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Iowa

Effective April 1, the Board of Pharmacy requires passage of the uniform version of the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination® (MPJE®) as a condition for pharmacist licensure and will no longer offer or require the Iowa MPJE for all licensure applicants. For additional information regarding the new Uniform MPJE™ (UMPJE) application process, visit the Examination section of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy website. 

The Board of Pharmacy elected to be an "Early Adopter" of the UMPJE. Beginning April 1, students at Iowa Colleges of Pharmacy who are expected to graduate in 2026 may sit for the UMPJE. NABP began accepting applications for the UMPJE on March 13. Clear communication was sent to the schools and candidates about the application process for this cohort's early UMPJE administration. 

Also in Iowa, the Board of Pharmacy published the public meeting notice for its May 5-6 meeting. 

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

2026-05-01T12:04:58-04:00May 1, 2026|Iowa|

North Carolina

The 2026 Short Legislative Session officially began on April 21. Lawmakers started introducing bills that comply with short-session rules, including measures with budget impacts, local legislation and proposals based on recommendations from interim study committees. 

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

2026-05-01T12:04:23-04:00May 1, 2026|North Carolina|

Oregon

The Board of Pharmacy is seeking public feedback on proposed Pharmacy Prescription Locker (PPL) rules.  

Please review each proposed rule and provide feedback in the comment boxes below each rule. The Board suggests reviewing questions #1 through #9 first and then going back to question #1 to provide your feedback. 

The survey is available online. Please complete and submit your survey response by May 15. 

The Board anticipates reviewing the public feedback received as well as the proposed rules during the June 11-12 Board Meeting. 

Please note that these proposed rules are not currently in rulemaking, the Board is seeking public feedback at this time. Comments are not confidential and are subject to Oregon Public Records Law (ORS 192). 

Also in Oregon, the Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) published the "Oregon PDAB Quarterly" newsletter, Issue 14.  

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

2026-05-01T12:03:45-04:00May 1, 2026|Oregon|

Rhode Island

 The Medicaid Program is offering an optional webinar on May 14 from 12:00 noon–1:00 pm (ET) to provide Medicaid providers with a clear overview of federal Medicaid updates outlined in HR 1 and what those changes mean for the state. The session will outline key policy revisions, implementation timelines and operational planning to help providers stay aligned and communicate effectively with patients. This session is designed for all providers participating in Medicaid. Staying informed about these updates is essential for supporting the individuals and families in the program. 

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

2026-05-01T12:03:09-04:00May 1, 2026|Rhode Island|

Tennessee

The Freedom, Access, and Integrity in Registered Pharmacy (FAIR Rx) Act SB 2040 / HB 1959 passed both chambers of the General Assembly, receiving approval in the Senate by a 24–9 vote and in the House by an 86–7 vote. During Senate floor consideration, lawmakers adopted an amendment delaying the bill's implementation date to July 1, 2028. As a reminder, once the legislation reaches the Governor's desk, he has 10 calendar days (excluding Sundays) to sign it into law, veto it or allow it to take effect without his signature. The exact timing for when that review period begins remains uncertain, as the final week of session typically involves a high volume of bills moving through the necessary procedural steps before being delivered to the Governor. The Governor is aware of the broad support behind this legislation, including strong backing from stakeholders and an overwhelming majority of the General Assembly. The Tennessee Pharmacy Association submitted a letter to the Governor, which was co-signed by 16 additional pharmacy organizations, including NACDS, urging him to sign SB 2040/HB 1959 into law.  

Also in Tennessee, TennCare received legislative authorization to continue operating the Diaper Benefit Pilot through June 30, 2027, and intends to fully operate the program for the duration of available funding. Since launching in August 2024, participating pharmacies have helped serve more than 100,000 children dispensing nearly 22 million diapers. TennCare thanked pharmacy partners for their critical role and will provide future guidance as the program approaches its planned wind-down. If your pharmacy still wants to participate, visit here for more information.  

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

2026-05-01T12:02:37-04:00May 1, 2026|Tennessee|

Vermont

The Department of Vermont Health Access (DVHA) notified Medicaid-enrolled pharmacies that on April 29 Surescripts connectivity was re-established. DVHA indicated that providers who use electronic prescribing once again have access to Vermont Medicaid data to assist them in managing prescriptions for Medicaid members more efficiently.  

Information that DVHA made available through prescribers' electronic health record software vendors includes:  

  • Member's outpatient pharmacy claims history
  • Member's Medicaid eligibility/enrollment status 
  • The preferred status of prescribed drugs on the Medicaid Preferred Drug list 
  • Indication of a prior authorization requirement for a prescribed drug 

 Additional questions may be directed, via email, to VTOps@Optum.com  

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Mike Sargent at 207-272-6435.

2026-05-01T12:01:58-04:00May 1, 2026|Vermont|

Wyoming

Gov. Mark Gordon (R-WY) signed Executive Order 2026-02 regarding the federal summer nutritional program called SUN Bucks, announcing the state has been able to pull together the resources needed to ensure low income children will receive much needed meals throughout the summer months across the state. 

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

2026-05-01T12:01:24-04:00May 1, 2026|Wyoming|

Alaska

The House Finance Committee held a hearing on April 7 regarding HB 195, legislation that would grant pharmacists broader authority to prescribe and administer medications and medical devices. Although the committee restricted public input to invited testimony, members of the pharmacy community proactively reached out to legislators in advance, urging support for this bill. By expanding pharmacists’ scope of practice within a clear, patient-centered standard of care, HB 195 aims to improve access to essential health services throughout the state.

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

2026-04-10T10:59:09-04:00April 10, 2026|Alaska|

California

The Board of Pharmacy posted the agendas and meeting materials for the following committee meetings: 

  • Licensing Committee Meeting – April 15 
  • Enforcement Committee Meeting – April 16 

Also in California, on April 16, the Department of Public Health will host a webinar about the vital role community health workers (CHW) play in chronic disease management. Although their titles and duties vary across organizations, CHWs help bridge the gap between community members and health care systems, along with connecting individuals to community-based organizations that address non-medical needs. Speakers from the Department of Health Care Services, the Department of Health Care Access and Information and El Sol Neighborhood Educational Center will discuss their work with CHWs. Agenda topics include CHWs in managed care plans, Medi-Cal billing, CHW workforce development and best practices for implementing CHW programs. 

Also in California, Medi-Cal Rx is requesting stakeholder feedback regarding the services provided by the Resolution Team (also known as the Clinical Liaison Team). Your participation in the Stakeholder Survey for the Resolution Team will help its efforts for continuous process and quality improvement. Kindly submit your responses no later than April 19.  

Also in California, the Board of Pharmacy has a new training course available on PharmEd. The course is called "Assembly Bill 1503: Removing Barriers and Improving Patient Safety". This training provides an overview of the statutory changes enacted by the Board's sunset measure, Assembly Bill 1503 (Berman, Chapter 196, Statutes of 2025), and describes the Board's implementation efforts. You can find the link to the course on the Board's Continuing Education (CE) Information webpage under the "Elective Board-provided CE Training" heading.  

Finally in California, the Department of Health Care Services posted the following on the Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal.  

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

2026-04-10T10:58:38-04:00April 10, 2026|California|
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