Virginia
The Board of Pharmacy has released the agenda for the June 13 meeting.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Washington
The Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission’s (PQAC) accessible labeling rules workshop is scheduled for June 15 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. PDT. PQAC prepared draft rules for review and feedback prior to the meeting. Written comments should be submitted to PharmacyRules@doh.wa.gov no later than close of business on June 12. Verbal comments will be accepted at the rules workshop.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Arkansas
HB 1007, legislation establishing a statewide protocol that would allow pharmacists to diagnose and assess conditions for HIV and to dispense PrEP and PEP, passed the House by a vote of 95 to 0, and was heard in the Senate Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee this week.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Kansas
HB 2263, the pharmacy technician vaccine administration bill, continues to advance. It was heard in the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee on March 15th.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Kentucky
SB 37 was amended in the Senate reforms the Board of Pharmacy Advisory Council to add seats for mail order, specialty, hospital, veterinary, and independent pharmacists. Subsequently, the bill was reported by the House Health Services Committee and is expected to pass the House as currently drafted. The bill began as a piece of legislation that would have re-vamped the Board of Pharmacy composition with dedicated seats for different practice settings, including PBMs and mail order. However, an agreement was reached with the sponsor to instead change the composition of the Advisory Council. The General Assembly is set to adjourn at the end of this week.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Louisiana
Prefiling bills has begun in advance of the fiscal session that convenes on April 10th.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Michigan
The Board of Pharmacy published an agenda for an April 7 regulation workgroup meeting where they will be taking oral testimony on the Pharmacy Technician Rules. They will accept written comments at BPL-BoardSupport@michigan.gov until the close of business on April 6. For a copy of the draft rule and more information, click here.
Also in Michigan, the Department of Health and Human Services has issued a proposed policy for public comment; comments should be sent to frankmane@michigan.gov by April 18.
- 2305-F2F-P – COVID-19 Response: Reversal of Temporary COVID-19 Relaxation of Face-to-Face Requirement Policies and Update of Face-to-Face and In Person Definitions. The proposed effective date is May 12.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Missouri
Prior to the legislature taking a week off for Spring Break, HB 41 passed the Senate and was referred to the House for further action. The bill allows a pharmacist to order and administer vaccines approved or authorized by the FDA, or by the state or federal government during a state or federally declared public health emergency. The bill also permits certain qualified pharmacists to provide influenza, group A streptococcus, and COVID-19 medication therapy services pursuant to a statewide standing order issued by the Director of the Department of Health and Senior Services or a physician licensed by the Department.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
New York
On March 21, 2023, NACDS will be joining the Pharmacists Society of the State of New York (PSSNY (Pharmacists Society of the State of New York)) in a rally in support of the Medicaid transition to fee-for-service. Beginning April 1, 2023, all Medicaid members enrolled in Mainstream Managed Care will receive their prescription drugs through NYRx, the Medicaid Pharmacy Program. The rally is to advocate to the legislature so no action would alter the planned transition.
On March 21 at 1:00 p.m., the New York State Department of Health will be holding its next online seminar for all stakeholders about the pharmacy benefit transition. Members, providers
and all interested stakeholders are welcome to attend regarding the transition.
The New York Deparment of Financial Services’ Pharmacy Benefits Bureau is requesting comments directly from pharmacies about the usefulness of PBM audits. Specifically, the requested comments are about whether and how the Department should exercise its authority about audits of pharmacies conducted by PBMs. New York Insurance Law §§ 2905-2906 empowers the Department to establish, by regulation, minimum standards for the issuance of a license to a PBM, including both prerequisites for the issuance of a license and requirements for maintenance of a license. Among the questions for pharmacies are: “In what way, if any, does an auditing PBM communicate its audit policies and procedures to your pharmacy?”, “What types of audits have you experienced in the past five (5) calendar years?”, “How many times per year for the past five (5) calendar years have PBM audits occurred for your pharmacy?”, “During the most recent audit conducted by a PBM for your pharmacy, was the purpose or subject of the audit identified prior to the audit occurring?”, “Was the same identified purpose or subject included as part of the PBM’s draft and/or final audit report?”, etc. Comments should be sent directly to the Department at PBM@dfs.ny.gov by March 24, 2023, with “PBM2022-07” included in the subject line.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.