Committee adopts pharmacy practice changes, including online pseudoephedrine option

A Senate Business and Labor Committee on Feb. 12 adopted a substitute to SB 261, a measure reflecting the Utah State Pharmacy Board’s annual code updates that clarifies collaborative practice agreements, expands a small list of services pharmacists can perform and authorizes online sales of pseudoephedrine subject to electronic verification.

The sponsor said the changes are routine board-driven updates. The substitute clarifies the definition of a collaborative pharmacy practice agreement, adds vaccines and epinephrine to certain pharmacist prescribing/administration authorities, and creates a pathway for online sales of pseudoephedrine using an electronic verification system intended to prevent diversion.

The committee adopted the substitute by voice vote and then favorably recommended the bill. Sponsors noted that if an acceptable verification system is not available or is cost-prohibitive, the board would not be required to implement online sales. No on‑the‑record public testimony was presented in the hearing before committee action.

Committee members signaled general support for a limited, board‑driven update and the chair placed the substitute and the favorable recommendation on the record.