A provision in Alaska's HB195 removes a regulatory cost most pharmacy owners didn't know existed—and eliminates state oversight of collaborative practice agreements.
Most Alaska pharmacy owners don't realize that their state could charge them fees to operate under a collaborative practice agreement with a physician or physician associate. As of January 1, 2027, they won't have to worry about it anymore.
HB195, signed into law, contains a provision that prohibits any Alaska state department or licensing board from charging pharmacists fees to enter into or operate under collaborative practice agreements. The same provision strips licensing boards of the authority to require approval of these agreements or to regulate their scope.
Collaborative practice agreements (CPAs) are formal arrangements that allow pharmacists to expand their scope of practice—often to provide services like medication therapy management, immunizations, or chronic disease management—under a written agreement with a physician or physician associate. These agreements are common tools for pharmacies to grow their clinical services and improve patient access to care.
Until now, Alaska's regulatory framework left the door open for state boards to impose fees on pharmacists who wanted to establish or maintain these agreements. The new provision closes that door. Starting January 1, 2027, no state agency can charge you a fee to enter a CPA or to keep one active. Additionally, boards can no longer require their approval or dictate the scope of services covered by your agreement.
For pharmacy owners, this eliminates a potential recurring compliance cost. More importantly, it removes a regulatory barrier that could have complicated expansion of clinical services. If you've been considering whether to formalize a collaborative relationship with a physician to offer expanded services, this change removes one layer of state-level friction.
This provision applies to all pharmacists and pharmacy businesses in Alaska that use or plan to use collaborative practice agreements. It's most relevant if you operate an independent or small-chain pharmacy and want to add clinical services without navigating state approval processes or paying associated fees.
Larger pharmacy chains and those already operating under established CPAs should review their current agreements to understand what changes, if any, may apply after the effective date.
The provision is codified in new Alaska Statute 08.02.150(a), found on page 4 of HB195 (Section 4). It becomes effective January 1, 2027. That gives pharmacy owners and boards time to understand the implications before the law takes effect.
The elimination of board authority over CPA scope and approval is significant. It shifts regulatory control away from state licensing boards and toward the individual agreements between pharmacists and physicians—a meaningful change in how these arrangements are governed in Alaska.
If you operate a pharmacy in Alaska and use or are considering a collaborative practice agreement, now is the time to review your current arrangement and plan for any changes you might want to make once the new rules take effect.
For a detailed, business-specific summary of HB195's provisions affecting your practice, contact your state pharmacy association or licensing board for guidance tailored to your situation.