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Montana

The Board of Pharmacy reminds pharmacies that the temporary emergency rule (MAR 24-174-77) expired on January 11, 2022; this temporary rule included the removal of the pharmacist to pharmacy technician ratio for purposes of vaccine and testing administration and allowed other healthcare providers authorized to administer vaccines to assist pharmacists with vaccine administration. Since these provisions are no longer in effect, the pharmacist to pharmacy technician ratio is 1:4 per ARM 24.174.711. 

Also in Montana, the Board of Pharmacy issued a Notice of Public Hearing on Proposed Amendment in MAR 24-174-78. This proposed amendment removes the pharmacist to pharmacy technician ratio, provides for certain pharmacist-in-charge oversight in staffing and allows for other healthcare providers authorized to administer vaccines to assist pharmacists with vaccine administration. The Public Hearing will be held via remote conferencing on February 4. Written comments must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on February 11. 

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

2022-01-20T15:41:05-05:00January 20, 2022|Montana|

Nebraska

The Department of Health and Human Services published Provider Bulletin 22-04 with recent updates on COVID-19 vaccines consistent with CDC guidance. It also published reimbursement for oral antiviral medications, vaccines, and monoclonal antibody administration. Of note, for COVID-19 oral antiviral medications purchased and provided by the government, Medicaid will pay its standard dispensing fee for fee-for-service members. The state’s Medicaid managed care health plans may pay a contractual dispensing fee to the pharmacy for Medicaid members enrolled in the health plan.

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

2022-01-20T15:38:31-05:00January 20, 2022|Nebraska|

New Hampshire

Medicaid will be issuing a pharmacy notice regarding coverage of COVID at home antigen tests as soon as it is ready to process the claims. It is anticipated that claims processing will begin around January 25. 

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.

2022-01-20T15:35:52-05:00January 20, 2022|New Hampshire|

New York

Yesterday Governor Kathy Hochul (D) released her executive budget for SFY 2022-23 which contains several provisions impacting pharmacies. Several provisions deal with the scope of pharmacy practices including: 

  • NYSDOH (New York State Department of Health) Oversight of Certain Professions: Transfers the oversight of Health/Mental Hygiene professions including pharmacists from NYSED to NYSDOH. 
  • Pharmacist CLIA-Testing: Allows licensed pharmacists to perform non-invasive CLIA-waived tests like other qualified healthcare professionals and authorizes licensed pharmacists to serve as direct limited-service laboratory, directors ordering and administering such tests 
  • CDTM: Makes current CDTM law which expired this year permanent 
  • Medication Administration: Changes scope of practice laws to allow certified medication aides to administer routine medications under certain conditions, allows physicians and NPs to issue non patient specific standing orders to COVID-19, flu, and upper respiratory illness testing, and allows any individual to collect specimens from patients for COVID-19 or flu testing per training and under supervision of a registered nurse, NP, or physician 

Opioids/Addiction 

  • Naloxone/MAT: Requires pharmacies to maintain a stock of a 30-day supply of at least one version of opioid antagonists/naloxone and MAT/Buprenorphine, as permitted within DEA rules and wholesaler thresholds. Last week with the help of members, we educated OASAS about these restrictions and are glad to see they included language recognizing the limitations on pharmacies ability to stock these medications. See language in proposal attached, comments welcomed. 
  • Expanding Alcohol Awareness: Expands alcohol awareness programs to include other forms of addiction and recreational cannabis 

Also in New York, The New York Board of Pharmacy has just released its updated NYS Drug Price List dated December 2021, including the required sign that must be posted offering the list to the public upon request. 

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.

2022-01-20T15:35:07-05:00January 20, 2022|New York|

North Carolina

State Health Director Dr. Betsey Tilson has issued a statewide standing order which will allow insurance coverage to cover costs for COVID home tests, including Medicaid. The link to the order can be found here. It can also be found here under the Provider Section. 

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

2022-01-20T15:34:18-05:00January 20, 2022|North Carolina|

Virginia

On January 20, Governor Youngkin (R) declared that a limited state of emergency exists in the Commonwealth due to COVID-19 and issued Executive Order 11 to provide relief for hospitals and healthcare workers. The Order is effective until February 21, 2022. Among other provisions, the order allows healthcare providers, pharmacists, pharmacy interns, and pharmacy interns with active licenses in other states to practice in Virginia; increases the pharmacy technician ratio to 5:1 and exempts pharmacy technicians performing only administrative functions from the count. Additionally, it permits licensed practical nurses to administer COVID-19 vaccines without the supervision of a registered nurse or licensed medical practitioner. It also provides certain liability protections to providers who act in good faith to protect patients.  

Following the release of the Executive Order, the Board of Pharmacy emailed a communication to licensees waiving restrictions around pharmacy central/remote processing and the utilization of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians located in other states. 

 Also in Virginia: The Department of Health has issued an updated Naloxone Standing Order signed by Dr. Colin Greene.  

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

2022-01-20T15:33:35-05:00January 20, 2022|Virginia|

Washington

In advance of the January 17th House Health Care and Wellness Committee hearing on HB 1852 / SB 5840 legislation that would require by January 1, 2023, prescription label translations in 15 languages for both the directions for use and the side effects of the drug, the latter which is not currently required to be on the label, NACDS submitted this statement for the record opposing the bill. 

 NACDS has substantial concerns that although well-intentioned, this bill would impose new  requirements for labeling prescriptions in multiple languages that would be redundant to the  ways that pharmacies ensure meaningful access to care for individuals with limited English  proficiency under 45 CFR 92.201. Moreover, we are concerned that the requirements of this bill  go beyond what is practical and could potentially undermine the numerous ways that pharmacies  already provide translation services to their patients. We, therefore, urge Washington lawmakers to reject his impractical legislation. 

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

2022-01-20T15:32:26-05:00January 20, 2022|Washington|

California

Medi-Cal Rx posted the following alerts. To view all alerts, visit Bulletins & News on the Medi-Cal Rx website. 

Also in California, note the recently issued Billing Guidance for Pharmacy Providers on COVID-19 Oral Antivirals (January 6). 

Also in California, the Board of Pharmacy issued a pharmacy law waiver for Prescriber Dispensing of COVID-19 Oral Therapeutic Medication to Emergency Room Patients.  

Finally in California, the Board of Pharmacy has rescheduled its next quarterly two-day meeting.  The new meeting dates are January 27-28.   Committee meeting materials have also been posted. 

  • January 18, 2022 
  • January 19, 2022 

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

2022-01-14T14:53:35-05:00January 14, 2022|California|

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