Pharmacists Can Help Address Health Care Shortages

However, Montana currently caps the number of pharmacy technicians allowed at a ratio of one pharmacist for every four technicians. While the original intent of this regulation may have been to protect patient safety, researchers note service quality may actually decline under strict ratio rules as pharmacists must focus less on patient care due to a lack of adequate support staff. By comparison, Montana places no limits on the number of nurses or medical assistants that may be overseen by a physician.

Twenty-three other states have removed pharmacy technician ratios in recent years. During the time when the pharmacy technician ratio was temporarily waived in Montana, the Board of Pharmacy received neither patient safety concerns nor complaints of any nature.

Expanding the ability of pharmacists to care for patients could play a critical role in filling the gaps in Montana’s health care system, especially in rural communities. For example, Powder River County has no local primary care physician. There is, however, a community pharmacy.

Leveraging pharmacists’ extensive knowledge and skillset with pharmaceutical drugs, states have begun to allow pharmacists to prescribe medications commensurate with their training. Montana already allows pharmacists to prescribe and administer vaccinations. Idaho has taken it a step further, authorizing pharmacists to prescribe medications for minor, non-emergency ailments that do not require a new diagnosis and can be identified with a low-risk test, such as the flu or strep throat.