Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) signed into law SB 221, legislation that will permit pharmacists and other healthcare providers who prescribe an opioid analgesic for a patient to co-prescribe an opioid antagonist if the amount of opioid analgesic being prescribed is at least a five-day supply effective Tuesday, June 4.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
SB 322, legislation creating a $5 million endorsement fee and endorsement license on wholesalers distributing opioids into the state, has failed to gain a majority vote in committee and failed an attempt to pull the bill directly to the floor. The bill is now considered dead for the 2019 Legislative Session.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Effective April 1, the Division of Medicaid (DOM) updated its Voluntary 90-Day Drug Maintenance List for prescribing/pharmacy providers. This list is a resource to help clinicians manage a Medicaid beneficiary’s monthly prescription drug limit, unless clinically contraindicated.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
A bill requiring the e-prescribing of controlled substances has passed both chambers and will soon be on Gov. Eric Holcomb’s (R) desk for signature. SB 176, sponsored by pharmacist Sen. Ron Grooms (R), was amended in the House Health Committee to include e-prescribing language similar to the NACDS model language, and both chambers subsequently passed the bill unanimously. NACDS supported the on-the-ground efforts of the Indiana Retail Council to advance this critical bill.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Last week, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) Medi-Cal hosted a webinar to provide pharmacy stakeholders with more information on the rollout of the retroactive claim adjustments for the dates of service — April 1, 2017 through February 23, 2019, which was the date DHCS began implementing the new fee-for-service (FFS) reimbursement methodology.
Also in California… Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) appointed practicing pediatrician and director of health and social impact for Los Angeles County, Mark Ghaly, as Secretary of Health and Human Services Agency (CHHS) to help lead the administration’s efforts to advance the Governor’s healthcare agenda, including proposals to lower prescription drug costs, provide coverage to young undocumented adults through Medi-Cal and help put California on a path toward single-payer health care.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) signed into law two bills NACDS supported. HB 1278 (Act 652 of 2019) will allow pharmacists to vaccinate anyone 7 years of age and older without a prescription, and HB 1269 (Act 637 of 2019) will allow the substitution of interchangeable biosimilars. Note that under Arkansas law, these new laws will become effective 90 days upon adjournment of the legislature. The Legislature will recess on Thursday, April 12, and return three weeks later to address outstanding issues so they can officially adjourn in early May, thus making the effective date of these new laws in early August.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R) has signed into law HB 2075, which delays the implementation of e-prescribing from January 1, 2019 to January 1, 2020. In addition, the bill removes previous law that phased in e-prescribing by county population. The new law enacts e-prescribing for all controlled substances beginning Wednesday, January 1, 2020.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Gov. Jim Justice (R) has signed SB 369, legislation that amends the state’s generic substitution law to update pricing to reflect current substitution practices, removing the need for a “pass through” for covered individuals. The law will be effective Thursday, June 6. NACDS thanks in-state partners and other industry advocates for leading the advocacy efforts on-the-ground.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Gov. Doug Burgum (R) signed into law HB 1498 effective Monday, August 1. This bill revises the current law that allows pharmacists to administer drugs by eliminating language specifying the prescribing practitioner type who can authorize pharmacist administration pursuant to an order; more broadly allowing for the provision of drugs to patients pursuant to a written order; and modifying the education requirements for pharmacists who provide these services, eliminating the requirement for 20 hours minimum education, six hours  of continuing education and education on how to educate patients on the need for immunizations.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.