HB 1135, legislation related to PBMs and transparency in the pricing of prescription drugs, passed the House (62-5) on February 13. It was referred to the Senate and Health and Human Services Committee.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
TPA [Tennessee Pharmacists Association] will offer Mental Health First Aid training to 25 attendees at the TPA Winter Meeting, held in Nashville on February 26–27. Space is limited. Register Today!
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Register TODAY to participate at the 2023 Texas Pharmacy Day at the Capitol on February 28.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
On March 1, the Department of Workforce Services (DWS) will begin to review all Medicaid cases over the next 12-month unwinding period of continuous eligibility/coverage.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
HB 2274, a bill that would allow pharmacists to test and treat for flu, COVID, strep and UTIs (urinary tract infections) under a statewide Board of Pharmacy protocol, is on Governor’s desk for signing. Its companion, SB 948, was conformed to the house bill and is now on the House Floor after passing the Senate unanimously. NACDS continues to collaborate with members and in-state partners to get these bills across the finish line. They are the final piece in updating Virginia’s law to match the PREP Act. NACDS is also advocating for SB 1538, which would strengthen the Medicaid reimbursement provisions for pharmacy-based services. This bill passed the Senate and will now be heard in the House.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
NACDS continues to work on priority issues. HB 2754, that would make the pharmacy immunization allowances from the federal PREP Act permanent in state law, passed the House and is now in the Senate Health and Human Resources Committee. HB 2723, now included in a Senate Rules package, SB 361, authorizes the Board of Pharmacy to promulgate a rule increasing the pharmacy technician ratio from 1:4 to 1:6. The same bill also includes a final rule modernizing collaborative practice agreements to allow for population–based care. Notably, the collaborative practice rule is currently effective as an emergency rule. NACDS is also tracking a bill that would provide legislative approval of the PBM rule pursuant to the passage of HB 2263 of 2021. That language is now engrossed in Committee Substitute SB 345 which has passed the Senate and been sent to the House Judiciary Committee.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
This week, a call for topics for the 2023 joint interim committee was announced with a deadline of February 24 at 4:00 p.m. Requested topics may originate from any source but should be submitted or sponsored by a legislator and presented to the committee by a legislator. Submissions must be made using the online form. Questions regarding the submittal of the interim topic request form may be directed to Kelly Lower.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Medicaid is preparing for the end of the continuous enrollment conditions originally associated with the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE). The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (CAA) included significant changes to the continuous enrollment condition outlined in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). These changes take effect April 1, 2023. For more information, please review the ALERT.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
SB 1460, permitting pharmacists to test and treat for influenza, a respiratory infection and a condition related to a public health threat by the Department of Health Services for which a statewide standing order, rule or executive order is issued, will not advance this year. Stakeholder meetings will take place in the interim in preparation for legislation in 2024.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.