Wisconsin
The Pharmacy Examining Board approved a request from the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin to allow pharmacists to practice in locations that are not licensed pharmacies.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.
Alabama
The Alabama Medicaid Agency had modified the recipient signature requirement for services provided during the state of emergency effective March 16th. More information can be found at this link: https://medicaid.alabama.gov/alert_detail.aspx?ID=13755. Comprehensive data related to the state’s COVID response can be found on this link: https://medicaid.alabama.gov/news_detail.aspx?ID=13729
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Alaska
The Alaska Board of Pharmacy held an emergency meeting this week to draft emergency rules to deal with COVID-19. The rules, once approved by the Lt. Governor, will expand certified pharmacy technician duties, expand pharmacists’ duties allowing them to administer injectables according to the prescriber’s directions and eliminate the Alaska Jurisprudence Intern Practice Questionnaire, in addition to other emergency related changes. The Board will meet again this week to vote on the final changes. They will be posted with a FAQ sheet on the Board’s website upon finalization.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Arkansas
Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) announced Tuesday that he will be convening a special session of the legislature on Thursday to address the budget shortfall. The Governor is seeking the authority to use the state’s $173 million unallocated budget surplus to fill some budget needs after his administration cut the state’s general revenue by $353 million to $5.38 billion in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020.
Also in Arkansas... The Board of Pharmacy postponed their April Board meeting and informal conferences.
Also in Arkansas... The Department of Health adopted a Final rule effective March 5th that amends regulations requiring prescribers to check related to the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) in certain situations and requires the PDMP Advisory Committee to include the chair of the State Medical Board and the State Board of Dental Examiners, or their designees. The rule also changes who may access the controlled substances database, revises requirements for the department regarding PDMP information, and specifies that a practitioner who purposely fails to access the PDMP may face disciplinary action.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
California
The Board of Pharmacy’s March 27, 2020 meeting will be held via teleconference. Agenda can be found here – https://www.pharmacy.ca.gov/meetings/agendas/2020/20_mar_bd_tele.pdf
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Colorado
The Retail Association (CRC) has been partnering with other pharmacy groups aggressively and successfully seeking waivers from Gov. Jared Polis (D) as a result of the declared health emergency.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Georgia
This week, the Georgia Board of Pharmacy issued two emergency orders dealing with Delivery by Mail and Remote Order Verification. Governor Kemp has also issued an Executive Order reducing certain regulations to stop the spread of COVID-19, of interest is 90 Day supply without physician authorization, early refill authorization, temporary licensure.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Illinois
The Illinois Pharmacists Association has canceled its Legislative Day that was scheduled for April 22, 2020.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.
Indiana
Several bills of interest to pharmacy saw action this week:
SB 241: This bill was signed by Gov. Eric Holcomb (R) on March 18th and sponsored by Sen. Liz Brown (R). The law will help ensure that that pharmacies are fairly and properly reimbursed by requiring pharmacy contracts to have clearly defined drug pricing and reimbursement methodologies and audit practices. It also prohibits directly or indirectly retroactively denying a claim or aggregate of claims after the claim or aggregate of claims has been adjudicated and allows pharmacies to contest changes in their reimbursement. It also requires the maintenance of adequate pharmacy networks to provide beneficiaries with equal access to all network pharmacies. NACDS applauds the work of the Indiana Pharmacists’ Association on this law.
HB 1207: This bill, which addresses both copayment and scope of practice issues was signed by Gov. Eric Holcomb (R) on March 18 and authored by Rep. Steven Davisson (R). The law prohibits payors from requiring a pharmacy to collect a higher copayment for a prescription drug from a patient than the plan allows the pharmacy or pharmacist to retain. On the scope of practice front, effective July 1, 2020, it will allow pharmacists to furnish epinephrine by standing order. Additionally, it will allow pharmacy technicians to provide influenza vaccines and transfer certain prescriptions.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.