Yesterday Governor Kathy Hochul (D) released her executive budget for SFY 2022-23 which contains several provisions impacting pharmacies. Several provisions deal with the scope of pharmacy practices including: 

  • NYSDOH (New York State Department of Health) Oversight of Certain Professions: Transfers the oversight of Health/Mental Hygiene professions including pharmacists from NYSED to NYSDOH. 
  • Pharmacist CLIA-Testing: Allows licensed pharmacists to perform non-invasive CLIA-waived tests like other qualified healthcare professionals and authorizes licensed pharmacists to serve as direct limited-service laboratory, directors ordering and administering such tests 
  • CDTM: Makes current CDTM law which expired this year permanent 
  • Medication Administration: Changes scope of practice laws to allow certified medication aides to administer routine medications under certain conditions, allows physicians and NPs to issue non patient specific standing orders to COVID-19, flu, and upper respiratory illness testing, and allows any individual to collect specimens from patients for COVID-19 or flu testing per training and under supervision of a registered nurse, NP, or physician 

Opioids/Addiction 

  • Naloxone/MAT: Requires pharmacies to maintain a stock of a 30-day supply of at least one version of opioid antagonists/naloxone and MAT/Buprenorphine, as permitted within DEA rules and wholesaler thresholds. Last week with the help of members, we educated OASAS about these restrictions and are glad to see they included language recognizing the limitations on pharmacies ability to stock these medications. See language in proposal attached, comments welcomed. 
  • Expanding Alcohol Awareness: Expands alcohol awareness programs to include other forms of addiction and recreational cannabis 

Also in New York, The New York Board of Pharmacy has just released its updated NYS Drug Price List dated December 2021, including the required sign that must be posted offering the list to the public upon request. 

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.