Which piece of legislation requires a pharmacy technician to offer patients the opportunity to receive counseling from a pharmacist?

The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) of 1990 is the piece of legislation that mandates pharmacies to offer patient counseling. This act specifically places requirements on pharmacists to provide counseling services as part of the medication dispensing process, ensuring that patients receive essential information about their medications, including proper usage, potential side effects, and safe storage.

The requirement for pharmacists to offer counseling helps to promote patient safety and adherence to medication regimens. The act emphasizes the importance of patient drug utilization reviews, which include counseling as a fundamental component. By enacting this legislation, the intent was to enhance the quality of care and outcomes for patients receiving prescription medications while encouraging proactive engagement in their own health management.

In contrast, while other legislation may impact pharmacy practice in various ways, it is the OBRA that explicitly addresses the requirement for counseling, which is crucial for improving medication therapy management and patient understanding of their treatments.