CMA Defeats Scope of Practice Bills
CMA recent killed two bills that would have significantly expanded the scope of practice of pharmacists and physical therapists. AB 977 would have allowed pharmacists to independently initiate and provide immunizations to children and adults. Currently pharmacists can provide immunizations only under a physician protocol. This bill was an unchecked expansion of pharmacists' scope of practice that could have had unintended consequences for patient safety and quality care. AB 721 would have allowed physical therapists to evaluate and treat patients without a previous diagnosis or referral from a licensed physician. oth of these bills were defeated in the Assembly Business and Professions Committee, chaired by local Assemblymember Mary Hayashi.
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