Subject of Possible Rule Making: Clarifying the utilization of pharmacy ancillary personnel. The pharmacy quality assurance commission (commission) is considering amending WAC 246-945-001, 246-945-315, 246-945-317, 246-945-320, and potentially adding a new section in chapter 246-945 WAC to clarify the utilization of pharmacy ancillary personnel and technology within the pharmacy.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: In 2024, the commission set goals to improve access to care for patients by reconsidering the roles of pharmacy professionals and incorporating technology into practice. In order to meet these goals, the commission is considering updating its rules relating to the utilization of pharmacy ancillary personnel, which include pharmacy assistants, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacy technicians-in-training.

RCW 18.64A.060 requires that any pharmacy licensed in Washington that intends to utilize the services of pharmacy ancillary personnel must apply by submitting an ancillary utilization plan (AUP) that details the manner and extent to which the pharmacy ancillary personnel would be used and supervised. These AUPs are submitted to the commission for discussion and approval at commission business meetings. Through its review of AUPs submitted by licensees for approval, the commission has noticed that licensees are increasingly looking for creative ways to utilize pharmacy ancillary personnel within the pharmacy. The commission expects this trend to continue as workforce shortages persist and technological innovations within the pharmacy progress. In preparation, the commission has decided to review its current rules and explore the limitations of current technologies being used and tasks being performed by ancillary personnel.

The commission has also received inquiries from licensees regarding the administration of drugs and devices by pharmacy technicians, which resulted in the commission issuing Guidance Document 690-361, Ancillary Utilization Plans and Pharmacy Technician Administration, in 2018. The guidance document has since been updated as Guidance Document G006, Ancillary Utilization Plans and the Administration of Drugs and Devices, in 2024 to include pharmacy technicians-in-training meeting certain criteria to administer drugs and devices and needs to be codified.

Through this rule making, the commission intends to set modern guidelines for the utilization of pharmacy ancillary personnel within the pharmacy, create boundaries for the use of technology in the pharmacy, and codify its guidance for the administration of drugs and devices to further clarify commission expectations for licensees.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Haleigh Mauldin, P.O. Box 47852, Olympia, WA 98504-7852, phone 360-890-0720, fax 360-236-2901, email PharmacyRules@doh.wa.gov.

Additional comments: Interested parties can participate in the drafting of the proposed rules. The commission will conduct a series of rules workshops. Rule-making notices will be delivered via the GovDelivery list. To receive notices, please go to https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/WADOH/subscriber/new. After signing in, please click open the box labeled "Health Systems Quality Assurance." Next, click open the box labeled "Health Professions" and then click again on "Pharmacy Commission Newsletter." You may also check the box next to one or more of the other professions or facilities listed to receive information related to that specific topic.