Last week, Assembly Member Jim Wood (D), chair of the Assembly Health Budget Committee, gutted and amended AB 1710 to allow pharmacists to initiate and administer FDA-approved vaccines. NACDS is seeking an amendment to allow FDA-authorized vaccines too.
Also in California. Prior to the July 1, 2020 deadline required in the state constitution, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the 2020 Budget Act – a $202.1 billion spending plan that closed a $54.3 billion budget shortfall caused by the COVID-19 recession.
Also in California. Gov. Gavin Newsom extended for 60 more days, until September 9th, his Executive Order issued on May 12, 2020, waiving the restrictions on pharmacists ordering and collecting specimens for COVID-19 tests.
Also in California. Because several legislators have tested positive for COVID, neither the Assembly nor Senate are returning to work at the Capitol next week. The legislature shutdown for two months earlier this year because of the pandemic.
Also in California. NACDS and the California Board of Pharmacy submitted the attached joint letter to the Senate Business, Professions, and Economic Development Committee opposing AB 2983 which imposes inefficient requirements that will impede that automated refill process causing delays in patient access.
Also in California. NACDS virtually presented to the Board of Pharmacy’s Licensing Committee and Legislative and Regulation Committee on pharmacists immunizations and COVID testing and the authority to perform CLIA-waived tests for COVID19. Presentations can be found here.
Also in California. NACDS sent a joint letter with the California Retailers Association and the California Pharmacists Association to Gov. Gavin Newsom urging him to issue an Executive Order removing the remaining barriers to expanding access to COVID testing by pharmacists.
Also in California. In response to the Governor’s emergency declaration and consistent with the authority of the Board to waive Pharmacy Law or the regulations adopted pursuant to it, last week the Board president extended the following previously approved limited waivers:
- Use of PPE in Certain Compounding Aseptic Isolators or Compounding Aseptic Containment Isolators– Effective through August 30, 2020
- Duty to Consult – Effective through September 29, 2020
- Restoration of Retired or Cancelled License – Effective through October 1, 2020
- Certification of Basic Life Support – Effective through August 5, 2020
- Prelicensure Inspection of Proposed ADDS Location – Effective through October 9, 2020
- Reassessment/Revalidation/Re-evaluation Requirements for Sterile Compounding Staff Competencies – Effective through August 12, 2020
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.