There are many resources available to aid you in your work. Below are a few that are especially valuable for 1) understanding the issues around expanding pharmacies’ and pharmacists’ roles in HIV prevention and linkage to care in pharmacies and 2) aiding in creating state-specific plans.
Relevant Information and Research
- The Future of Pharmacist-Delivered Status-Neutral HIV Prevention and Care: In this report published in The American Journal of Public Health, researchers explore the untapped potential of pharmacies in ending the HIV epidemic.
- The Expanding Role of Pharmacists in A Transformed Health Care System: The National Governors Association’s issue brief discusses the role of state laws in enabling pharmacists to practice to the full scope of their training.
- Examination of HIV Preexposure Prophylaxis Need, Availability, and Potential Pharmacy Integration in the Southeastern US: In this primary study, published in JAMA Open Network, researchers discuss the reach of pharmacies to expand PrEP access across 6 states in the southeastern United States.
- US Community Pharmacies and Public Health—Building on the COVID-19 Response: This article from JAMA Health Forum highlights the significant contributions of community pharmacies during the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing the need for policy changes to support pharmacists in expanding their role in public health.
- Mechanisms to Expand Pharmacists’ Scope of Practice: The American Pharmacists Association’s issue brief provides an overview of the policy pathways that expand pharmacist scope of practice, including collaborative prescribing agreements, statewide protocols, and standing orders.
- Pharmacist Statewide Protocols: Key Elements for Legislative and Regulatory Authority: This report summarizes policy recommendations for pharmacist statewide protocols developed by the Statewide Protocol Workgroup, convened by the National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations (NASPA) and the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy.
- Greater Pharmacist Prescribing Authority Improves Patient Access: A Case Study on PrEP for HIV: GoodRx Health’s article describes the impact of expanded pharmacist prescribing authority on increasing PrEP prescription access.
- Pharmacy Intervention to Improve HIV Testing Uptake Using a Comprehensive Health Screening Approach: This study, published in Public Health Reports, describes pharmacy-based programs that implemented a comprehensive health screening framework for hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, and HIV and their impact increasing HIV testing. Results demonstrated that efforts to destigmatize and normalize HIV testing increased uptake.
Data Sources
- State Legislative Session Calendar: National Conference of State Legislatures’ map provides information on legislative sessions in each state, district, and territory.
- List of State Boards of Pharmacy: This list has contact information for state BOPs provided by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy.
- HIV Surveillance Reports: CDC’s HIV surveillance reports provide data about the state of HIV and AIDS in the United States.
- America’s HIV Epidemic Analysis Dashboard (AHEAD): Interactive dashboard for tracking the indicators for the Ending the HIV Epidemic in the United States Initiative.
- AIDSVu: The AIDSVu dashboard provides HIV/AIDS data by location at the city, county, state, region, and national level and includes downloadable charts and local resources.
- AtlasPlus: The AtlasPlus Dashboard provides nearly 20 years of CDC surveillance data on HIV, viral hepatitis, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and tuberculosis (TB). Social and economic data in conjunction with HIV, viral hepatitis, STDs, and TB infections are also available.
Analysis
- Pharmacists’ Authority to Initiate PrEP and PEP and Engage in Collaborative Practice Agreements: NASTAD issue brief and interactive map examine pharmacists’ authority for prescribing PrEP and PEP across the United States.
- Expanding Pharmacist-Prescribed HIV PrEP: Association of State and Territorial Health Officials’ issue brief describes state legislation allowing pharmacists to prescribe PrEP.
- State Specific Tele-PrEP Services: NASTAD map of state-based tele-PrEP programs.
- Pharmacist Scope of Practice Related to Preventing and Treating STIs: Resource developed by the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) and NASPA providing information from all states on what activities can be provide within the pharmacists’ scope of work regarding STIs/HIV.
Case Studies and Insights
- Washington State Pharmacy-based Pilot Program: This article describes the Washington State Department of Health, Public Health Seattle, and King County partnership with select pharmacies to make PrEP more accessible without the need for a prescription from a physician.
- Pharmacist Prescriptive Authority: This manuscript, published in Pharmacy, describes how the Idaho BOP expanded pharmacist prescriptive authority to include select preventative care and acute and chronic conditions.
- Idaho Leads the Nation Toward Expanding Pharmacists’ Scope of Practice: Cato Institute’s commentary describes Idaho’s approach in expanding pharmacists’ responsibilities through legislative measures that granted pharmacists the authority to prescribe a diverse range of medications.
- Virginia Pharmacy-Based HIV Testing: NASTAD’s brief describes a pharmacy-based HIV testing Virginia pilot program that successfully increased HIV testing access by offering rapid tests in familiar, non-stigmatized settings like Walgreens, reaching first-time testers and reducing stigma.
- Recommendation Memorandum for Domestic Policy Council: This memo outlines strategic recommendations for federal policy change aimed at unlocking the potential of community pharmacies in bridging gaps in HIV prevention services.
Training Resources
- STI/HIV Training Modules for Pharmacists: These six 30-minute educational modules are designed to orient pharmacists to sexual health topics broadly. The modules were developed by NACCHO in collaboration with the National Network of STD Clinical Prevention Training Centers. STI and HIV prevention continuing education credits are available.
- Pharmacy PreP Resources: The San Francisco Department of Health’s Resource hub includes fact sheets, tool kits, and provider education materials.