ASHP House Passes 16 New Policies, Including AI and Technician Education

ASHP has new policies on artificial intelligence (AI), independent prescribing authority, provider liability, and technician education following the House of Delegates meeting at the 2024 Pharmacy Futures meeting in Portland, Oregon.

Delegates described a lively meeting last month as they discussed a wide range of topics, which also included pregnancy status testing and interstate practice flexibility. The House also elected a new chair, Jesse Hogue of Michigan.

AI
Delegates unanimously approved a recommendation on the role of AI in pharmacy practice, which calls for embracing the technology as a tool with “tremendous potential to improve patient care and the medication-use process.” The measure encourages the adoption of policies on implementing and evaluating AI tools while also emphasizing ethical considerations to guide the technology’s use.

The final version was a synthesis of work from the three councils that have been reviewing AI policy since last September’s Policy Week, said Tyler Vest, a member of the Council on Public Policy.

“I think pharmacy departments and health systems knowing what ASHP says about this is important,” said Vest.

Independent Prescribing Authority 
Delegates also approved a policy recommendation to advocate that pharmacists have independent authority to initiate, monitor, modify, and deprescribe all schedules and classes of medications, commensurate with their training and in accordance with the standard of care. A key point of the new policy is to ensure payment for these pharmacist-provided services.

Provider Liability
Another issue that generated discussion related to liability. That new policy says the pharmacy workforce should be able to provide services consistent with the standard of care to patients, including referrals for out-of-state care, without fear of legal consequences, harassment, or liability.

The policy reflected concerns over recent cases in which healthcare providers were punished simply for providing reproductive and gender-affirming care, including for out-of-state patients. State affiliates can use the new policy in their advocacy efforts. The policy was also intended to send a message of support to pharmacists working in states where they could be held liable for providing this care.

Pharmacy Technician Education
The House approved a policy intended to help address the pharmacy technician shortage. Aimed at employers, this policy supports education requirements, including associate degrees, for pharmacy technicians working in advanced roles.

The Council on Workforce and Development found that pharmacy departments can’t pay technicians more money for advanced roles unless they also require advanced training. Human resource departments often ask for associates degrees, but delegates also included certification in the final version of the policy.

The hope, supporters say, is that technicians will stay in the profession if they see the potential for advanced roles and increased pay.

Other policy recommendations approved by the House of Delegates include:

• Affirming that pregnancy testing should occur only with a patient’s informed consent or assent, when feasible, and only when test results would change medical management
• Advocating for the removal of stand-alone state and federal jurisprudence examinations as a requirement for licensure to increase interstate practice flexibility
• Advocating for the pharmacy workforce’s involvement in clinical and operational decision making for prehospital management and utilization of medications

In addition to passing 16 policies, the House also approved a new business item advocating against reclassifying medications for reproductive health as controlled substances. That proposal still requires a vote from the Board of Directors before it becomes policy.