On New Year’s Eve NYS Governor Kathy Hochul (D) signed into law two pieces of legislation supported by NACDS. The first S3556 strengthens state anti-mandatory mail order (ammo) law. Legislators, concerned that the AMMO law was not operating as intended, passed S3566 to ensure that patients can get their prescriptions at their local pharmacy rather than be directed to mail order by their PBM. In addition, Governor Hochul signed into law S.3762 which provides for licensure and registration of pharmacy benefit managers. The bill also sets forth duties and obligations that PBMs must follow when performing services and allows the department of financial services to enforce the law and receive complaints from consumers, pharmacies, and healthcare providers. Unfortunately, Governor Hochul did veto S6603 which would have provided Medicaid pharmacy payment parity citing the fiscal note as her reasoning.
Also in New York: The State Education Department published its Notice of Adoption of their regulation related to Licensure Examination, Licensure by Endorsement, and Continuing Education Requirements in the Profession of Pharmacy The regulation is effective January 1, 2022 and eliminates the Part III exam requirement. Also commencing with registration periods beginning on or after January 1, 2023, a new requirement for a licensee to complete as part of the 45 hours of formal continuing education at least three hours of formal continuing education acceptable to the department in compounding, among other changes.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.