It is time to renew your professional license for the next biennial period: July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2028. A license will lapse after June 30, 2026, and it is illegal to work without a valid and active license. There is no grace period; lapsed licenses require reinstatement. Any incomplete renewal applications received will be granted a one-time extension to September 30, 2026, if received by June 30, 2026.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
The Department of Health Care Services posted the following:
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Gov. Brian Kemp (R) signed HB 382. Effective July 1, the bill states that any pharmacy technician performing pharmacy technician functions from a remote location outside a pharmacy shall not be counted toward the pharmacist to pharmacy technician supervisory ratio. Also, the bill repeals requirements for certified technicians in the calculation of the ratio. A pharmacist may be assisted by and directly supervise pharmacy interns and pharmacy externs. However, the total number of such persons under the direct supervision of one pharmacist shall not exceed six persons, in any combination.
Also in Georgia, Gov. Brian Kemp (R) also signed HB 1138. The bill, effective January 1, 2027, permits pharmacists in certain circumstances to dispense self-administered hormonal contraceptives or long-acting injectable hormonal contraceptives to patients 18 years and older. This measure requires insurers that cover prescription drugs on an outpatient basis to cover any prescribed drug or device that is FDA-approved for use as a contraceptive.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
The Department of Health and Human Services published a bulletin outlining the requirements and procedures for eligible outpatient pharmacies to apply to receive a "directed payment" of $4.50 per managed care prescription filled. Pharmacies must complete the Directed Pharmacy Dispensing Payment Assurance Statement (DHS-8750) (PDF) and fax to 651-431-7462 by July 24, 2026, per Minnesota Statutes, 256B.69, subdivision 6i. MCOs will begin making payments to pharmacies as early as August 2026. The program, recently approved by CMS, is a result of legislation NACDS helped pass in 2025 to increase patient access to pharmacy services in rural and underserved areas.
Pharmacies must be enrolled with an MCO that contracts with the Department of Human Services. Refer to the MCO contacts for MHCP providers webpage for a list of MCOs.
Also in Minnesota, as the General Assembly wrapped up the 2026 Legislative Session last week, they sent the following NACDS priority bills to the Governor for enactment:
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
NACDS sent Gov. Mike Kehoe (R) a letter urging him to sign SB 878, landmark legislation expanding pharmacists' ability to serve patients. The bill modernizes pharmacy law and includes several important provisions that strengthen the profession and improve patient access to care, including:
Also in Missouri, effective June 1, MO HealthNet (Medicaid) will no longer offer manual overrides for pharmacy claims rejected due to missing or incorrectly formatted ICD-10 diagnosis as found in the Pharmacy Clinical Edits and Preferred Drug Lists. This update means that claims for agents included in the Diagnosis Code Required Policy Edit must include a valid, billable ICD-10 code to be processed successfully.
Finally in Missouri, MO HealthNet is required to complete an annual review of all drug coverage criteria per 13 CSR 70-20.200 Drug Prior Authorization Process – Pharmacy Clinical Edits and Preferred Drug Lists.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Several years ago, the Board of Pharmacy conducted the Nevada Pharmacist Workplace and Patient Safety Survey. As a result, a proposed rule dictating staffing will be debated and possibly adopted at the June 4 Board meeting. The purpose of the proposed regulation is to set minimum staffing standards in certain chain pharmacies so that patient care and safety are prioritized in the process of meeting pharmacy workloads. Members are encouraged to submit their comments to the Nevada Board of Pharmacy at teambc@pharmacy.nv.gov before the meeting.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
AB 1502, State Assembly lawmakers advanced the “Patient and Provider Protection Act,” comprehensive PBM reform legislation aimed at increasing transparency, addressing conflicts of interest, strengthening pharmacy access protections and reforming PBM compensation practices. Key provisions include fiduciary requirements for PBMs, restrictions on rebate-driven compensation models, enhanced transparency and audit requirements, “any willing pharmacy” protections, reimbursement standards tied to NADAC plus dispensing fees, and prohibitions on steering patients to affiliated pharmacies. Following Assembly passage, the legislation has now been referred to the Senate Commerce Committee for further consideration.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jermaine Smith at 703–837–4388.
Governor Kathy Hochul (D) signed two NACDS priority bills designed to protect vaccine access by reducing the state’s reliance on the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). The legislation – A.10711/S.9598 & A.10710/S.9599 – ensures pharmacies can continue to administer vaccines recommended by the New York State Commissioner of Health, using generally accepted medical standards and guidance from nationally or internationally recognized scientific organizations. The legislation also removes ACIP references from several areas of state law governing insurance coverage, school immunization requirements and Medicaid, reinforcing the state’s authority to follow science-based recommendations even if federal guidance changes. In addition, the new law expands access to vaccines by authorizing pharmacists to administer COVID-19 vaccines to children ages two to 18 years, which had previously been limited to adults under state law. State leaders emphasized that the legislation is intended to safeguard evidence-based public health policy, counter misinformation and maintain broad, affordable access to lifesaving vaccines for New Yorkers of all ages.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Mike Sargent at 207-272-6435.
The Board of Pharmacy commenced administrative rulemaking in three subject areas – Transfer of Prescriptions, Alternate Delivery Sites and Standardized Orders in Health Care Facilities. The Board will hold a public hearing on May 19 at 9:00 am at the North Carolina Board of Pharmacy, 6015 Farrington Road, Suite 201, Chapel Hill, NC 27517. Public comments are due on June 15.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
