WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HB 7934

AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- PHARMACIES

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jennifer Boylan and 9 co-sponsors

Allows pharmacists to administer routine immunizations to ages 3–18 with parental consent, while requiring 7-day electronic reporting and 14-day PCP notification.

03/03/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 7934

Bill summary: HB 7934 (Rhode Island, 2026)

Main purpose and intent

  • Expand the scope of immunizations that can be administered by pharmacists to include routine, scheduled, or recommended immunizations for individuals aged 3 through 18.
  • Align consent, reporting, and notification requirements with existing pharmacist-immunization provisions for minors within the 3–18 age range.
  • Ensure primary care provider (PCP) notification when a patient in this age group receives an immunization, while preserving pharmacist reporting duties.

Key provisions and changes

  • Expanded age range for pharmacist-administered immunizations

    • The bill explicitly includes routine, scheduled, or recommended immunizations for individuals ages 3 through 18 under the same framework as influenza and COVID-19 immunizations administered by pharmacists.

  • Parental consent

    • Parental consent is required for all pharmacist-administered immunizations for individuals under 18.

  • Electronic reporting to the Department of Health

    • Pharmacists authorized to administer influenza and COVID-19 immunizations to ages 3–18 must electronically report all immunizations within 7 days of administration.
    • Reports must be in the format required by the Department of Health and for the populations required by the department.

  • Notification to primary care providers (PCPs)

    • The Department of Health shall require pharmacists to notify the patient’s PCP (if known) within 14 days of immunization.
    • Rules will require pharmacists to make a good-faith effort to determine the patient’s PCP or primary care practice information for reporting purposes.
    • If the patient does not have a PCP, pharmacists must proceed with the reporting requirements in subsection (b) (the mandatory electronic reporting within 7 days).

Who is affected

  • Pharmacists authorized to administer immunizations (including influenza and COVID-19) to individuals aged 3–18.
  • Minors (ages 3–17) receiving immunizations from pharmacists, with parental consent.
  • Department of Health (policies, reporting formats, and notification requirements).
  • Primary care providers (as recipients of immunization notifications, when known).

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Effective date: Upon passage of the act.
  • Reporting timeline: Immunizations must be reported to the Department of Health within 7 days of administration.
  • PCP notification timeline: PCP notification to occur within 14 days of immunization.
  • Good-faith effort requirement: Pharmacists must attempt to identify the patient’s PCP or primary care practice to fulfill notification obligations.

Additional notes

  • The bill amends Rhode Island General Laws, Section 5-19.1-31, to codify the broader immunization administration and reporting rules for the 3–18 age group.
  • The bill was introduced February 27, 2026, and referred to the House Health & Human Services Committee, with sponsors from multiple representatives. The committee recommended the measure be held for further study as of March 3, 2026.

Potential impact considerations

  • Access: Could increase convenient access to a wider range of immunizations for minors through pharmacies.
  • Coordination of care: Establishes formal reporting and PCP notification to improve continuity of care and immunization records.
  • Privacy and data sharing: Enhances electronic reporting requirements; may necessitate robust data-handling practices in pharmacies.
  • Compliance: Pharmacies will need to adapt workflow to meet 7-day reporting and 14-day PCP notification timelines, along with consent procedures for minors.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.