Pharmacists & Calif Law

I ran across this and I was wondering if this may be the beginning of Pharmacists acting like Physicians, under the law. It is only in Calif and it seems to only deal with Medicaid Patients there. But, this is how things like this start. I was just wondering ya'lls thoughts on it.

California Expands Scope of Pharmacy Practice With New Law

"A new California law, signed by Governor Jerry Brown on October 1, 2013, will expand the scope of pharmacy practice within the state and improve patient access to care. The bill would establish board recognition for advanced practice pharmacists who, according to the National Community Pharmacists Association, will be able to do the following beginning January 1, 2014:

*Perform patient assessments.
*Order and interpret drug therapy-related laboratory tests.
*Refer patients to other providers.
*Initiate, adjust, and discontinue medications under physician protocol.
*Work with other health care providers to evaluate and manage a patient’s health issues.

The law, SB 493, aims to address a growing shortage in primary care providers that is projected to increase with the expansion of the state’s Medi-Cal program under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which is expected to inject millions of newly insured Californians into the state’s health care system. The bill was part of a series of four laws that aimed to expand the scope of practice for optometrists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other mid-level practitioners in order to alleviate the shortage. SB 493 is the second in the series to be signed into law."
http://www.nabp.net/news/california-expands-scope-of-pharmacy-practice-with-new-law

it does not apply only to medicaid patients. the projected shortage of providers is due to the increase of people covered by medicaid/medical due to the ACA.

pharmacists have been acting as mid levels for quite some time in VA hospitals throughout the country including having prescriptive authority.

The link below may help explain some. It is long.

http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml

That's the most ridiculous thing they've ever tried to do to medicaid recipient's! Thats like saying any kind of PhD qualifies you to care for this country's poor, underprivileged and elderly? Yes they attended school a very long time like a medical doctor but their focus was between chemistry, the human anatomy and and not the disease process, they overlapped some classes, they did not complete medical school, did not take the same license exams.

I can't see the Rph's agreeing to do any such thing and put their license and career on the line performing outside the boundaries of their knowledge.

What's next for medicaid? Maybe they can enlist the aid of Veterinarians? Personally I would rather be treated by mine then my pharmacist!!

Mercy&Grace: For that matter, anyone who thinks the "Affordable Care Act" will provide quality care is falling for political bs. The "In-affordable Insurance Act" would be far more apropos nomenclature.