The New Jersey Board of Pharmacy and the New Jersey Board of Medical Examiners recently adopted new regulations and amended existing ones that effect the way providers practice. The changes concern pediatric immunizations performed by pharmacists and the administration of subcutaneous and intramuscular injections and venipunctures by certified medical assistants. We briefly summarize these recent changes below.
Pharmacy Board – The New Jersey Board of Pharmacy adopted a new rule on May 21, 2018 which implements a 2013 law allowing certain pediatric immunizations by pharmacists. Specifically, the new rule permits licensed pharmacists authorized to administer vaccines to administer influenza vaccines to patients under 18 years of age under the following conditions. For a patient who is under 18 years of age, a pharmacist must obtain the written consent of the patient’s parent or legal guardian. Patients under 12 years of age but who are at least seven years of age may only recieve an influence vaccine from an authorized pharmacist pursuant to a prescription from a licensed physician. The new rule makes clear that pharmacists are not permitted to administer the vaccine to patients under the age of seven.
Board of Medical Examiners – By an amendment to a rule concerning the delegation to certified medical assistants (CMAs) the administration of subcutaneous and intramuscular injections and performance of venipuncture, the New Jersey Board of Medical Examiners reduced the training hours for CMAs from 600 to 330. The Board also amended the definition of “certified medical assistant” to recognize new entities that may certify medical assistants. A new section to the rule was added recognizing that CMAs can perform venipunctures. Prior to delegating venipunctures to CMAs, however, the amended rule requires a physician to determine and document that the assistant has completed the required education and training in venipuncture and skin puncture for the purpose of withdrawing blood. Such training includes, at a minimum, ten hours of training in venipuncture and skin puncture for the purpose of withdrawing blood and satisfactory performance of at least 10 venipunctures. Similarly for injections, the physician must determine and document that the CMA has completed the required training, which includes, at a minimum, 10 hours of training on administering injections, and the performance of at least 10 intramuscular injections, 10 subcutaneous injections, and 10 intradermal injections. An amendment to the rule requires CMAs to wear an identification badge indicating their name and credentials.
Providers should be aware that these amendments will not impact the requirements for CMAs who access the Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) as delegates for practitioners. Pursuant to the PMP regulations only CMAs who have completed 600 hours of training may serve as delegates to access the PMP.
If you have any questions regarding the new rules or rule amendments or have other health law related questions please contact our office.