Key Legislation and Policy Dates

• Effective April 1, 2007, pharmacists in Alberta were granted limited prescribing privileges.  Alberta was the first jurisdiction to authorize pharmacist prescribing.
• From March 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010, the Alberta Pharmacy Practice Model Initiative explored how community-based pharmacists can be remunerated for their clinical skills and expanded scope of practice in the provision of patient care services.  This project was administered by the Alberta Pharmacists’ Association with funding provided by Alberta Health and Wellness. http://www.rxa.ca/PharmacyGrants/PPMI.aspx
• Effective July 1, 2012, pharmacists will be remunerated for prescription renewals (announced by the Minister of Health on February 13, 2012).  The Minister also announced that a remote pharmacy access grant will be provided to rural pharmacies, and generic drug pricing reimbursement will change.  More details will be available in the coming months. http://alberta.ca/acn/201202/3193577D3F312-EBAE-3E34-4AA1D8513857D09F.html, http://www.rxa.ca/n_AboutRxA/NewsReleases.aspx?id=15974

Pharmacy Technician Regulation:

• Effective July 1, 2011, pharmacy technicians became a regulated profession in Alberta. https://pharmacists.ab.ca/nNewsEvents/news.aspx?id=7338
• New standards of practice for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians were published by the College of Pharmacists.  https://pharmacists.ab.ca/Content_Files/Files/Standards_PharmTechs_Aug29.pdf