PHARMACY PrEP EDUCATION A “HOW TO” SERIES SPANNING POLICY TO PRACTICE
PROVIDING PrEP IN THE PHARMACY SETTING OREGON EDITION
WHAT In 2021, the Oregon Board of Pharmacy (OBOP) granted authority to prescribe preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) to pharmacists who complete continuing education (CE) on HIV prevention medications. PrEP is the use of specific combinations of antiretroviral agents to reduce the risk of HIV infection, and PEP utilizes specific combinations of antiretroviral agents to prevent infection in appropriately identified and evaluated HIV-negative people who have had a single high-risk HIV exposure.1,2 In June 2021, Oregon House Bill 2958 was signed into law, allowing pharmacists to prescribe, dispense, and administer drugs to prevent the acquisition of
HIV (both PrEP and PEP) and to perform certain tests. HB 2958 went into effect in late September 2021.3 The language of the bill can be found here: https:// olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2021R1/Downloads/ MeasureDocument/HB2958.4
Pharmacist Participation3
While HB 2958 creates the pathway for any licensed and practicing pharmacist in Oregon to prescribe PrEP/PEP, the opt-in decision to do so is solely the pharmacist’s. Pharmacists should take into account factors such as staffing, financial viability, and the capacity of physical space to honor patient confidentiality when deciding to prescribe.
This activity is jointly provided by Global Education Group and Integritas Communications. This activity is supported by an educational grant from Gilead Sciences, Inc.