After cancelling their March 25th and May 20th meetings, the Board of Pharmacy decided to hold an in-person Board meeting at their office on June 17th. There was no webcast of the meeting. https://www.ok.gov/pharmacy/documents/Agenda_20200617.pdf
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
The Oregon Legislature will convene in Special Session next week for the purpose of discussing police and justice reforms. At this time, additional issues are not anticipated to be addressed.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Proposed rule of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services would repeal and readopt regulations under RRT 0940-06-01 to update standards on controlled substances. The rule would include the schedules of controlled substances and lists of certain non-narcotic substances, chemical preparations, prescription products, anabolic steroids, and cannabis products that are excluded from the schedules. A hearing is scheduled for July 22, 2020, in Nashville or WebEx. Comments are due before 4:30 p.m. CDT on Aug. 3, 2020.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
On June 10th, the Board of Pharmacy posted on their website COVID-19 testing guidance for pharmacists and pharmacies.
Also in Texas... The Health and Human Services Department Vendor Drug Program (VDP) Medicaid Pharmacy Provider Procedural Manual recent update includes payment providers algorithms stating that the VDP pharmacy claims systems consider usual and customary price to include discount cards….. “Pharmacies cannot exclude discount prices given to customers from its determination of the most frequently charged price for the same drug when reporting the UAC price to Texas Medicaid on a claim transaction. If a discount price is advertised for a drug then the discount price must be reported to Texas Medicaid as the UAC price for the same drug, unless the most frequently charged price is lower.”
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Notice of the Board of Pharmacy announces that a pharmacist may fill a noncontrolled-substance maintenance medication prescription with an appropriate number of 30-day supply refills through the year with a 90-day supply with the commiserate number of refills without contacting the physician to obtain a new prescription. This policy was accepted by the Board of Pharmacy during the Business Meeting held on May 13th.
Also in Alabama... The Alabama Board of Pharmacy has issued several notices which can be found below. A hearing is scheduled for July 22, 2020, in Birmingham. Comments are due July 15, 2020.
Proposed rule of the Board of Pharmacy would amend regulations under AAC 680-X-2 to clearly and accurately communicate pharmacy technicians’ requirements for each renewal cycle and also include background checks for reinstatement of pharmacy technicians.
Proposed rule of the Board of Pharmacy would amend regulations under AAC 680-X-2 to update the pharmacy technician continuing education requirement timelines to match registration requirements.
Proposed rule of the Board of Pharmacy would amend regulations under AAC 680-X-2 to remove outdated requirements for pharmacies to have a prescription balance.
Proposed rule of the Board of Pharmacy would amend regulations under AAC 680-X-3 to allow for a one-time, nondisciplinary administrative penalty of $500 for late renewal of a controlled substance permit. This penalty shall be in addition to the prevailing renewal fee. Any subsequent instance of late renewal shall result in disciplinary action.
Proposed rule of the Board of Pharmacy would amend regulations under AAC 680-X-2 to add language consistent with federal requirements under the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) and provide clarity for new categories and facilities including private label distributors, repackagers, third-party logistics providers, and outsourcing facilities. The rule would address requirements for security, recordkeeping, inspections, written policies and procedures, operations, transfer of ownership, personnel, and violations. A hearing is scheduled for July 22, 2020, in Birmingham.
Proposed rule of the Board of Pharmacy would adopt regulations under AAC 680-X-2 to establish requirements for prescriptions of noncontrolled substances. The rule would address requirements for original prescriptions and transfers.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
The Board of Pharmacy will hold a public hearing on Monday, June 15, 2020 on the following four proposed rules:
Proposed rule of the State Board of Pharmacy would amend regulations under Rule 1- General Operations to add new language outlining expedited licensing for qualified individuals in accordance with Act 820 of 2019 and to match statutory language updated by Act 990 of 2019 to remove references to the terms “good moral character and temperate habits” along with other clean up language for clarification.
Proposed rule of the State Board of Pharmacy would amend regulations under Rule 2 – Pharmacists to remove provisions on armed forces certificates to reflect concurrent proposed changes to Rule 1 to cover all permit types in accordance with Act 820 of 2019. The rule will also remove references to the terms “good moral character and temperate habits” in accordance with Act 990 of 2019 along with other minor clean up language.
Proposed rule of the State Board of Pharmacy would amend regulations under Rule 3 – Pharmacy Technicians to remove references to “good moral character and temperate habits” in accordance with Act 990 of 2019.
Proposed rule of the State Board of Pharmacy would amend regulations under Rule 11 – Criminal Background Checks to match statutory language updated by Act 990 of 2019 regarding eligibility for licensure or registration, to add language regarding Pre-Licensure Criminal Background Checks pursuant to Act 990 of 2019, and to remove outdated language regarding criminal background checks and update terms of offense rather than crime as reflected in statues.
Also in Arkansas... The Board of Pharmacy met via teleconference on June 8th. Pharmacist Lenora Newsome was elected president, replacing Debbie Mack.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
The Board of Pharmacy is scheduled to meet via teleconference on June 18, 2020. Link to agenda – https://www.pharmacy.ca.gov/meetings/agendas/2020/20_jun_bd.pdf
Also in California... The Department of Health Care Services that manages the Medi-Cal fee-for-service program announced the annual check-write two-week delay. Medi-Cal fee-for-service providers scheduled with a warrant date of June 18, 2020, will be deferred until July 2, 2020, a day after the start of the new fiscal year.
Also in California… Assembly Member Jim Wood’s bill AB 2100 that NACDS, the California Retailers Association and the California Pharmacists Association strongly support passed off the Assembly floor on June 6th by a 62-0 vote. bill requires the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) to contract with a vendor to survey specialty drug price information for the purpose of determining the actual acquisition costs (AACs) for specialty drugs. It also requires DHCS to provide a disease management payment to a pharmacy pursuant to a contract with DHCS for the costs and activities associated with dispensing specialty drugs. The bill corrects the “below-acquisition cost” reimbursement issue caused by the new methodology mandated by the Affordable Care Act in 2016. Further it repeals the Medi-Cal fee-for-service (FFS) limit of no more than six prescribed drugs per month unless prior authorization is received and repeals the Medi-Cal $1 copayment.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
The Department of Healthcare Finance (DCHF) will hold its quarterly pharmacy forum virtually on Wednesday, June 17, 2020 from 1:00– 3:00 pm and Thursday, June 18, 2020 from 10:00 am – 12:00pm. All current providers in the fee-for-service program are welcome. Please rsvp to Allison Williams to receive the call–in information.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
he 2020 Georgia legislative session will resume on June 15, 2020 at 10:00 am. The discussion will focus upon the announced 14% cuts across the board to the state budget, which constitutionally must be passed by the end of the June.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.