Michael Silber, Author at In The States

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So far Michael Silber has created 2529 blog entries.

Texas

The second 30-day special legislative session convened on August 26, 2025.

Also in Texas, HB 25, legislation allowing pharmacists to dispense ivermectin without a prescription, was signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott (R). The bill requires the Board of Pharmacy (TSBP) to adopt standardized procedures and protocols for pharmacists to follow.

Also in Texas, HB 7, legislation that strengthens existing law on abortion-inducing drugs, will allow private citizens to sue anyone who manufactures, distributes, mails or provides abortion medication to or from Texas, passed the House and is awaiting final approval in the Senate before heading to Gov. Greg Abbott's (R) desk.

Finally in Texas, HB 4535, which passed during the regular session and went into effect on September 1, 2025, is aimed at ensuring that Texans are equipped with the information they need to make informed medical decisions by requiring written informed consent prior to any COVID-19 vaccination. The Department of State Health Service (DSHS) created a COVID-19 Vaccine Information Statement to be used as a handout at the pharmacy to comply with the law.

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

Michael Silber2025-09-05T10:09:35-04:00September 5, 2025|Texas|

California

The Board of Pharmacy provided the following August 26, 2025, Update. It is being shared here in its entirety.

California Medication Error Reporting (CAMER)

Pursuant to Business and Professions Code section 4113.1

Business and Professions Code (BPC) section 4113.1 establishes requirements for a community pharmacy to report medication errors to an entity approved by the Board. The Board refers to this as the California Medication Error Reporting (CAMER) system. The statute requiring reporting to CAMER can be viewed at BPC section 4113.1.

In September 2024, the Board approved the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP), an ECRI Company, as the entity to receive and review medication error reports under BPC section 4113.1. Consistent with its commitment to keep licensees apprised of implementation activities, in April 2025, the Board announced the availability of information about how community pharmacies can register with ISMP to report medication errors to the California Medication Error Reporting (CAMER) system. To continue its communication with licensees, the Board advises licensees that medication errors that occur on or after September 1, 2025, must be reported to the CAMER system consistent with legal requirements established.

The API to allow for direct, electronic submission of medication errors to the California Medication Error Reporting (CAMER) systems will be available beginning Friday, August 29. 2025. If you are interested in implementing the API in your internal reporting system, please email the Institute for Safe Medication Practices at: clientservices@ecri.org.

For individual pharmacies that want to implement the API, please include the following information in your communication:

Pharmacy name (as listed on the pharmacy license)
Pharmacy license number
Please confirm that this is for an individual pharmacy and the pharmacy is not part of a parent organization who will be reporting on behalf of the pharmacy

For organizations and Patient Safety Organizations (PSO) that will implement the API to report on behalf of multiple pharmacies, we will need to understand the hierarchy or relationships between individual pharmacies and the parent organization and/or PSO. Please include the following information in your communication:

Name of the parent organization and/or PSO
A list of the pharmacies on whose behalf you will be reporting
- Please provide both the pharmacy names (as listed on the pharmacy license) and license numbers
- Please provide details as to the relationship between the individual pharmacies, any multi-pharmacy organizations, and your organization

Once we confirm the above information and the correct relationships, if any, between individual pharmacies and parent organizations is established, an API key to use for testing purposes during the organization’s internal development process will be issued via encrypted email.

When the organization has completed their internal development and testing, they can contact ISMP for a new API key to use for submission of medication error reports. The API used during development and testing will be discontinued.

The API technical documentation to use for development will be posted by Friday, August 28, 2025 in the Frequently Asked Questions section at: https://mederrors.ismp.org/products/ca-board-of-pharmacy-error-reporting.

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

Michael Silber2025-08-29T12:13:21-04:00August 29, 2025|California|

Colorado

The Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) is seeking comments on its proposal to cap payment for the drug Enbrel at the Medicare price. Enbrel is one of the first Medicare Part D 10 drugs to be included in the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program (MDPNP) beginning January 1, 2026. Rulemaking for Enbrel began in May, and the rulemaking hearings continued on upper payment limit (UPL) for Enbrel in July and August. The fourth and possibly final rulemaking hearing on UPL for Enbrel will be on October 3.

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

Michael Silber2025-08-29T12:12:50-04:00August 29, 2025|Colorado|

Delaware

On August 25, Gov. Matt Meyer (D) signed SJR 7, an act authorizing the State Employees Benefits Committee (SEBC) to utilize specific strategies and policies when interacting and contracting with PBMs in order to achieve lower cost pharmaceutical drug benefit plans for the state. NACDS supported this legislation during the 2025 session and will continue to support PBM legislation and enforcement in Delaware.

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

Michael Silber2025-08-29T12:12:08-04:00August 29, 2025|Delaware|

Indiana

Earlier this year, pharmacies successfully passed SB 140, legislation that included a provision tying the commercial dispensing fee rates to Medicaid’s fee-for-service (FFS) rates as a minimum floor. Unfortunately, the Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) announced last week that, based on the results of a recent cost of dispensing survey, Medicaid plans to reduce the dispensing fee by 8%, lowering it from $10.48 to $9.63, effective March 1, 2026. NACDS will submit comments by September 19 deadline and encourages members to do so as well.

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

Michael Silber2025-08-29T12:11:42-04:00August 29, 2025|Indiana|

Maine

On August 26, the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, Bureau of Insurance, held a hearing on proposed rule change to define and prohibit spread pricing. NACDS attended the hearing and submitted testimony in support of the proposed changes. Additional written comments are due by September 9 at 4:00 p.m. and should be addressed to: Karma Lombard, Maine Bureau of Insurance, 34 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333 or Karma.Y.Lombard@maine.gov.

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

Michael Silber2025-08-29T12:11:14-04:00August 29, 2025|Maine|

Maryland

The Prescription Drug Affordability Board published a notice that they will be holding two Zoom informational hearings on September 3 to receive input, information and opinions from the public and stakeholders to assist the Board in developing policy to address the affordability challenges created by the use of Farxiga and Jardiance. Details are available in the notice.

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

Also in Maryland, on August 27, the Insurance Administration (MIA) and Medicaid hosted the inaugural meeting of a workgroup to study PBM practices in both Medicaid and the commercial market. NACDS is serving on the panel, which already has four meetings scheduled for this fall. The department leads presented slides outlining the workgroup composition, schedule, expectations, goals and timeline.

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

Michael Silber2025-08-29T12:10:37-04:00August 29, 2025|Maryland|

Massachusetts

In this month’s Pharmacy Facts, published by MassHealth, they provided an update to the vaccine administration fee.

In accordance with 101 CMR 317.03(5): Allowable Fee for Certain Eligible Providers, payment for services provided by pharmacies that utilize pharmacists, or other health care professionals certified in accordance with 105 CMR 700.00: Implementation of M.G.L. c. 94C, is 85% of the allowable fee set forth in 101 CMR 317.04: Maximum Allowable Fees – Medical Services.

Following the pricing methodology cited above, for pharmacies that utilize pharmacists, or other health care professionals certified in accordance with 105 CMR 700.00: Implementation of M.G.L. c. 94C, the administration fee for vaccines other than COVID-19 is $17.38. The administration fee for COVID-19 vaccines is $38.21. Starting August 22, these rates were reflected on all such claims.

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

Michael Silber2025-08-29T12:09:59-04:00August 29, 2025|Massachusetts|

New York

On August 21, NYRx, the New York State Medicaid Prescription Drug Program, announced an update to its Preferred Drug Program (PDP).

Also in New York, the State Department of Health Office of Health Insurance Programs released a Medicaid update. This update includes a reminder of 90-day prescriptions for most maintenance medications and OTC drugs. The update also includes a notice that NYRx now accepts electronic prior authorizations through CoverMyMeds.

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

Michael Silber2025-08-29T12:09:24-04:00August 29, 2025|New York|