Arizona Bill Seeks to Expand Pharmacist Prescribing Powers

Proposed legislation would allow pharmacists to test for and treat common illnesses like flu, COVID, and strep throat.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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A bill in the Arizona state legislature, known as the 'Test and Treat Bill,' would allow pharmacists to test for and provide treatment for common illnesses like the flu, COVID, and strep throat. Currently, pharmacists in Arizona can only test for these conditions, not provide treatment. Supporters say this would improve access to care, especially in rural areas, but some doctors have raised concerns about pharmacists acting as diagnosticians without the proper medical training.

Why it matters

Access to healthcare, especially in rural Arizona, can be challenging with long wait times to see doctors or get into urgent care. Supporters of the bill believe allowing pharmacists to test and treat common illnesses could help fill this gap and get patients the care they need more quickly. However, some medical groups have expressed concerns about the safety of expanding pharmacist prescribing powers without the same level of clinical training as physicians.

The details

House Bill 2444, known as the 'Test and Treat Bill,' would allow pharmacists in Arizona to test for and provide treatment for common illnesses like the flu, COVID, and strep throat. Currently, pharmacists can only test for these conditions, not provide treatment. Supporters say this would improve access to care, especially in rural areas where there are fewer doctors and longer wait times. However, some doctors have raised concerns that this could lead to misdiagnosis and improper treatment if pharmacists are acting as diagnosticians without the same level of medical training.

  • The proposed legislation is set to be heard at the State Capitol this week.
  • Similar legislation has failed in previous Arizona legislative sessions.

The players

House Bill 2444

Also known as the 'Test and Treat Bill,' this proposed legislation would allow pharmacists in Arizona to test for and provide treatment for common illnesses like the flu, COVID, and strep throat.

Amanda Wood

A mom and school nurse in Yavapai County, Arizona who supports the bill due to long wait times to see doctors and access healthcare in rural areas.

Jason Dykstra

A pharmacist in the Prescott-Chino Valley area of Arizona who says the bill would help address gaps in care in underserved areas.

Garret Turner

The CEO of the Arizona Pharmacy Association, which has pushed for this policy change in the past.

Dr. Andrew Carroll

A family physician in Chandler, Arizona who has raised concerns that the bill could lead to misdiagnosis and improper treatment by pharmacists acting as diagnosticians.

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What they’re saying

“If they're positive, all we can really do is kind of throw our hands up and say, 'wish we could do more.'”

— Jason Dykstra, Pharmacist (abc15.com)

“In the rural setting, just giving another access to care, and expedient. We can get a test done in 5-10 minutes... get the prescription filled and to them, let's say all of this would be fairly reasonable, within a half hour.”

— Jason Dykstra, Pharmacist (abc15.com)

“Most people live within five to ten miles of a pharmacy, whereas those individuals who are in the rural communities are much further away from either a primary care physician or from a hospital or urgent care center.”

— Garret Turner, CEO, Arizona Pharmacy Association (abc15.com)

“It asked pharmacists to be diagnosticians. They asked pharmacists to look at a patient and evaluate them and make a diagnosis based on the results of a single, somewhat flawed test.”

— Dr. Andrew Carroll, Family Physician (abc15.com)

“We see kids with multiple conditions who come in with a strep throat, and it may be not the right medication, amoxicillin or penicillin, might not be the right medication for that patient. But these protocols ask pharmacists to give them that medication. There's no room to for them to make judgment calls outside of just the whatever the test tells them to do.”

— Dr. Andrew Carroll, Family Physician (abc15.com)

What’s next

The proposed legislation is set to be heard at the State Capitol this week, and lawmakers are working with medical groups to address safety concerns as the bill is considered.

The takeaway

This bill highlights the ongoing debate around expanding the scope of practice for pharmacists to help improve access to healthcare, especially in underserved areas. While supporters see it as a way to provide more convenient and timely care, some doctors remain concerned about the potential risks of pharmacists acting as diagnosticians without the same level of medical training.