The Department of Justice which operates the prescription drug monitoring program called CURES is hosting a webinar on Tuesday, August 28 to educate approved healthcare practitioners and pharmacists on how to utilize a new technology system to access information in the CURES database. Registration is available online.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
The Board of Pharmacy is seeking individuals to volunteer to serve on two short-term task forces to examine certain rules and draft amendments. The rules under review are:
Those interested should submit a cover letter indicating your interest in a particular rule and resume to Yukon Morford by Monday, August 20. The Board will review the applicants and select the task force members at its Thursday, September 20 meeting.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Gov. Charlie Baker (R) signed into law HB 4742 (formerly HB 4866), requiring that on or after Wednesday, January 1, 2020, prescriptions for Schedule II through VI controlled substances must be issued via an electronic prescription from the prescriber to a pharmacy. The law also creates a statewide standing order for the dispensing of naloxone and permits pharmacists to bill the insurer for the person requesting an opioid antagonist dispensed through the standing order. Additionally, pharmacists are not required to determine the identity of the ultimate user and the customer may pay cash for the prescription, if they prefer.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Mike Sargent at 207-272-6435.
The Board of Pharmacy announced that former Board Member Dorothy Gourley, D.Ph. will serve as interim executive director while the Board conducts a search for a new executive director.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
The Health and Human Services Commission’s Vendor Drug Program announced that on Monday, September 24, they will decrease the daily morphine equivalent dose (MED) limit for people enrolled in the traditional Medicaid fee-for-service program. The new limit will be set at 160 and applied to all opioid prescriptions with exceptions for those people diagnosed with cancer or those receiving palliative or hospice care.
Also in Texas…At its August 7 meeting, the Board of Pharmacy elected pharmacy technician Bradley Miller as vice president and pharmacist Donnie Lewis as treasurer.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
The South Carolina Immunization Coalition is asking for your support to help promote Immunization Awareness Week in South Carolina during Monday-Sunday, August 13-19, by utilizing the tools and resources in this kit. The kit includes a variety of resources to help promote immunizations to all ages, with special focus on adolescents and older adults. By joining this effort, you are committing to share the important message of the importance of vaccines for disease prevention and encourage South Carolinians to check with their health care provider, pharmacist or health department to make sure they are up-to-date on recommended vaccines.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Scott Pace, the Executive Vice President & CEO of the state pharmacists association, announced that he will be leaving the association at the end of September to become a partner at Impact Management Group, a lobbying, public opinion, public affairs and political consulting firm in Little Rock.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
On Wednesday, August 29, the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development is holding a hearing on proposed rules to require prescription drug manufacturers to notify and disclose information relating to the cost and pricing of prescription drugs.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
The Department of Health (LDH) reported that Mercer received 872 responses to the cost of dispensing survey. LDH will share the complete final report with pharmacy stakeholders soon.
Also in Louisiana…Medicaid Program Integrity (PI) identified approximately $23 million in claims-related overpayments for services over the past 20 years. There are some pharmacy claims that Medicaid will make an effort to collect by offsetting future submitted claims, so LDH sent 479 overpayment letters to pharmacies.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
