inthenews, Author at In The States

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So far inthenews has created 1084 blog entries.

Oregon

The Oregon Board of Pharmacy held its first Rules Advisory Committee meeting to consider revisions to proposed rules that would require all supervisors of Oregon pharmacists-in-charge (PICs) to be Oregon-licensed pharmacists and would give PICs carte blanch over the pharmacy operations without regard to company policy. Initial comments will be sent out by the Board staff, with an additional meeting to be scheduled in late July/early August.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

inthenews2018-07-13T12:34:37-04:00July 12, 2018|Oregon|

New York

At the request of NACDS and the New York State Pharmacy Coalition, the New York State Department of Health issued the New York State Opioid Annual Assessment Reporting Guidance for pharmacies about how to manage any obligations for opioids that are stored in intracompany distribution centers in the state under the newly created opioid assessment program that was established by the enactment of the Opioid Stewardship Act. The guidance was effective July 1 and reporting requirements are effective on Wednesday, August 1.

Also in New York…This week, Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) signed S9100, The Drug Take Back Act, into law. The newly enacted law requires certain drug manufacturers to fund a statewide drug take back program to be implemented by pharmacies operating in 10 or more locations. It takes effect in 180 days and 180 days from then the manufacturers are required to submit their drug take back plans to the New York State Department of Health (DOH) for approval. Also, DOH is authorized to begin to develop regulations and other work around implementation prior to the effective date.

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Mike Sargent at 207-272-6435.

inthenews2018-07-13T09:47:59-04:00July 12, 2018|New York|

Mississippi

Effective July 1, the Division of Medicaid (DOM) allowed certain physician-administered drugs to be billed and reimbursed as either a medical claim or a pharmacy point-of-sale (POS) claim. Currently, many physician-administered drugs may only be billed as a medical claim. In order to implement this change, DOM has created a new category of drugs and drug-system devices, which may be billed as either medical or pharmacy POS claims. This new category is known as Clinician Administered Drugs and Implantable Drug System Devices (CADD). The list of drugs included in the CADD category is available online. To create the current list, DOM identified the drugs where reimbursing only by medical claims has caused the greatest access issues and targeted those for the CADD category. Additional drugs may be added to the category in the future.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.

inthenews2018-07-13T09:51:35-04:00July 12, 2018|Mississippi|

Alaska

Gov. Bill Walker (I) has received SB 32, biosimilar legislation allowing pharmacists to substitute interchangeable biologic products. The governor has 20 days from July 10 to sign or veto the bill, or it will be enacted without his signature.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

inthenews2018-07-13T12:24:23-04:00July 12, 2018|Alaska|

Washington

The Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission (PQAC) held an emergency meeting to discuss the Medical Quality Assurance Commission’s (MQAC) request seeking a formal Attorney General’s Opinion regarding the use of the term “diagnosis” in a Collaborative Drug Therapy Agreement. Pharmacists, practitioners, or patients currently utilizing a Collaborative Drug Therapy Agreement may also wish to submit comment. Note that you must notify the Attorney General by Friday, July 13that you intend to provide comment. The Attorney General’s Office will then provide information on how and when the comments should be submitted. If you would like, the PQAC would appreciate a copy of the comments you submit to the Attorney General. These can be copied to the PQAC email address.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

inthenews2018-07-13T09:40:35-04:00July 12, 2018|Washington|

Pennsylvania

An Administration Budget Proposal that would have required data collection from pharmacies next year, in anticipation of a pharmacy tax the following year, was rejected by the House and Senate Republican Caucuses and did not make it into the final budget.

Also in Pennsylvania… two measures championed by pharmacy made advancements as the General Assembly broke for summer recess:

HB 1800 – Medication Synchronization – was passed out of the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee, received two floor considerations and then was re-referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee for a Fiscal Note. We anticipate final action on this bill when they reconvene in the fall.

HB 353 – Mandatory E-Prescribing for Controlled Substances – After extensive negotiations with the Pennsylvania Medical Society (PMS), the bill was voted out of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee last week with support from a number of allies. This bill also had two floor considerations and then was re-referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee for a Fiscal Note. We also anticipate this bill moving forward in the Fall.

Also in Pennsylvania… In the June 12, 2018, Provider Bulletin, PACE announced new edit criteria for benzodiazepines, sedative hypnotics, muscle relaxants and opioids effective Monday, July 23.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.

inthenews2018-06-29T08:46:07-04:00June 28, 2018|Pennsylvania|

Florida

Effective Thursday, July 5, the final rule of the Department of Health, Board of Pharmacy, amends regulations under FAC 64B16-28 regarding requirements for use of automated pharmacy systems (APS) in community pharmacies. The rule specifies that pharmacies may use an APS if system operation is under the supervision of a pharmacist or is located within the prescription department, adjacent to the prescription department or on the establishment of the licensed pharmacy. The rule also specifies that the system must include a mechanism to ensure that the patient or an authorized agent of the patient can communicate with a pharmacist responsible for dispensing the medical drug product. In addition, the rule revises additional requirements for patient accessed automated pharmacy systems.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.

inthenews2018-06-29T09:17:46-04:00June 28, 2018|Florida|

Tennessee

Effective Sunday, July 1, all gabapentin products will be Schedule V controlled substances in the state of Tennessee as a result of the enactment of HB 1832 (Public Chapter Number 1040). Gabapentin is also known under the brand names Neurontin, Horizant, Gralise, Gabarone and Fanatrex.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.

inthenews2018-06-29T08:42:34-04:00June 28, 2018|Tennessee|

Oregon

Effective June 19, the Board of Pharmacy had published a final rule amending regulations under OAR 855-019 to allow any person, having once lawfully obtained naloxone, to possess, distribute or administer it for the purpose of reversing an opiate overdose. The rule also requires oral counseling on the use of naloxone be offered by pharmacists rather than require that such counseling be provided.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

inthenews2018-06-29T09:04:55-04:00June 28, 2018|Oregon|