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NACDS and the California Retailers Association Urge California to Allow Increase in Pharmacy Technician-to-Pharmacist Ratio
NACDS & CRA urge California Gov. Gavin Newsom to waive statute restricting efficient, equitable COVID vaccine program in the state; ensure Californians’ health and wellness needs are maintained throughout the pandemic
Sacramento, CA – National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) President and CEO Steven C. Anderson and the California Retailers Association (CRA) President and CEO Rachel Michelin issued the following statement today:
Pharmacies, pharmacists and pharmacy teams continue to play a critical role in the nation’s COVID-19 response and recovery efforts. Effectively leveraging the existing retail pharmacy network – where every individual lives within 5 miles of a retail store – can swiftly and efficiently accelerate the vaccination of priority populations and those in rural and underserved areas. This includes expanding equitable and convenient access to COVID-19 services – including screening, testing, and vaccinations – to communities and populations in every corner of California.
Unfortunately, retail pharmacies in California are limited in their ability to maximize their staffing resources to provide COVID-19 vaccinations as the state maintains the most restrictive pharmacy technician-to-pharmacist ratio in the nation. NACDS and CRA strongly urge Governor Newsom to waive California’s statute that arbitrarily restricts to 1:1 the maximum ratio of pharmacy technicians to pharmacists. Further, we urge immediate action to allow pharmacists to work with up to four technicians during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“California maintains the most restrictive pharmacy technician-to-pharmacist ratio in the nation. Temporarily increasing this ratio to up to 4:1 would allow pharmacies and pharmacy staff to meet patients’ health and wellness needs more efficiently and effectively throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in our underserved communities. This would be a very measured approach, as nearly half of the states have a greater ratio than 4:1 or no ratio at all.
“We urge Gov. Newsom to remove this arbitrary limitation as an effective way to optimize the system; to increase patient access to routine vaccinations and point-of-care testing, such as COVID-19 testing; and to help pharmacy teams safely, efficiently and equitably provide COVID-19 vaccinations to communities throughout the state.
“Pharmacies, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians continue to serve Californians extremely well throughout the pandemic. Pharmacies have played a key role in advising the State of California, other states and the federal government about policies needed to keep stores open and operating efficiently, to secure the safety and health of patients and staff teams, to keep patients on their medication therapies, putting patients over paperwork.
“We applaud Gov. Newsom for the related actions he has previously taken to empower pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to advance public health. To ultimately re-open the state safely and to prepare for future needs related to this virus, we urge him to do the same immediately by temporarily removing an outdated and arbitrary limitation so that pharmacies in California can prepare fully to vaccinate the public efficiently and equitably as vaccine supplies become available, and to meet patients’ needs throughout this pandemic.”
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The California Retailers Association is the only statewide trade association representing all segments of the retail industry including general merchandise, department stores, on-line marketplaces, mass merchandisers, restaurants, convenience stores, supermarkets and grocery stores, chain drug, and specialty retail such as auto, vision, jewelry, hardware and home stores. CRA works on behalf of California’s retail industry, which prior to the pandemic, operated over 418,840 retail establishments with a gross domestic product of $330 billion annually and employed 3,211,805 people—one fourth of California’s total employment. The state of California collected $48.5 billion in revenue from retail sales and use taxes, representing more than 25% of the state revenue. For more information, go to www.calretailers.com.
NACDS represents traditional drug stores, supermarkets and mass merchants with pharmacies. Chains operate nearly 40,000 pharmacies, and NACDS’ 80 chain member companies include regional chains, with a minimum of four stores, and national companies. Chains employ nearly 3 million individuals, including 155,000 pharmacists. They fill over 3 billion prescriptions yearly, and help patients use medicines correctly and safely, while offering innovative services that improve patient health and healthcare affordability. NACDS members also include more than 900 supplier partners and over 70 international members representing 21 countries. Please visit nacds.org.
