Joe Schnabel, PharmD, RPh, BCPS, a former Board of Pharmacy member, has been named as the new executive director of the Board of Pharmacy. Dr. Schnabel comes from Salem Hospital where he has worked for over 30 years, most recently serving as the director of pharmacy.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Effective January 1, 2019, pharmacists are able to prescribe certain contraceptives to patients and be reimbursed under Medicaid and the state’s Children’s Health Insurance Program. The Board of Pharmacy has published online guidance on complying with the law and the required patient screening forms
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Former State Sen. Vicki Schmidt (R), a pharmacist, will be sworn in Monday, January 14, as the state’s Commissioner of Insurance. The Commissioner-Elect is strong in her belief that more pharmacists should run for public office.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
The Board of Pharmacy published a final rule amending Regulation 7 to revise requirements for transferring prescriptions between pharmacies and dispensing Schedule II controlled substances prescriptions. The rule allows individuals other than pharmacists to transfer prescriptions, allows electronic prescription transfers and requires transfer of controlled substances to follow federal standards. The rule also clarifies that licensees may not dispense a quantity of a Schedule II controlled substance that exceeds the prescriber’s authority to prescribe. In addition, the rule clarifies language regarding partial filling of Schedule II controlled substance prescriptions. The rule took effect on January 1, 2019.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
NACDS submitted comments to the Board of Pharmacy on proposed rules that would implement a 2012 law allowing central prescription filling. NACDS commended the Board for pursuing this rulemaking initiative and asked the Board to clarify certain administrative requirements to ensure that the rule is workable for pharmacies.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
The Nebraska Pharmacists Association (NPA) is seeking member pharmacists to serve on its 2019 Legislative Committee, Education Committee and Third-Party Advisory Committee. To volunteer, please contact NPA Chief Executive Officer Joni Cover by Friday, December 14.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.
NACDS and the Chain Pharmacy Association of New York State met with the New York State (NYS) Bureau of Immunizations to discuss pharmacy participation in the federally-funded Vaccines for Children program. Also, the state is developing a Memorandum of Understand (MOU) for chain pharmacies so that the state has a method of communicating with pharmacies in the case of a pandemic. Once that MOU is complete, NACDS will distribute it to members operating in the state.
Also in New York…NACDS and the Chain Pharmacy Association of New York State met with the NYS Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement (BNE) to discuss the opioid tax assessment program and the drug disposal program. The opioid tax assessment program enacted earlier this year will result in additional revenue to the state totaling $100 million annually. The invoices to the impacted drug manufacturers and wholesale distributors have been sent. In addition, the newly enacted statewide drug disposal legislation has a series of 2019 target dates. We have asked BNE to hold a stakeholder meeting to ensure that all interested parties continue to participate in the development of the program.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.
NACDS submitted comments to the Board of Pharmacy on a proposed rule modifying the requirements for reporting to the state’s prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP). Specifically, NACDS asked the Board to clarify that pharmacies are required to submit a patient’s phone number as the patient identifier where it is available. Additionally, NACDS asked the Board to change a requirement that pharmacies notify the Board of PDMP submission errors to requiring such a notification only where the submission error cannot be corrected within seven days.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
The Michigan Pharmacists Association announced the results of its Executive Board elections. Meijer Pharmacy Compliance Director Mollien was voted president-elect. Charlie also serves on the state’s Board of Pharmacy.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.