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6/30/2026
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New law expands collaborative pharmacy practices to include nonphysician providers
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STATE HOUSE — The General Assembly passed and Gov. Dan McKee signed legislation introduced by Rep. Joseph J. Solomon Jr. (D-Dist. 22, Warwick) and Sen. Bridget Valverde (D-Dist. 35, North Kingstown, East Greenwich, South Kingstown) that expands collaborative pharmacy agreements (CPAs) to include nonphysician health care providers.
A collaborative pharmacy agreement is when licensed pharmacists with advanced training and experience agree to work in collaboration with physicians for the purpose of drug therapy management of patients. The law (2026-H 7424, 2026-S 2866) allows other health care providers to enter into such agreements.
“Collaborative practice agreements improve health care by allowing providers to delegate certain services to pharmacists,” said Representative Solomon. “This can include such things as medication management, ordering labs and educating patients. It has been a health care success story as well as a tremendous benefit for independent pharmacies. This bill expands that program by allowing these pharmacists to enter into similar agreements with nonphysician health care providers, such as nurse practitioners and physician associates.”
The Department of Health and the Rhode Island Pharmacists Association both testified in favor of the legislation. Todd Brothers, a clinical associate professor at the University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy, told the House Committee on Health and Human Services, “From a clinical standpoint, pharmacists are doctoral-trained medication experts. Collaborative practice allows health care teams to respond efficiently to conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, anticoagulation management, heart failure and infectious diseases, where timely medication adjustment directly impacts hospitalization and long-term outcomes.”
For more information, contact:
Daniel Trafford, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401)222-1922
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