New rules in Ohio affecting consult agreements with pharmacists

Hospitals, ambulatory outpatient facilities and any physicians that have entered consult agreements with pharmacists should be aware of the physician rules adopted by the State Medical Board of Ohio that went into effect on October 31, 2020. These new rules include updates to currently existing consult agreements for managing patient’s drug therapies and new physician requirements. For example, one new physician requirement includes that the physician discuss with each patient the scope and role of the managing pharmacist under the consult agreement and obtain the patient’s consent prior to the pharmacist managing the patient’s drug therapy.      

Additional changes in Ohio laws will allow pharmacists to enter into consult agreements with certified nurse practitioners, certified nurse-midwives, certified clinical nurse specialists and physician assistants beginning December 16, 2020. Additional new rules will be adopted by the State Medical Board of Ohio (for physician assistants) and by the Ohio Board of Nursing (for certified nurse practitioners, certified nurse-midwives and certified clinical nurse specialists) in order to establish the standards and requirements for these advanced health care providers to manage a patient’s drug therapy under a consult agreement.  

Standard care arrangements with collaborating physicians for certified nurse practitioners, certified nurse-midwives and certified clinical nurse specialists will need to be updated prior to these advanced health care providers entering any consult agreements with pharmacists. Updates to supervision agreements between physician assistants and supervising physicians should also occur prior to physician assistants entering any consult agreements with pharmacists.

Other associated documents to review and consider updating with respect to these new rules and laws in Ohio include: clinical privileges forms and/or position descriptions for pharmacists, certified nurse practitioners, certified nurse-midwives, certified clinical nurse specialists and physician assistants, as well as credentialing and other related policies, and patient consent forms.