Sen. Burgin files bill in North Carolina Senate to expand pharmacists’ testing and treatment roles

A new bill filed by State Sen. Jim Burgin in the North Carolina Senate seeks to expand pharmacists’ roles in healthcare by authorizing testing and treatment under statewide protocols, according to the North Carolina State Senate.

The bill, filed as SB 335 on March 19 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Pharmacists/Test and Treat/Influenza & Strep.’

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill permits pharmacists to test and treat certain illnesses, specifically authorizing the use of CLIA-waived tests for influenza, following statewide protocols, effective Oct. 1, 2025. Pharmacists cannot treat conditions using controlled substances classified in Schedules I through IV. The bill mandates health insurers to cover services provided by pharmacists if these services fall within their legal scope of practice and would be covered if performed by other healthcare providers. It also requires insurers to include pharmacists in medical benefit networks and applies certain pharmaceutical coverage regulations to third-party administrators and pharmacy benefits managers. The State Health Director, in conjunction with relevant boards, is tasked with developing statewide protocols for clinical pharmacist practitioners. The majority of this act becomes effective upon becoming law.

Of the three sponsors of this bill, Amy S. Galey proposed the most bills (26) during the 2025 regular session.

Bills in North Carolina follow a multi-step process before becoming law. A lawmaker starts by filing a bill, which is assigned to a committee for review. The bill must be read three times in each chamber. If one chamber changes the bill after the other passes it, both must agree on the final version. Once both chambers approve the same bill, it goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or let it become law without a signature.

You can read more about the bills and other measures here.

Burgin graduated from The University of Tennessee Knoxville with a BS.

Burgin, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State Senate in 2019 to represent the state’s 12th Senate district, replacing previous state senator Ronald Rabin.