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So far Michael Silber has created 1944 blog entries.

Ohio

Governor Mike DeWine (R) signed Executive Order 2022-05D to suspend the normal rulemaking process to allow the Ohio Board of Pharmacy to classify several bezimidazole-opioids as Schedule One drugs, meaning they have no accepted medical use in treatment and pose an imminent hazard to public health, safety, and welfare. 

Also in Ohio, The Department of Medicaid (ODM (Ohio Department of Medicaid)) has posted the slides from its most recent pharmacy stakeholder online seminar that outlines their future process for reimbursing pharmacies for Specialty Drugs under the Managed Care Single Pharmaceutical Benefits Manager Program (SPBM). Additionally, ODM announced that the implementation of the SPBM program has been delayed until October of 2022. More information can be found on the SPBM webpage. Members should expect ODM to schedule the next online seminar, on which ODM intends to announce new pharmacy rates, to be scheduled for the week of May 16. NACDS will email the invite to members operating in Ohio as soon as we receive it. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.

2022-05-06T10:12:30-04:00May 6, 2022|Ohio|

Oregon

HB 4034, which was signed into law on March 23, includes several provisions of interest including allowing a pharmacy intern to transfer a drug containing pseudoephedrine or ephedrine to a person 18 years of age or older without prescription; reporting of information regarding dispensing of biological products; clarifying the use of telepharmacy and permitting a pharmacist to delegate to a pharmacy technician final verification of prescribed drug and drug dosage, device, or product  

Also in Oregon, the Board of Pharmacy has adopted the following rules:  

April 22, 2022, Temporary Rules Noticed Pursuant to 2022 HB 4034 (Signed by Gov. Kate Brown (D) on March 23, 2022) – Effective April 22, 2022 through October 18, 2022 

The Board also permanently adopted the following rules – effective April 20, 2022 – at the April 2022 Board Meeting:  

Finally in Oregon, the Oregon Health Authority issued a temporary rule, effective April 27, 2022, through June 25, 2022, amending prior authorization approval criteria guide effective May 1, 2022. These amendments are based upon Pharmacy & Therapeutics (P&T) Committee recommendations on April 7. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

2022-05-06T10:11:58-04:00May 6, 2022|Oregon|

Pennsylvania

The Board of Pharmacy has published its agenda for the May 10 meeting. The meeting will be held in a hybrid format and information for joining is included in the agenda.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.

2022-05-06T10:10:27-04:00May 6, 2022|Pennsylvania|

South Carolina

The South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) will operate on an updated schedule for Healthy Connections Medicaid claims submission and payments for one week in May 2022 to accommodate the state holiday observed May 10, 2022. 

Tuesday, May 10, 2022, is designated as a South Carolina state holiday. Due to this holiday, claims must be submitted by 5 p.m. Sunday, May 8, 2022, to be included with the payment scheduled for Friday, May 13, 2022. Payments will run Monday, May 9, 2022. Electronic remittance advice may be available one day earlier than normal. Payments will be dated Friday, May 13, 2022. 

Also in South Carolina, The Board of Pharmacy has been made aware that licensees are receiving scam phone calls from individuals impersonating state Board of Pharmacy inspectors and investigators. Licensees should be cautious of providing confidential or payment information over the phone without verifying the source is legitimate.   

Scammers are calling pharmacists and telling them that their facility or individual license is under investigation. Scammers may also claim that they are working with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on a case, and further claim that the licensee is under investigation for suspicious activity or drug trafficking. In either case, the scammers claim that the licensee will face disciplinary action, a revoked license, or arrest if they do not immediately pay a fine over the phone.   

Additionally, many scammers are “spoofing” the phone number used to make the call, making it appear that the phone number is from a legitimate source. Scammers may even give a fake name and a fraudulent inspector identification number as “proof” of identity. If the call sounds suspicious, hang up and call the South Carolina Board of Pharmacy directly at 803-896-4700 or contact the Board at Contact.Pharmacy@llr.sc.gov.  

If a licensee receives a scam call from someone impersonating a state Board inspector or investigator, please report it immediately to Ray Trotter at Ray.Trotter@llr.sc.gov.  

If the scammer is impersonating an FDA or DEA inspector, please make a report to the respective agency. In addition, the licensee may also report scam calls to the Federal Communication Commission’s consumer complaint program. Please provide as many details about the scam call as possible. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.

2022-05-06T10:09:31-04:00May 6, 2022|South Carolina|

Tennessee

Governor William Lee (R) signed SB (Senate Bill) 2446/HB 2131 into law on April 8, 2022, effective immediately, the legislation modernizes the definition of pharmacy technicians and now clearly allows a pharmacist to delegate tasks to a technician based on their education, training, and support, allowing all members of the pharmacy team to practice at the top of their education and training. 

Also in Tennessee, Governor Bill Lee announced that Tennessee Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Lisa Piercey will depart from state government and enter the private sector. She will remain with TDH through May 31, 2022. 

Finally in Tennessee, the Tennessee Department of Health is looking to hire a Director of the Controlled Substance Monitoring Database (CSMD). Applications are being accepted now through May 20, 2022. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.

2022-05-06T10:08:19-04:00May 6, 2022|Tennessee|

Texas

The Health and Human Services Commission’s Vendor Drug Program wants to remind pharmacists that May 31st is the last day that the current Texas Medicaid Standing Order for Mosquito Repellent will be valid. Beginning June 1st, pharmacies must have a valid prescription from a Medicaid-enrolled provider to dispense mosquito repellent for Medicaid patients. 

Also in Texas, the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) will suspend COVID-19 vaccine providers from ordering vaccines if they have not reported their current COVID-19 vaccine inventory effective May 6. Per the COVID-19 provider policy, COVID-19 vaccine providers must self-report by the fifth day of each month. Non-reporting providers will have their order privileges suspended until their monthly report is submitted. 

Also in Texas, NACDS, Texas Federation of Drug Stores and our chain pharmacists met State Representatives Stephanie Klick (R), Chair of the House Public Health Committee, and Nicole Collier (D) who also serves on the House Public Health Committee, in their Tarrant County district offices. We shared stories of chain pharmacies engagement in the community during the pandemic and laid out our 2023 priority agenda. 

Finally in Texas, Kroger pharmacists welcomed Ian Shaw, a Dallas attorney recently appointed as a public member on the Board of Pharmacy, behind the counter in a busy uptown pharmacy on a Friday afternoon.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.

2022-05-06T10:05:28-04:00May 6, 2022|Texas|

Washington

The State Health Care Authority’s (HCA) emergency provisions for in-person interpreting allowing over the phone interpreting has ended. Now the Health Care Authority and Universal Language Service (ULS) signed the new spoken language contract to provide over-the-phone and video remote interpreting services. Providers must register under the new contract to have access to the over-the-phone and video remote interpreting contract. To register, email accounts@ulsonline.net. Pharmacists interested in providing interpreting services under the over-the-phone and video remote contract also must register via email at interpreter@ulsonline.net. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.

2022-05-06T09:59:57-04:00May 6, 2022|Washington|

Alaska

Effective May 14, the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development amended regulations under 12 AAC 02 to reduce application, license, registration, and renewal fees for pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, remote and other pharmacies, wholesale drug distributors, outsourcing facilities, and third-party logistics providers.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.

2022-04-22T09:23:16-04:00April 22, 2022|Alaska|

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