The Board of Pharmacy is having supply chain issues with the paper it uses for licenses. The paper currently being used does not provide the perforated wallet card. However, it does allow for the wallet card to be cut out and used for business purposes. The Pharmacy Board inspectors are aware of the change with the licensing paper. This will not affect pharmacists’ ability to practice.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Gov. William Lee (R) signed SB 2446/HB 2131 into law on April 8, 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.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) amended companion bills HB 1323 and SB 672 to add language in that was removed during the legislative process allowing pharmacists to test and treat for flu, strep and urinary tract infections (UTIs). Our original language that codifies pharmacies’ immunization and testing authority allowances under the PREP Act remains intact. The bill also allows pharmacists to initiate tobacco cessation therapy, including prescription drugs. These bills will now have to go before the Legislature on April 27 to approve or reject the governor’s recommendation on the amended language. NACDS applauds the Virginia Association of Chain Drug Stores (VACDS) and the Virginia Retail Federation (VRF) for all the groundwork on this bill and to members for your outreach to the Governor’s office.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Effective immediately, Dr. Jasmine Zapata is the new Wisconsin physician signing the Statewide Standing order for Naloxone. You must use Dr. Zapata’s prescriber number going forward as Dr. Jon Meiman’s prescriber number can no longer be used. In addition, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has updated its web pages.
Under this new standing order, there are new resources available through the enhanced Dose of Reality Initiative. Patient education regarding overdose recognition and naloxone administration can be found on the following web pages:
If you have questions, reach out to: DHSOpioids@dhs.wisconsin.gov
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.
The Alabama Department of Public Health has stated that allocation quantities of Paxlovid and Lagevrio (molnupiravir) have increased. ADPH has expanded access to most of the chain pharmacies and several independent pharmacies. If you are interested in being an oral antiviral provider, please review the information below.
Pharmacies interested in dispensing Paxlovid and/or Lagevrio (molnupiravir) for the treatment of COVID-19 should send an email to pharmacy@adph.state.al.us. The Pharmacy Division at the Alabama Department of Public Health will provide information and assist with setting up an HPOP account which is required by HHS. Through this account, pharmacies will report utilization daily which is also required by HHS. The Fact Sheet for Paxlovid can be found here. The Fact Sheet for Lagevrio (molnupiravir) can be found here.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Governor Doug Ducey (R) signed SB 1309 (Chapter 77), extending temporary licenses issued during the COVID-19 emergency declaration and active on March 1, 2022; they do not expire until January 1, 2023.
Also in Arizona, Gov. Ducey announced the end of the COVID-19 emergency declaration.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
The Board of Pharmacy has rescheduled April 19 Standard of Care Ad Hoc Committee meeting to June 22. The Board also announced the April 20 Medication Error Reduction and Workforce Ad Hoc Committee meeting will be rescheduled (TBD).
Also in California, the Department of Health Care Services posted this DUR article titled “Improving the Quality of Care: Legislative Impact on the Use of Naloxone” on its Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal. Please note the Table 2 update on March 31.
Finally in California, the Department of Health Care Services posted the following alerts on the Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal on March 24:
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
he Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services has posted an updated Class Review Schedule. You may view the new schedule here.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
A final rule was published in the March 20, 2022, Louisiana Register codifying the authority for pharmacy technicians and pharmacist interns to administer medications effective immediately. It also simplifies existing administrative requirements for vaccines provided by pharmacy providers.
Also in Louisiana, the House Committee on Health and Welfare meeting was cancelled this week because of the special session Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) convened on redistricting. We now expect HB 424 by Rep. Chris Turner (R) to be heard next Wednesday, April 6th. The bill allows pharmacy interns or certified pharmacy technicians, supervised by a pharmacist, to administer influenza immunizations; it lowers the minimum age from seven years of age to three without a patient-specific prescription or medical order. NACDS urges members to continue to contact all House members encouraging them to support the bill.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.