.com/PrEPforCOPharmacists
• Q&A Forum: https://www.prepforcopharms.com
• Clinical Resource Center: https://www.exchangecme.com/PrEPResourcesforCOPharms
• 2021 PrEP Monograph Training

Additional Resources

• CDC PrEP guidelines
  
• CDC PEP guidelines
• USPTF recommendations
  
• Pharmacist-Delivered PrEP/PEP Acceptability Study (California)

Hormonal Contraception (effective March 2017)

• Protocol – Rule 17 Appendix A 
• State Board of Pharmacy Rules – Rule 17
  
  

Comprehensive Contraceptive Education and Certification for the Colorado Pharmacist

The University of Colorado offers the Comprehensive Contraceptive Education and Certification for the Colorado Pharmacist, an ACPE-accredited training program focused on expanding pharmacists' knowledge and skills in contraception care.

CPS endorses this on-demand program and recommends it for all Colorado pharmacists.

Access Training

Tools

Disclaimer: These tools have been developed with the sole intention of providing assistance in adhering to established statewide protocols. These tools should be used only as supplementary aids and not as replacements for consulting and adhering to all published guidelines, Board Rules, and Laws as applicable.

• Standard Procedures Algorithm
• Self-screening Questionnaire
• Summary Chart U.S. Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use
• Pharmacist Referral and Visit Summary

Additional Resources

• U.S. MEC for Contraceptive Use, 2024
• U.S. Selected Practice Recommendations for Contraceptive Use, 2024
• Effectiveness of Contraceptive Methods Chart
• ACOG Well-Woman Recommendations
• JCPP Pharmacists' Patient Care Process
• Colorado Medicaid Providers 
• Family Planning Clinics
• Find a Pharmacy that offers Contraception Services

 Smoking Cessation (effective March 2017)

• Protocol - Rule 17 Appendix B
• State Board of Pharmacy Rules - Rule 17

Comprehensive Smoking Cessation Education for the Colorado Pharmacist

The University of Colorado offers the Comprehensive Smoking Cessation Education for the Colorado Pharmacist, an ACPE-accredited training program designed to equip pharmacists with the skills and knowledge to support smoking cessation efforts. 

CPS endorses this on-demand program and recommends it for all Colorado pharmacists.

Access Training 

Additional Resources

• Colorado Dept. of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE) Provider Resources 
• Tobacco Free CO Provider Resources   
• AHRQ Treating Tobacco Use & Dependence: 2008 Update - Clinical Practice Guideline 
• CDC Smoking & Tobacco Use Resources for Pharmacists
• Rocky Mountain Tobacco Treatment Specialist Certification (RMTTS-C)        
• University of Colorado Behavioral Health & Wellness Program Resources 
• UCSF Rx for Change: Clinician-Assisted Tobacco Cessation 
• JCPP Pharmacists' Patient Care Process 
• Smokefree.gov (National Cancer Institute)
• Colorado Quitline Provider Guide  

Statin Therapy (effective September 2022)

UPDATE: CPS has successfully advocated for an update to the Colorado Statewide Protocol (SWP) for Statin Use (Rule 17 Appendix E).  With the help of our expert member, Joe Saseen, CPS submitted changes to the Statin Statewide protocol to include patients with Type 1 Diabetes, and also include authority to prescribe statins for appropriate intermediate-risk patients.  These changes were accepted by the Board of Pharmacy at the 10/3/24 Rulemaking Hearing.  This will allow pharmacists to fill in even more gaps in care by using the Statin SWP. These changes will go into effect on 11/30/24 and will be reflected in the new Board Rules once they are updated.  In the mean time you can view them at:  2024-7-25_Pharmacy_3 CCR 719-1_Redline.docx - Google Docs 

• Protocol - Rule 17 Appendix E
• State Board of Pharmacy Rules - Rule 17

COMPREHENSIVE STATIN THERAPY EDUCATION FOR THE COLORADO PHARMACIST

The Colorado Pharmacists Society has launched the “Statin Therapy Statewide Protocol” training program, an ACPE accredited educational training program.

CPS endorses this on-demand program and recommends it for all Colorado Pharmacists.

The University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education (CPE).  This event has been accredited for up to 1.5 contact hours of pharmacist application-based CPE.    

#0000-23-076-H01-P 

Initial Release Date: 07/11/2023 

Planned Expiration Date: 07/11/2026. 

Members: $75

Non-Members: $100

Access Training

TOOLS

Disclaimer: These tools have been developed with the sole intention of providing assistance in adhering to established statewide protocols. These tools should be used only as supplementary aids and not as replacements for consulting and adhering to all published guidelines, Board Rules, and Laws as applicable.

Other Statewide Protocol Resources 

• CDC-Sponsored HIV Continuing Education
• CMS Letter to Support CPA and SWP
• Pharmacist Statewide Protocols and Prescriptive Authority - National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations
• Webinar: Emerging Pharmacy Practice Opportunities in Colorado – Statewide Protocols and Collaborative Practice Agreements  

• SOP Communications (October 2020): Pharmacists to prescribe, administer HIV prevention therapy in Colorado

• The Body (September 2020): Pharmacies Grapple With Red Tape as States Try to Allow Pharmacists to Prescribe PrEP

• Fox 31 Denver (September 2018): CU Smoking Cessation Aircheck: An Easier Way to Quit Smoking

• The Colorado Sun (September 2018): As with birth control, Colorado makes anti-smoking drugs available at pharmacies — no doctor visit required

• Pharmacy Today (July 2017): States at work on building pharmacists’ authority to prescribe hormonal contraceptives

• Denver Post: Access to Birth Control Widens as Colorado Pharmacists Prepare to Prescribe Oral Contraceptives

• 9News: Colorado to Allow Pharmacists to Prescribe Birth Control

• Pharmacy Today: Policy 101 – Statewide Protocols Increase Patient Access to Public Health Services