As a result of collaborative efforts by NACDS and the Washington State Pharmacy Association, Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission adopted for final passage the elimination of the current 3:1 pharmacy technician-to-pharmacist ratio with an effective date of this fall.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Rachel Michelin, the President of the California Retailers Association (CRA), has recently hired Steve McCarthy as Vice President of Public Policy and Regulatory Affairs and Jacob (Jake) Asare as Legislative Advocate. CRA is NACDS’ in-state partner on pharmacy issues.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
The following bills have been sent to Gov. David Ige (D) for signature:
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Gov. Tim Walz (D) signed into law the Health and Human Services (HHS) omnibus bill containing a wide range of provisions notable to pharmacy, including language to comply with the CMS Covered Outpatient Drugs final rule. Effective Monday, July 1, or upon federal approval, whichever is later, Medicaid fee-for-service pharmacy reimbursement will be NADAC plus a professional dispensing fee of $10.48. Cost of dispensing surveys will be required every three years, with the initial survey to be completed by Friday, January 1, 2021. The sunset provision to the 2% wholesaler tax was removed, and the tax was reduced to 1.8%. Gov. Walz also signed legislation establishing funding from manufacturers and wholesale license holders, excluding chain pharmacy warehouses, for addressing opioid additions and creating an advisory group. Other key legislative outcomes included PBM regulation, language to facilitate medication synchronization and expanded pharmacist authority to administer intramuscular and subcutaneous injections to treat mental health and alcohol or opioid dependency.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.
In response to the recent notice from the Human Services Department announcing a $2.00 increase the professional dispensing fee for “community-based pharmacies” participating in the Centennial Care program effective Monday, July 1, NACDS sent a letter objecting to the proposed differential dispensing fee for a limited group of independent pharmacy providers.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Gov. Greg Abbott (R) signed into law HB 2174, legislation to address opioid abuse and addiction, while providing key safeguards to address the needs of those suffering from chronic pain. By Friday, January 1, 2021, all controlled substances will have to be electronically prescribed. Also, the new law will limit the supply of a patient’s first opioid prescription to 10 days when that prescription is for temporary or acute pain.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
NACDS submitted a letter to the State Board of Pharmacy on proposed rules for pharmacy technicians. In our comments, NACDS sought board clarification on several issues related to the administrative process implementing the recent new statutory requirements for applicants for certification as a pharmacy technician.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
The Department of Health issued two final rules effective May 20, 2019.
Also in Louisiana… Prior to adjourning on June 6, the legislature approved HR 257, a resolution by Rep. Frank Hoffmann (R) urging the Department of Health to pursue value-based payments in Medicaid to increase access to buprenorphine/naloxone and naltrexone products for opioid use disorder treatment.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
NACDS joined the Michigan Retailers Association to testify in both the House and Senate Committees on Health Policy in support of HB 4217 and SB 248, related to mandatory e-prescribing legislation.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.