NACDS participated in a meeting of the Board of Pharmacy’s Technician Task Force which is exploring expanding the current pharmacy technician-to-pharmacist ratio from 3:1 up to 6:1, if four of the technicians are certified.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
NACDS presented before the Board of Pharmacy requesting elimination of the current 3:1 pharmacy technician-to-pharmacist ratio and expansion of pharmacy technicians’ duties. The Board agreed to eliminate interns from the current 3:1 ratio. Further consideration of pharmacy technician issues will take place at a future Board meeting.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
NACDS attended the last of three workshops, hosted by the State Department of Health, addressing the proposed rules to implement recently enacted drug disposal legislation. NACDS requested clarifying language that would provide a process for pharmacies who are denied participation in the drug disposal program to seek an appeal.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
In advance of the September 26 Board of Pharmacy meeting, NACDS submitted comments on proposed changes to Regulation 7 regarding prescription transfers. Our letteradvocated for enhanced technician roles to improve access to patient care services by allowing pharmacy technicians to be involved in the prescription transfer process.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
In advance of the September 14 Medical Services Board public hearing, NACDS submitted a comment letter supporting the proposed rule adding pharmacists as providers.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
The Board of Pharmacy has received a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to expand K-TRACS, the state’s prescription drug monitoring program. The Board of Pharmacy will use the money to develop a public awareness campaign for K-TRACS, to conduct an audit of K-TRACS records and to hire a special investigator who will use K-TRACS data to identify suspicious and harmful prescribing patterns.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Beginning September 14, the Medicaid Fee-for-Service Pharmacy Program began to reimburse enrolled pharmacies for influenza vaccines and administration of the vaccines for Medicaid recipients who are nineteen years of age and older when the administering pharmacist is an enrolled Medicaid provider.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Earlier this month, the Health Care Authority approved an across-the-board Sooner-Care (Medicaid) provider reimbursement rate increase effective Monday, October 1. The three percent increase, or 32-cent increase in the dispensing fee to $10.87 for pharmacies, is effective Monday, October 1.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Gov. Jerry Brown (D) signed into law AB 2789. Effective January 1, 2022, this newly enacted law will require healthcare practitioners authorized to issue prescriptions to have the capability to e-prescribe and would require pharmacies to have the capability to receive these electronic prescriptions. The bill also requires those healthcare practitioners to transmit prescriptions electronically, unless specified exemptions are met. The bill does not require the pharmacy to verify that a written, oral, or faxed prescription satisfies the specified exemptions. Please also see the article in the main body of CEO Issue Update.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.