From the Washington Post.
Opinion | States can expand health care access by modernizing these laws - The Washington PostPharmacist education includes patient assessment, differential diagnosis, laboratory testing, drug administration and prescribing. But outdated statutes often limit pharmacists to testing without treatment or require referral even when clinical care is straightforward and well-established.
In New Mexico, this only moves from idea to impact if Medicaid reimbursement, data sharing, and role clarity align. Pharmacists could reduce avoidable ER visits and medication-related hospitalizations — but only if they’re embedded in coordinated care teams with defined authority and sustainable payment. Done right, this isn’t just access relief; it’s cost stabilization through smarter task design.