Illinois
The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services has posted a new Provider Notice regarding Pharmacy COVID-19 Vaccination and Booster Update.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services has posted a new Provider Notice regarding Pharmacy COVID-19 Vaccination and Booster Update.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Gov. Eric Holcomb (R) convened an 11-day special session in late July. Both Senate Bill 1, the “abortion ban bill,” and Senate Bill 2, the “tax refund bill” passed and were signed into law. Early in the session the Indiana Pharmacists Association rallied pharmacists to advocate for an amendment allowing pharmacists prescribing self-administered hormonal contraceptives, but the amendment failed by one vote, 48-49.
Also in Indiana, the Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray (R) named Sen. Chris Garten (R) as the new Majority Floor Leader, replacing Sen. Mark Messmer (R) who served as the floor leader since 2018.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
The Board of Pharmacy posted its agenda and meeting materials for the August 24 meeting. Of interest, note the “Review of Proposed Edits to the Board’s Statewide Protocols and Vote on Approval” for Point-of-Care Test and Treat for both Influenza and Strep A. Also, under “Rules and Legislation,” note items #4 related to the PMP and #5 related to registered nurses engaging in the practice of nursing pursuant to a pharmacist’s order.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
The Emergency Prescription Assistance Program (EPAP) has been authorized in areas of the state impacted by severe storms and flooding. EPAP is a federal program managed by the Department of Health and Human Services, which provides an efficient way for community pharmacies to process claims for prescription medications, vaccines, limited medical supplies and limited durable medical equipment (DME) provided to individuals who are from a disaster area declared by the President and who do not have any form of health insurance coverage.
Also in Kentucky, The Board of Pharmacy has filed an emergency and ordinary amendment to 201 KAR 2 380, amending the board authorized protocol regulations by removing the specific conditions. Instead, a pharmacist may utilize any protocol approved by the board to provide healthcare services. Additionally, the board approved a new board authorized protocol for Paxlovid. The board list of approved protocols can be found at https://pharmacy.ky.gov/Pages/Board-Approved-Protocols.aspx
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
The Department of Insurance (LDI) released a summary report on the process of promulgating Regulation 122, which defines the roles and responsibilities solely within the purview of pharmacy benefit managers and pharmacy services administrative organizations as required by a newly enacted statute, R.S. 22:1660.9(C).
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
The Department of Commerce has published the 2021 PBM Transparency Report. The Minnesota Pharmacy Benefit Manager Licensure and Regulation Act requires Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) to submit transparency reports to the Department of Commerce. The report summarizes the responses from all PBMs who submitted transparency reports to the Department, pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 62W.06, Sub’d. 2.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Pharmacies need to establish policy and procedures, quality assurance programs, and validate the technology prior to the initial use for two new product verification rules that go into effect on August 30, 2022.
Additional summaries of newly revised and recently promulgated pharmacy rules are available in the Board’s latest newsletter.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
In response to a request from chain pharmacy, September 7 & 8 Board of Pharmacy meeting, the Board will discuss and potentially act on the Adoption of an Emergency Regulation in increase the number of pharmaceutical technicians and pharmaceutical technicians in training that a pharmacist may supervise at one time from four to six. The Retail Association of Nevada (RAN) and NACDS encourage members to send a letter of support in advance of the meeting.
Also in Nevada, pharmacists can now bill the state’s Medicaid program for hormonal contraceptive and HIV prevention services. The Board posted two guidance documents on the new laws that allow pharmacists to dispense self-hormonal contraceptives without a prescription, and allow pharmacists to prescribe and dispense PEP and PrEP drugs.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
The Legislative Health and Human Services Committee in early August to discuss state strategies for prescription drug access, access to pharmacy care, controlling the excessive cost of drugs, and pharmacy supply chain stakeholders (wholesalers, pharmacy benefit managers, manufacturers, and Insurers).
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.