NC pharmacists could treat flu under new bill
REPORTED ANY STRUCTURES OR
ANYTHING LIKE THAT. THEY GOT IT
ALL UNDER CONTROL ABOUT AN HOUR
AGO. OKAY. THANK YOU, BRIAN.
NEW NUMBERS SHOW 484 PEOPLE
HAVE DIED FROM THE FLU IN OUR
STATE THIS SEASON. THIS
INCLUDES 6 MORE REPORTED THIS
WEEK.
>> NO MORE CHILDREN INCLUDED
IN THIS NUMBER. HOWEVER, FEWER
PEOPLE ARE BEING ADMITTED TO
THE HOSPITAL NOW FOR
RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES AS THIS
FLU SEASON BEGINS TO DWINDLE.
THIS CAN REALLY BE A
GAME-CHANGER. NEXT FLU SEASON,
A NEW BILL COULD SAVE YOU TIME
AT THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE. WHEN
YOU GET SICK WITH THE FLU AND
GET THE MEDICATION YOU NEED
FASTER. THE MEASURE IS MOVING
FORWARD IN THE STATE SENATE,
WRAL, HEALTH REPORTER, GRACE
TEVA SHARES. HOW THIS IS
WORKING TO EXPAND ACCESS TO
CARE.
>> IT CAN TAKE DAYS TO SCHEDULE
AN APPOINTMENT AT YOUR PRIMARY
CARE. DOCTOR. AND EVEN IF YOU
WALK INTO AN URGENT CARE OR
EMERGENCY ROOM, IT CAN STILL
TAKE HOURS FOR YOU TO BE SEEN
AND EVEN AFTER BOTH OF THOSE
THINGS, IF YOU HAVE THE FLU OR
STREP, YOU'RE STILL GOING TO
NEED TO MAKE ANOTHER TRIP TO
YOUR LOCAL PHARMACY TO ACTUALLY
GET THE MEDICATION YOU NEED.
BUT NOW A NEW BILL IN NORTH
CAROLINA WANTS TO CHANGE THAT.
>> TEST DIAGNOSE TREAT ALL IN
ONE PLACE. THAT'S THE GOAL OF
SENATE BILL 335, IT'S BEEN A
LONG TIME COMING. THE
PHARMACIST IN OUR STATE HAVE
BEEN GREATLY UNDER UTILIZED IN
THE AREAS OF PUBLIC HEALTH.
THE BILL SEEKS TO EXPAND THE
ROLE OF PHARMACISTS TO INCLUDE
THE ABILITY TO TEST AND TREAT
BOTH FLU AND STREP THROAT WITH
APPROVED MEDICATION, PHARMACIST
WOULD USE WHAT ARE CALLED CLI A
WAVE TESTS WHICH CARRY LOWER
RISK OF AIR AND CAN DELIVER
RESULTS IN MINUTES WITHOUT
HAVING TO SEND A SAMPLE TO A
LAB. I THINK IT HAS A
POTENTIALLY VERY POSITIVE
PUBLIC HEALTH IMPACT. JAY
CAMPBELL WITH THE NORTH
CAROLINA BOARD, A PHARMACIST
SAYS THE MOVE COULD GREATLY
HELP RURAL AREAS ACROSS THE
STATE WITH FEW OR NO DOCTOR'S
OFFICES WHERE PHARMACIES ARE
OFTEN THE CLOSEST POINT OF
HEALTH CARE THROUGH A LOT OF
EXPERIENCE DURING COVID
ANDERSON, FEDERAL WAIVERS THAT
ALLOW PHARMACISTS TO
ESSENTIALLY TEST FOR AND TREAT
COVID. AND I THINK WHAT THAT
EXPERIENCE PROVED TO MOM ON
BEYOND ANY DOUBT IS THAT
PHARMACISTS TO POSSESS THE
SKILL TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES
SAFELY? THE BILL WOULD
ESTABLISH A CLEAR SET OF RULES
AND PROTOCOLS FOR PHARMACISTS
TO FOLLOW. AND IN SOME CASES,
PATIENTS STILL MIGHT BE
REFERRED TO THEIR PRIMARY CARE
DOCTOR, FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU
NEED STRONGER ANTIVIRAL
MEDICATION IN WAKE COUNTY
GRACE. HEY, ABOUT WRAL NEWS
THANKYOU GRACE. THE BILL WOULD
ALSO REQUIRE INSURANCE
COMPANIES TO COVER COSTS THE
SAME AS IF SOMEONE WERE BEING
TREATED.
>> IN A DOCTOR'S OFFICE OR