APhA Policy Manual

1. APhA opposes the sale of e-cigarettes and other vaporized nicotine products in pharmacies until such time that scientific data support the health and environmental safety of these products.
2. APhA opposes the use of e-cigarettes and other vaporized nicotine products in areas subject to current clean air laws, regulations, and policies for combustible tobacco products until such time that scientific data support the health and environmental safety of these products.
3. APhA urges pharmacists to become more knowledgeable about e-cigarettes and other vaporized nicotine products.

APhA supports standardizing patient records and clinical decision support tools (including pharmacy dispensing systems) to collect, document, and utilize information regarding the patient’s tobacco and nicotine use.

1. APhA urges pharmacies and facilities that include pharmacies to discontinue the sale of tobacco products.
2. APhA urges the federal government and state governments to limit participation in government-funded prescription programs to pharmacies that do not sell tobacco products.
3. APhA urges state boards of pharmacy to discontinue issuing and renewing licenses to pharmacies that sell tobacco products and to pharmacies that are in facilities that sell tobacco products.
4. APhA urges colleges of pharmacy to only use pharmacies that do not sell tobacco products as experience sites for their students.
5. APhA urges the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) to adopt the position that college-administered pharmacy experience programs should only use pharmacies that do not sell tobacco products.
6. APhA urges pharmacists and student pharmacists who are seeking employment opportunities to first consider positions in pharmacies that do not sell tobacco products.

1. APhA recommends that tobacco products not be sold in pharmacies.
2. APhA recommends that state and local pharmacist associations develop similar policy statements for their membership and increase their involvement in public educational programs regarding the health hazards of smoking.
3. APhA recommends that individual pharmacists give particular attention to educating young people on the health hazards of smoking.
4. APhA recommends that APhA-ASP develop projects aimed at educating young people on the health hazards of smoking, such as visiting schools and conducting health education programs.

APhA opposes the sale of tobacco products and non-medicinal alcoholic beverages in pharmacies.

1. APhA recognizes the unique role and accessibility of pharmacy personnel in public health.
2. APhA encourages pharmacy personnel to provide services, education, and information on public health issues.
3. APhA encourages the development of public health programs for use by pharmacy personnel.
4. APhA should provide necessary information and materials for pharmacy personnel to carry out their role in disseminating public health information.
5. APhA encourages organizations to include pharmacy personnel in the development of public health programs.

1. APhA encourages the use of social media in ways that advance patient care and uphold pharmacists as trusted and accessible health care providers.
2. APhA supports the use of social media as a mechanism for the delivery of patient-specific care in a platform that allows for appropriate patient and provider protections and access to necessary health care information.
3. APhA supports the inclusion of social media education, including but not limited to appropriate use and professionalism, as a component of pharmacy education and continuing professional development.
4. APhA affirms that the patient’s right to privacy and confidentiality shall not be compromised through the use of social media.
5. APhA urges pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and student pharmacists to self-monitor their social media presence for professionalism and that posted clinical information is accurate and appropriate.
6. APhA advocates for continued development and utilization of social media by pharmacists and other health care professionals during public health emergencies.

APhA recognizes the role of pharmacists in improving the use of medications in schools and supports pharmacist activities to work with teachers, school nurses, parents, school administrators and other personnel to improve medication use in this environment. APhA recommends that pharmacists be involved in the development of guidelines for medication use in schools.

1. APhA affirms that pharmacists play a vital role in improving outcomes in patients with or at risk of sexually transmitted infections.
2. APhA supports the pharmacist's role in the development of education and resources for individuals with Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), Expedited Partner Therapy (EPT), Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) in order to increase awareness and access.
3. APhA advocates for revision of state practice acts to permit pharmacists to independently prescribe for individuals with Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), Expedited Partner Therapy (EPT), Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) therapy.

APhA encourages pharmacists to provide pharmaceutical care for women, including education about the availability and benefits of opt-out Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) testing in prenatal and perinatal care, to decrease the risk of HIV transmission to unborn children and between partners. APhA encourages pharmacists to provide education about the availability and benefits of opt-out HIV testing in prenatal and perinatal care, including offering and/or performing testing to the patients and their partners.

1. APhA opposes mandatory Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) testing of pharmacists, student pharmacists, and pharmacy personnel.
2. APhA supports voluntary and confidential Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) testing of pharmacists, student pharmacists, and pharmacy personnel, to facilitate early detection and disease intervention.
3. APhA supports training designed to foster compliance with infection control procedures outlined in current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for universal precautions and OSHA standards for blood-borne pathogens.
4. APhA encourages the development of support networks to assist Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) positive health care professionals and students.

1. APhA encourages pharmacy personnel to take an active role in achieving the goals of the Healthy People program regarding immunizations through (a) advocacy; (b) contracting with other health care professionals; or (c) administering vaccines to patients facing barriers to health.
2. APhA encourages the availability of all vaccines to all pharmacies in order to meet public health needs.
3. APhA supports the compensation of pharmacy personnel for the administration of immunizations and the reimbursement for vaccine distribution.
4. APhA should facilitate the development of programs that educate pharmacy personnel about their role in immunizations in public health.

1. APhA supports efforts to increase immunization rates of health care professionals, for the purposes of protecting patients and urges all pharmacy personnel to receive all recommended immunizations.
2. APhA encourages employers to provide necessary immunizations to all pharmacy personnel.
3. APhA encourages federal, state, and local officials and agencies to recognize pharmacists, student pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacy support staff as among the highest priority groups to receive medications, vaccinations, and other protective measures as essential health care workers.

1. APhA supports universal and consistent school-entry immunization requirements grounded in the best available evidence-based guidelines to protect the public’s health against vaccine-preventable disease.
2. APhA supports exemptions from school-entry immunization requirements only when an evidence-based medical contraindication exists.

1. APhA supports pharmacists practicing under a standard of care regulatory model for providing immunization services.
2. APhA advocates for the sustained, equitable, and reliable availability of immunizations as a public health priority.
3. APhA supports the development, implementation, and expansion of pharmacy-led public education initiatives that highlight the proven role of immunizations in preventing disease, saving lives, reducing health disparities, and strengthening community resilience.
4. APhA champions full compensation by public and private insurers for pharmacy-provided immunization services, including the cost of the vaccine products and administration.
5. APhA supports expanding the authority of pharmacists, student pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians to increase immunization capacity nationwide.
6. APhA supports the use of best existing evidence-based guidelines for immunization schedules.

1. APhA supports pharmacists being recognized as independent health care providers with regard to recommending and administering vaccines based on shared clinical decision making (SCDM).
2. APhA advocates for compensation for shared clinical decision making (SCDM) consultations in addition to vaccine administration fees to increase patient access to SCDM vaccines.

APhA supports vaccinations, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as a condition of employment, training, or volunteering within an organization that provides pharmacy services or operates a pharmacy or pharmacy department (unless a valid medical or religious reason precludes vaccination).

1. APhA supports mandatory requirements for ALL immunization providers to report pertinent immunization data into Immunization Information Systems (IIS).
2. APhA calls for government entities to fund enrollment and engagement of all immunization providers in Immunization Information Systems (IIS). This engagement should support lifetime tracking of immunizations for patients.
3. APhA calls for a National Immunization Information System (IIS) to receive and report vaccination data from all registries for the purpose of providing health care professionals, patients, and their caregivers with accurate and timely information to assist in clinical decision-making.
4. APhA advocates that all appropriate health care personnel involved in the patient care process have timely access to Immunization Information Systems (IIS) and other pertinent data sources to support proactive patient assessment and delivery of immunization services while maintaining confidentiality.
5. APhA urges pharmacy management system vendors to include functionality that uses established and adopted electronic health record standards for the bidirectional exchange of data with Immunization Information Systems (IIS).

The American Pharmacist Association (APhA) encourages collaboration with the American Public Health Association (APHA) and other public health organizations to increase pharmacists’ participation in initiatives designed to meet global, national, regional, state, local, and community health goals.

1. APhA supports equitable patient access to evidence-based comprehensive reproductive health care, including, but not limited to, the management of pregnancy loss, ectopic pregnancy, infertility, pregnancy termination, contraception, and permanent contraception.
2. APhA recognizes patient autonomy in choosing reproductive health care services and the essential role of all health care professionals in facilitating access and advancing informed decision making.
3. APhA supports evidence-based laws, regulations, and policies that ensure patient access to comprehensive reproductive health care services.
4. APhA opposes legal actions against pharmacies, pharmacists, and pharmacy personnel that provide patient access to, or information regarding, reproductive health care services that are within pharmacist scope of practice.

1. APhA asserts that pharmacists, student pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacy support staff are essential members of the healthcare team and should be actively engaged and supported in surveillance, mitigation, preparedness, planning, response, recovery, and countermeasure activities related to public health and other emergencies.
2. APhA reaffirms the 2016 policy on the Role of the Pharmacist in National Defense, and calls for the active and coordinated engagement of all pharmacists in public health and other emergency planning and response activities.
3. APhA advocates for the timely removal of legal, regulatory, and policy restrictions; practice limitations; and financial barriers during public health and other emergencies to meet immediate patient care needs.
4. APhA urges regulatory bodies and government agencies to recognize pharmacists' training and ability to evaluate patient needs, provide care, and appropriately refer patients during public health and other emergencies.
5. APhA advocates for pharmacists’ authority to ensure patient access to care through the prescribing, dispensing, and administering of medications, as well as provision of other patient care services during times of public health and other emergencies.
6. APhA calls for processes to ensure that any willing and able pharmacy and pharmacy practitioner is not excluded from providing pharmacist patient care services during public health and other emergencies.
7. APhA calls on public and private payers to establish and implement payment policies that compensate pharmacists providing patient care services, including during public health and other emergencies, within their recognized authority.
8. APhA advocates for the inclusion of pharmacists as essential members in the planning, development, and implementation of alternate care sites or delivery models during public health and other emergencies.
9. APhA reaffirms the 2015 Interoperability of Communications Among Health Care Providers to Improve Quality of Care and encourages pharmacists, as members of the healthcare team, to communicate care decisions made during public health and other emergencies with other members of the healthcare team to ensure continuity of care.

APhA encourages pharmacist involvement in surveillance, mitigation, preparedness, planning, response, and recovery related to natural, technological, or human-caused incidents.

APhA urges pharmacists to expand patient access to secure, convenient, and environmentally responsible drug disposal options, in accordance with the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010, by implementing disposal programs they deem appropriate for their individual practice sites, patient care settings, and business models in an effort to reduce the amount of dispensed but unused prescription drug product available for diversion and misuse.

1. APhA encourages all stakeholders to develop and adopt evidence-based approaches to educate the public and all health care professionals to reduce the stigma associated with mental health diagnoses.
2. APhA supports the increased utilization of pharmacists and student pharmacists with appropriate training to actively participate in the care of patients with mental health conditions as members of interprofessional health care teams in all practice settings.
3. APhA supports the expansion of mental health education and training in the curriculum of all schools and colleges of pharmacy, postgraduate training, and within continuing professional development programs.
4. APhA supports the development of education and resources to address health care professional resiliency and burnout.

1. APhA encourages pharmacist involvement in the planning and coordination of medication take-back programs for the purpose of disposal.
2. APhA supports increasing public awareness regarding medication take-back programs for the purpose of disposal.
3. APhA urges public and private stakeholders, including local, state, and federal agencies, to coordinate and create uniform, standardized laws, regulations and policies, including issues related to liability and sustainable funding sources, for the proper and safe disposal of unused medications.
4. APhA recommends ongoing medication take-back and disposal programs.

1. APhA affirms that pharmacists are trained to provide patient care and have the ability to address patient needs, regardless of geographic location.
2. APhA advocates for the continued development of uniform laws, regulations, and policies that facilitate pharmacists,' student pharmacists,' and pharmacy technicians’ timely ability to practice in multiple states to meet practice and patient care needs.
3. APhA supports individual pharmacists’ and student pharmacists’ authority to provide patient care services across state lines whether in person or remotely.
4. APhA supports consistent and efficient centralized processes across all states for obtaining and maintaining pharmacist, pharmacy intern, and pharmacy technician licensure and/or registration.
5. APhA urges state boards of pharmacy to reduce administratively and financially burdensome requirements for licensure while continuing to uphold patient safety.
6. APhA encourages the evaluation of current law exam requirements for obtaining and maintaining initial state licensure, as well as licensure in additional states, to enhance uniformity and reduce duplicative requirements.
7. APhA urges state boards of pharmacy and the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) to involve a member of the board of pharmacy and a practicing pharmacist in the review and updating of state jurisprudence licensing exam questions.
8. APhA calls for development of profession-wide consensus on licensing requirements for pharmacists and pharmacy personnel to support contemporary pharmacy practice.

1. APhA urges government authorities to hold pharmaceutical manufacturers, wholesalers, pharmacies, and other pharmaceutical supply distributors and providers accountable to state and federal price gouging laws, regulations and policies in selling those items to patients, pharmacies, hospitals, and other health care providers during times of local, state, or national emergency.
2. APhA urges government authorities to aggressively enforce laws and regulations against adulterated products and false and misleading claims by entities offering to sell pharmaceutical and medical products to health care providers and consumers.

1. APhA shall work with Congress to modify the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act or enact other laws, regulation, or policies to require that dietary supplement manufacturers provide evidence of efficacy and safety for all products, including products currently in the marketplace.
2. APhA supports the establishment and implementation of clear and effective enforcement policies to remove promptly unsafe or ineffective dietary supplement products from the marketplace.
3. APhA shall work with the FDA to improve dietary supplement product labeling to ensure full disclosure of all product components and their source with associated strengths and recommendations for use in specific patient populations.
4. APhA supports the development and enforcement of dietary supplement good manufacturing practices (GMPs) and compliance with USP/NF standards to ensure quality, safe, contaminant-free products.
5. APhA encourages health care professionals, manufacturers, and consumers to report adverse health events associated with dietary supplements. APhA encourages the FDA to create a database with this information and make it available to all interested parties.

1. APhA supports legal, regulatory, and policy changes to further facilitate clinical research related to the clinical efficacy and safety associated with the use of cannabis and its various components.
2. APhA encourages health care provider education related to the clinical efficacy, safety, and management of patients using cannabis and its various components.
3. APhA advocates that the pharmacist collect and document information in the pharmacy patient profile about patient use of cannabis and its various components and provide appropriate patient counseling.
4. APhA supports pharmacist participation in independently prescribing cannabis and its various components when scientific data support the legitimate medical use of the products and delivery mechanisms, and federal, state, or territory laws or regulations permit pharmacists to independently prescribe them.
5. APhA opposes pharmacist involvement in independently prescribing cannabis and its various components for recreational use.

1. APhA supports the use of manual and automated blood pressure measurement devices that are clinically validated initially and then undergo routine calibration to ensure accurate results.
2. APhA supports laws, regulations, policies, and peer-reviewed clinical validation testing for automated blood pressure measurement devices.
3. APhA promotes public awareness of accuracy of automated blood pressure measurement devices.

1. APhA supports the enactment of laws, regulations, and policies to end discriminatory practices that limit access to care for persons who are transgender or gender-diverse.
2. APhA encourages equity in care for persons who are transgender or gender-diverse through: (a) Continuing education on the pharmacist’s role in transgender care, gender-affirming therapy, and health disparities in patients who are transgender or gender-diverse. (b) Systematic integration and utilization of affirmed name and pronouns, gender identity, and anatomical inventory. (c) Availability and implementation of education and resources related to gender-diverse care for all persons employed in health care settings.

APhA supports expanding access to medications indicated for opioid use disorders (MOUDs) and other substance use disorders, including but not limited to pharmacist-administered injection services for treatment and maintenance of substance use disorders that are based on a valid prescription.

1. APhA denounces all forms of racism.
2. APhA affirms that racism is a social determinant of health that contributes to persistent health inequities.
3. APhA urges the entire pharmacy community to actively work to dismantle racism.
4. APhA urges the integration of anti-racism education within pharmacy curricula, postgraduate training, and continuing education requirements.
5. APhA urges pharmacy leaders, decisionmakers, and employers to create sustainable opportunities, incentives, and initiatives in education, research, and practice to address racism.
6. APhA urges pharmacy leaders, decisionmakers, and employers to routinely and systematically evaluate organizational policies and programs for their impact on racial inequities.

1. APhA supports the integration of social determinants of health screening as a vital component of pharmacy services.
2. APhA urges the integration of social determinants of health education within pharmacy curricula, postgraduate training, and continuing education requirements.
3. APhA supports incentivizing community engaged research, driven by meaningful partnerships and shared decisionmaking with community members.
4. APhA urges pharmacists to create opportunities for community engagement to best meet the needs of the patients they serve.
5. APhA encourages the integration of community health workers in pharmacy practice to provide culturally sensitive care, address health disparities, and promote health equity.

1. APhA strongly urges all employers of pharmacists and pharmacy personnel, and the settings in which they practice, to implement protection and control measures and procedures, per consensus recommendations when available, and access to protective gear and cleaning supplies that ensure the safety of pharmacy personnel and that of their family members and the public.
2. APhA urges federal and state government officials, manufacturers, distributors, and health system administrators to recognize pharmacists and pharmacy personnel as “front-line providers” who should receive appropriate personal protective equipment and other resources to protect their personal safety and support their ability to continue to provide patient care.

1. APhA recognizes the value of pharmacist-provided point-of-care testing and related clinical services and promotes the provision of those tests and services in accordance with the Joint Commission of Pharmacy Practitioners Pharmacists’ Patient Care Process.
2. APhA advocates for laws, regulations, and policies that enable pharmacist-provided point-of-care testing and related clinical services that are consistent with the pharmacists’ role in team-based care.
3. APhA opposes laws, regulations, and policies that create barriers to the tests that have been waived by the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) and that are administered and interpreted by pharmacists.
4. APhA encourages use of educational programming and resources to facilitate practice implementation of pharmacist-provided point-of-care testing and related clinical services.
5. APhA supports patients taking active roles in the management of their health, including their ability to request and obtain pharmacist-provided point-of-care tests and related clinical services.
6. APhA advocates for access to, coverage of, and payment for both pharmacist-provided point-of-care tests and any related clinical services.

APhA supports pharmacists, in collaboration with the health care team, providing adequate and comprehensive prenatal and perinatal care for overall maternal and newborn health and wellness.

APhA advocates for the recognition and utilization of pharmacists as providers to address gaps in primary care.

APhA opposes the reuse of devices intended for “single use” in the screening and management of patients, consistent with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines.

APhA reaffirms its 1954 position in support of appropriate fluoridation of water supplies and encourage pharmacists to assist in implementing such programs in their local communities.

1. APhA encourages appropriate public and private partnerships to accept responsibility for the costs of implementing safe medication disposal programs for consumers. Furthermore, APhA urges DEA to permit the safe disposal of controlled substances by consumers or on their behalf.
2. APhA encourages provision of patient-appropriate quantities of medication supplies to minimize unused medications and unnecessary medication disposal.

1. As a matter of patient safety, APhA opposes the re-dispensing of a previously dispensed medication once it has been out of the control of a health care professional.
2. APhA supports a public awareness program to explain why the re-dispensing of a previously dispensed medication once it is out of the control of the healthcare professional is a public health safety concern.

1. APhA supports the World Health Organization’s (WHO's) requirements for accurate and expeditious reporting of infectious diseases from all countries, including unrestricted sharing of infectious substance samples with WHO.
2. APhA supports access to affordable vaccines in all countries.

1. APhA supports pharmacists using professional judgment to make informed decisions regarding the appropriateness of use or the sale of complementary and alternative medicines.
2. APhA shall assist pharmacists and student pharmacists in becoming knowledgeable about complementary and alternative medications to facilitate the counseling of patients regarding effectiveness, proper use, indications, safety, and possible interactions.

1. APhA encourages pharmacists and student pharmacists to increase their awareness of health literacy. Health literacy is the degree to which people can obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services they need to make appropriate health decisions.
2. APhA encourages pharmacists and student pharmacists to assess patients’ health literacy and then implement appropriate communications and education.
3. APhA encourages the review of all patient information for health literacy appropriateness.

1. APhA calls upon all producers of prophylactic devices to include in or on their packaging adequate instructions for use so as to better ensure the effectiveness of the devices in the prevention of sexually transmitted infections.
2. APhA urges pharmacists to make more readily available to the public educational materials, prophylactic devices, and adequate instructions for use in combating sexually transmitted infections.

1. APhA supports the demonstration of safety and efficacy of homeopathic products from adequate, well-designed scientific studies before pharmacists advocate or sell homeopathic products.
2. APhA recognizes patient autonomy regarding the use of homeopathic products. Pharmacists should educate patients who choose to use homeopathic products.
3. APhA supports the modification of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act to require that homeopathic manufacturers provide evidence of efficacy and safety for all products, including products currently in the marketplace.

APhA supports all initiatives which enhance public education about the potential relationship between Reye Syndrome and oral and rectal salicylate-containing products, including settings where pharmacists are not available for consultation.