NC bill could allow pharmacists to test and treat flu and strep throat (2025)

Grace Hayba, WRAL Health reporter

A new bill making its way through the North Carolina Senateis looking to expand the role of pharmacists when it comes to influenza andstrep throat.

Senate Bill 335 aims to allow pharmacists to test and treatflu and strep throat.

Currently, patients must first go to a doctor’s office,urgent care, or emergency room to be diagnosed and prescribed medication.

Republican State Senator Benton Sawrey spoke on the bill Wednesdayin the Senate Health Committee, noting the bill would speed up the time ittakes to get medicine to those in need.

“The average weight time to see a family physician in theUnited States is about 20 days,” shared Sawrey. “This bill cuts out that timeand gives you direct access to retail or community pharmacies.”

Jay Campbell, executive director of the North Carolina Boardof Pharmacy, shared the board is supportive of the effort to expand access tocare.

“I think it has the potential to have a very positive publichealth impact,” said Campbell. “I think this is the kind of thing that could bevery useful given accessibility of pharmacies in some places in the state whereit might be a little more difficult to get into a physicians office.”

The legislation comes as North Carolina experiences a deadlyflu season.

New state data Wednesday reported 484 people have died fromthe flu statewide this season, an increase of 20 from the week prior. At leastfive of those deaths have been children.

The North Carolina Association of Pharmacists ExecutiveDirector Penny Shelton spoke before lawmakers in the health committee tounderscore how the bill could help combat the spread of flu.

“If they are not treated earlier, people spread it and that’spart of the issue we’re dealing with,” said Shelton. “Emergency rooms this yearwere completely overwhelmed with flu cases. If we had this type of ability inplace this past flu season, we would’ve been able to prevent a lot of thosecases and some of those deaths.”

Pharmacists would test using CLIA-Waived tests, which areproven to have low error rates and even approved for use at home. The tests canprovide results for things like flu and strep in minutes without having to senda sample to a lab.

Campbell shared conducting testing is something the pharmacyindustry has already demonstrated it can handle.

“We had a lot of experience during COVID under some federalwaivers that allowed pharmacists to essentially test for and treat COVID,” saidCampbell. “I think what that experience proved to my mind beyond any doubt, isthat pharmacists do possess the skill to provide those services safely. “

The bill would establish clear protocols and guidelinespharmacists must follow. Sawrey shared it would involve input from the state’spharmacy board, medical board, and health director.

Patients in some cases would still be referred to a primarycare doctor. The bill states this would include instances where a patient needsstronger antiviral medications.

SB335 also requires insurers to cover a patient's care the same as if it occurred in another healthcare setting like a doctor's office or urgent care.

The bill passed unanimously in the Senate Health Committee. Itcould be brought up for a vote on the floor soon.

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