Notice of the Board of Pharmacy announces the suspension of the 2020 live continuing education requirements for pharmacists. The notice specifies that pharmacists, upon request, still will be required to submit evidence of five hours of education on opioid abuse and prevention, drug abuse, or addiction-related issues and a total of 15 hours for the year 2020.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Concluding a legislative session with relatively few bills enacted, Missouri HB 1682 is headed to the Governor for expected signature. Among its provisions, HB 1682 will require pharmacy benefit management companies to be licensed by the Department of Insurance. The bill also includes language to enable remote dispensing. Meanwhile, legislation to create a statewide Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) failed. While Missouri is the only state without a statewide PDMP, a County-based system covers approximately 85% of the state’s population.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.
The Nebraska Unicameral is now scheduled to reconvene on July 20, 2020. Please see the Unicameral Update for more information.
Also in Nebraska... The Nebraska Pharmacists Association is offering a nicotine cessation counseling toolkit, noting opportunities for pharmacist payment from both Medicare and Medicaid.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.
Pennsylvania pharmacies that would like to participate in receiving COVID-19 vaccinations from the state when they become available should consider completing the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) available at the PA Department of Health’s Pharmacy MOA webpage on the department’s website. Further information on the MOA and submission instructions can be found there. Although the MOA is specific to a pandemic influenza, DOH intends to draft an addendum to include the upcoming COVID-19 vaccine. Only one MOA needs to be signed by your company to cover all your in-state stores.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
NACDS also continues to try to remove the remaining physician order requirement in Texas that poses a barrier to pharmacies expanding COVID-19 testing. NACDS, the Texas Federation of Drug Stores and the Texas Pharmacy Association provided requested updates to the Board of Pharmacy FAQ on COVID-19 testing for pharmacists and pharmacies. The updates included reference to the most recent advisory opinion from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) concluding that the federal PREP Act, in conjunction with HHS’ April 8th guidance, preempts any state or local requirement that prohibits or effectively prohibits a pharmacist from ordering and administering a COVID-19 test that the Food and Drug Administration has authorized.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
NACDS submitted written comments to the Alaska Board of Pharmacy supporting their quick acting temporary rules expanding pharmacy and technician practice, that will become permanent.
Also in Alaska… The Department of Health & Social Services submitted to CMS an 1135 waiver which was approved May 7th. Temporary policies include: no cost-sharing for testing services; allowing service provision and reimbursement of services provided by qualified and enrolled Alaska licensed pharmacists practicing within their authorized scope of practice, statewide standing orders authorized by the AK Chief Medical Officer and HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health; claims for medications with day’s supply up to 68 days shall be permitted unless medication is on the 90-day list, then 90-days will be permitted; allow for a professional dispensing fee to be reimbursed no more than every 14-days per individual at $15.86 for “on road” pharmacies, and $23.78 for “off-road” pharmacies. Shipping will be reimbursed regardless of the location of the pharmacy or beneficiary; and covered outpatient drugs dispensed by a retail-based pharmacy, when a medication’s acquisition cost exceed the standard “lesser of” payment methodology logic, providers may petition for reimbursement at WAC + 1% on a claim-level basis through the point-of-sale and bypass the FUL and NADAC.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
The Board of Pharmacy will be holding a public hearing via Zoom on June 15, 2020 to discuss the following rules:
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Gov. Gavin Newson’s released his May Revised 2020-21 Budget last week projecting a $54.3 billion deficit. Since the state’s constitution requires that the legislature submit a balanced budget to the Governor by June 15, 2020, and that the Governor must sign it before the start of the next fiscal year on July 1, 2020, legislators are scrambling to hold hearings on the proposed massive cuts. NACDS and the California Retailers Association submitted a joint letter to both the Senate and Assembly Budget Committee Chairs strongly opposing the proposed elimination of Medi-Cal reimbursement of pharmacist-delivered services such as providing self-administered hormonal contraceptives, vaccines, nicotine replacement products, travel medications, naloxone directly to patients and PEP/PrEP for HIV prevention.
Also in California... In advance of the Assembly Business & Professions Committee hearing, NACDS and the California Retailers Association submitted a joint letter opposing SB 2983 by Assembly Member Chris Holden, because it would prohibit pharmacies from automatically contacting prescribers to authorize a prescription for any dangerous drug or device for more than a 7-day supply refill without authorization from the prescriber or patient. Further, we objected to the requirement that a pharmacy obtain separate authorization for each prescription.
Also in California... The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Health and Human Services debated health care cuts proposed by the Department of Finance, which included cuts to the proposed Diabetes Prevention Program. NACDS is a member of a broad-based coalition building support to advance Medi-Cal funding for Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs).
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
The Board of Pharmacy held a stakeholder meeting on Tuesday and Board meeting on Thursday to discuss what temporary rules suspended by Gov. Jared Polis should be permanently suspended by the Board. Issues the Colorado Retail Council and NACDS members promoted included recommending the Board to act on include allowing pharmacists to order and administer COVID-19 tests, including serology tests, that have received Emergency Use Authorization (EAU) from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), or equivalent regulatory authorization and keeping the definition of pharmacy intern and technician roles at remote pharmacies.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.