HB 231, legislation expanding pharmacist’s administration of vaccines to those seven years of age and older for all CDC-recommended vaccines, passed the House 64-29. The bill has been referred to the Senate Public Health, Welfare and Safety and scheduled for a hearing on Monday, March 11.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
A recent newsletter from the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs contains information about implementing legislation enacted last year pertaining to seven-day opioid supply limit, plus information about requesting authorization to install a drop box for taking back drugs.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.
The Minnesota Pharmacists Association announced the appointment of Sarah Derr, PharmD, as its next Executive Director. She has been serving as Director, Medication Management, for the Iowa Healthcare Collaborative. NACDS congratulates Sarah Derr on her appointment and thanks Marsha Millonig for her service and collaboration with NACDS as Interim Executive Director.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.
HB 19-1077, legislation that allows pharmacists to dispense an emergency supply of a chronic maintenance medication beyond 72-hours for drugs, such as insulin and an asthma inhaler, passed both chambers and will be sent to Gov. Jared Polis (D) for his signature.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Pharmacists are urged to immediately call their State Representative to ask them to vote for HB 1278, sponsored by Rep. Jimmy Gazaway (R) and Rep. Robin Lundstrum (R). The legislation enhances access to immunizations for school-aged children by authorizing pharmacists to administer vaccinations like Tdap, human papillomavirus or meningococcal as well as catch-up vaccines like the MMR vaccine to patients at least seven years of age as authorized by a physician under a physician’s written protocol and without an individual prescription. Best number to call between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday is the Arkansas House switchboard at 501-682-6211.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
The Health and Human Services Department published the quarterly Medicaid preferred specialty drug list.
Also in Texas…HB 577 / SB 420, legislation that pharmacies support that would eliminate the requirement to check the prescription monitoring program when refilling certain controlled substances prescriptions, was introduced at the request of NACDS by Rep. Senfronia Thompson (D) and Sen. Dawn Buckingham. SB 420 was referred to the Senate Health & Human Services Committee which makes it now eligible for an early hearing.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Two pharmacists were recently appointed to the Board of Pharmacy. Jade Jacobo, PharmD, JD, RPh, is a pharmacy manager with Walmart, and Gener Tejero is a Las Vegas infusion pharmacist.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
HB 231, legislation expanding vaccinations provided by pharmacists down to seven years of age, has passed out of the House Human Services Committee.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
The Department of Health, Bureau of Health Services Financing will be holding a public hearing on Thursday, February 28 on proposed rules amending the Pharmacy Benefits Management Program changing the pharmacy ingredient cost reimbursement methodology from average acquisition cost (AAC) to the national average drug acquisition cost (NADAC).
Also in Louisiana…The Board of Pharmacy finalized regulations that took effect on January 20 modifying the prescription monitoring program regulations to include naloxone as a drug of concern, thus requiring reporting and tracking for public health purposes.
Also in Louisiana…The Board of Pharmacy announced the integration of the prescription monitoring program data into electronic health records (EHRs) and pharmacy management systems across the state. The goal is to minimize any workflow disruption by providing near-instant and seamless access to critical controlled substance prescription history information of patients to both prescribers and pharmacists directly within their EHRs and pharmacy management systems.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.