HCS/SB 717 - This act modifies provisions of law relating to the licensure of employees engaged in hair braiding, the administration of vaccines by pharmacists, licensure of federally employed pharmacists, and licensure of hospital pharmacies. EMPLOYEES ENGAGED IN HAIR BRAIDING AT PUBLIC AMUSEMENT VENUES The act provides that an employee or employer who primarily engages in the practice of combing, braiding, or curling hair without the use of harmful chemicals shall not be subject to the licensing requirements of cosmetologists or barbers under chapter 329 while working with a licensee for a public amusement or entertainment venue (316.265). This provision is identical to provisions contained in HCS/SB 528 (2014), HCS/SCS/SB 672 (2014), and the truly agreed to and finally passed version of SB 808 (2014). PHARMACY The act adds to the description of the "practice of pharmacy" the administration of hepatitis A, hepatitis B, diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccines by written protocol authorized by a physician. Also, a pharmacist shall administer vaccines in accordance with the treatment guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and rules jointly promulgated by the Board of Pharmacy and the State Board of Registration for the Healing Arts. A pharmacist shall receive additional training for the administration of vaccines as required by the Board of Pharmacy. Within fourteen days of administering a vaccine a pharmacist shall provide specified information to the patient's primary health care provider (338.010). This provision is identical to provisions contained in HCS/SB 528 (2014), the truly agreed to and finally passed versions of SB 754 (2014), SB 808 (2014), and SB 716 (2014). The act provides that a federally employed pharmacist who does not hold him or herself out as a Missouri licensed pharmacist and who is engaged in the practice of pharmacy while in the performance of official duties shall not require a Missouri pharmacist license (338.020). This provision is identical to HB 1636 (2014), and provisions contained in HCS/HB 2131 (2014), HCS/SB 528 (2014), and the truly agreed to and finally passed version of SB 808 (2014). The act provides that pharmacists may label prescription drugs using either a sequential number or a unique identifier (338.059). This provision is identical to provisions contained in HCS/HB 2131 (2014), HB 2285 (2014), HCS/SB 528 (2014), the truly agreed to and finally passed versions of SB 754 (2014), SB 808 (2014), and SB 942 (2014). INSPECTION OF CLASS B HOSPITAL PHARMACIES The act states that the Board of Pharmacy may inspect Class B hospital pharmacies that are not under the inspection authority of the Department of Health and Senior Services. The Board and the Department of Health and Senior Services may jointly promulgate rules governing medication services by a pharmacist at or within a hospital. All pharmacists providing medication therapy services must obtain a certificate of medication therapeutic plan authority as provided by rule, and medication therapy services may be provided pursuant to a protocol with a physician or pursuant to a protocol approved by the medical staff committee. Medication may be dispensed by a class A hospital pharmacy located in a hospital to a hospital patient. A drug distributor license is not required to transfer medication from a Class B hospital pharmacy to a hospital clinic for patient care. Medication dispensed by a class A pharmacy located in a hospital to a hospital patient for use outside of the hospital shall be dispensed only by a prescription order for medication therapy from a physician. Medication dispensed by a hospital to a hospital patient for use outside of the hospital shall be labeled as provided by rule. There shall be an advisory committee, with members appointed by the Board, which will make recommendations to the Board and review all rules jointly promulgated by the Board and the Department (338.165). The act defines a "Class B Hospital Pharmacy," and provides that any hospital that holds a pharmacy license on the effective date of the act shall be eligible to obtain a Class B pharmacy license without the payment of a fee (338.165). These provisions are substantially similar to provisions contained in HCS/SB 528 (2014), SCS/SB 942 (2014), HB 2285 (2014), HCS/SB 2131 (2014), and the truly agreed to and finally passed versions of SB 808 (2014) and SB 754 (2014). JESSICA BAKER