2026 Legislative updates
The last few years have continued to present unprecedented challenges for the profession of pharmacy. The Arizona Pharmacy Association has led the fight on scope expansion, while the Independent Pharmacy Coalition has taken the lead on the fight on reimbursement and pay parity. Through our collaborative efforts we've made some strategic advancements and are working to find solutions to any blockages we experience this year, to prevent similar scenarios in 2027. This page also features bills that have been championed by the Arizona Board of Pharmacy with the intent of strengthening procedures after the Auditor General's report.
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HB2444 - Test & Treat
This bill would authorize (but not require) pharmacists, to independently order, perform, and interpret certain CLIA-waived tests and to initiate treatment for specified conditions based on those test results. The bill outlines required elements of the statewide protocol, including documentation, patient screening, exclusion criteria, referrals, and training requirements.
SB1309 - Standard of Care
This bill intends to modernize Arizona law by reducing legislative burden with pharmacists operating under the standard of care model that all other health professions do at this time. The bill reinforces that pharmacists are expected to use their education, training and clinical judgment to ensure safe appropriate medication use.
HB4036 - Compounding Bulk INgridient Ordering
This bill would create state-level statutory requirements related to the compounding of certain medications, particularly those that involve GLP‑1 or similar drug substances. The intention of the bill to make patients more educated and safe is laudable, but the language is not one that AzPA can support at this time.
Important Arizona statistics
Understanding there are various view points related to whether Test & Treat or a Standard of Care Framework are best - we can all agree the numbers do not lie and tell a story of significant need for pharmacists to play a larger role on the healthcare team, especially in Arizona.
34.5%
The percentage of physician needs being met for the residents in Arizona.
25%
The percentange of Arizona's healthcare workforce over the age of 65 - posing significant risk as individuals retire.
-1,900
The projected shortage of physicians in Arizona by 2030. This deficit will leave many Arizonans without care.
17.7%
The estimated percentage of Americans (57.1 million in total) living in a pharmacy desert.
HB2196 - Fair Pharmacy Reimbursements
Bill 2196 addresses pharmacy reimbursement practices by prohibiting pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) from reimbursing non‑affiliated pharmacies below their actual acquisition cost and requiring payment of a professional dispensing fee at or above AHCCCS fee‑for‑service rates. The bill also establishes clear reimbursement appeal requirements.
HB2697 - Expired Opioid Antagonists
This bill will allow pharmacists, health departments, and overdose prevention programs to dispense and administer certain expired opioid antagonists, defined as expired less than five years. The bill preserves existing good‑faith immunity provisions to reduce liability and expand access to naloxone and similar overdose reversal medications statewide during opioid overdose emergencies responses.
HB2434 - Strengthening CSPMP
This bill updates Arizona’s CSPMP by shifting oversight to a compliance-focused workgroup, clarifying non‑interference with legitimate pain treatment, mandating prescriber and dispenser database checks, tightening one‑day reporting requirements, and requiring zero reports when no controlled substances are dispensed.