On February 5, the Senate Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency Committee approved SB 1214 – Test and Treat by a 5-2 vote. NACDS submitted a letter of support in advance of the committee hearing.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
The Department of Health Care Services posted the following alerts, monthly bulletin, and weekly notice on the Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal:
Also in California, the Board of Pharmacy shared the California Health Alert Network message related to “Emergency Assistance for Those Impacted by the Wildfires.”
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
The Florida Pharmacy Association is hosting an upcoming ACPE–approved conference on February 22-23 via Zoom, focused exclusively on Women’s Health and care for these patients. Register here!
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
NACDS sponsored the Indiana Pharmacists Legislative Day, where over 350 pharmacists, students and technicians gathered at the Statehouse to engage in advocacy for the profession. The priority legislative issues included securing fairer reimbursement for dispensing, PBM reforms and reimbursement for services. The advocates also promoted bills securing authority for pharmacists to provide “test and treat” services and substance use disorder treatments; lowering the vaccination age from 11 years and allowing administration of any FDA-approved vaccines if operating under a physician protocol or health commissioner standing order; allowing nationally certified technicians the ability to perform any task delegated to them by a supervising pharmacist that does not require the training or judgment of a pharmacist, including receipt of verbal orders and final product verification; and 340B protections.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
This week, both the House Commerce Subcommittee and the Senate Health and Human Services Subcommittee recommended passage of HSB 99 and SSB 1074, respectively. These companion bills relate to PBMs, pharmacies and prescriptions drugs. Among the various provisions includes patient choice of pharmacy. Also, a PBM shall not deny a pharmacy or pharmacist the right to participate as a contract provider if the pharmacy or pharmacist agrees to the terms and requirements of the plan. Additionally, a PBM shall not require a person, as a condition of payment or reimbursement, to purchase pharmacy services exclusively through a mail order pharmacy. Finally, the bill prohibits a PBM from reimbursing a pharmacy in an amount less than the National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC) or the Iowa average acquisition cost for a prescription on the date the prescription is administered or dispensed, and the PBM also must reimburse the pharmacy or pharmacist a professional dispensing fee in an amount not less than the pharmacy dispensing fee published in the Iowa Medicaid Enterprise provider fee schedule on the date the prescription is administered or dispensed.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
The Maryland Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) Stakeholder Council will hold its virtual monthly meeting on Monday, February 24, 2025, at 2pm. The agenda and other meeting materials will be available on the Stakeholder Council page of the PDAB’s website prior to the scheduled meeting. Registration is necessary to attend. The PDAB’s website has more information about upcoming and previous meetings and related documents and presentation materials.
Also in Maryland, The Senate Finance Committee will hear SB 438 on Wed. Feb 12. The bill would establish a pharmacy reimbursement rate floor in the Medical Managed Care Program. NACDS is coordinating with members and in-state partners on supportive testimony.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
The MassHealth Pharmacy Program updated pharmacists on standing orders for dispensing over-the-counter prenatal vitamins and over-the-counter oral hormonal birth control.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.
A deal was reached this week to end the partisan stalemate in the Minnesota House of Representatives. The stalemate resulted when the November election left Republicans holding a one-vote majority by virtue of an open seat in a strongly Democratic district. The Democratic candidate is expected to easily win the seat in the March 11 special election and tie the House 67-67. In the interim, Democrats boycotted session, leaving Republicans without the quorum required to conduct business. The deal gives Rep. Leader Lisa Demuth (R) the Speakership through 2026 and her party control of committees until the special election. Following the election, the parties will share power by co-chairing the committees.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
The Legislature convened its biennial session on February 3. Several bills pharmacy groups collaborated on during the interim have been filed, including:
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.