Michael Silber, Author at In The States

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So far Michael Silber has created 2529 blog entries.

Minnesota

As the General Assembly enters its last week of the session, both the House and Senate have passed our priority PBM reform language in their respective health omnibus bills, HF 2435 and SF 2669. The bills are now on their way to conference committee to hammer out differences. (HF 2435/SF 2669). The provisions would reform the Medicaid pharmacy program under a single state-directed pharmacy benefit administrator. The bills require a rate floor of AAC + $11.55 and include prohibitions on questionable PBM business practices. Also included is a provision changing the cost of dispensing study frequency from every three years to biannually.

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

Michael Silber2025-05-16T09:51:01-04:00May 16, 2025|Minnesota|

New Hampshire

On May 21, the Board of Pharmacy will hold its regular monthly meeting. The agenda includes the following:

NABP Update

Administrative Rules and Legislative Topics

Hearings

Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) Updates

Memo from Executive Director Deanna Jurius

50 State Drug Compounding Meeting June 4-5

Public Comments

Board of Pharmacy Research Organization Registration

NH Program Flyer

PH 300 Public Comment

Non Public Session

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

Michael Silber2025-05-16T09:50:32-04:00May 16, 2025|New Hampshire|

New Jersey

On May 15, the New Jersey Assembly Committee on Financial Institutions and Insurance held a hearing. During this hearing, the committee received testimony from invited guests concerning pharmacy benefit managers, their place within the broader health insurance system and their impact on prescription drug prices. The invited speakers included Dr. Pragya Kakani, Assistant Professor of Population Health Sciences, Well Cornell Medical College, and Anna Kaltenboeck, President, Verdant Research. They spoke about the PBM relationships with affiliated and unaffiliated pharmacies and the FTC reports. NACDS attended the hearing and will continue to support PBM reform efforts in New Jersey.

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

Michael Silber2025-05-16T09:49:23-04:00May 16, 2025|New Jersey|

North Carolina

The legislative session has reached the crossover deadline, the point by which bills must pass their chamber of origin to remain viable this session. Bills that did not meet this deadline are ineligible for carryover to 2026. However, the crossover rule does not apply to budget and appropriations bills, study bills, local bills or constitutional amendments.

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

Michael Silber2025-05-16T09:48:53-04:00May 16, 2025|North Carolina|

Oklahoma

NACDS sent Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) a letter asking him to sign SB 806, the Food is Medicine bill that would improve access to essential nutrition services for Medicaid beneficiaries and incentivize improvements in their health, utilizing an 1115 waiver.

Also in Oklahoma, SB 789 was amended in the House removing the rate floor language that triggered the fiscal note, and returned to the Senate for concurrence.

Finally in Oklahoma, SB 906, legislation that empowers pharmacists to optimize the pharmacy technician workforce and delegate more administrative and technical activities that do not require a pharmacist's by expanding the pharmacist-to-pharmacy technician ratio to 4:1, passed both houses and was sent to Gov. Kevin Stitt (R). NACDS sent a support letter asking Gov. Stitt (R) to sign the bill into law.

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

Michael Silber2025-05-16T09:48:19-04:00May 16, 2025|Oklahoma|

Oregon

The Immunization Policy Advisory Team (IPAT) meets June 5 from 12:00 noon -2:00 pm Pacific via Zoom and requires registering in advance using this link. The final agenda will be available at the meeting or via email request three days before the meeting date by contacting imm.info@odhsoha.oregon.gov. The Immunization Program works to reduce the incidence of vaccine-preventable disease in the state. Staff members identify and promote evidence-informed public health best practices to both the public and healthcare professionals throughout the state. For more information, visit the program's website.

Also in Oregon, the Oregon Healthcare Authority (OHA) seeks help to make healthcare more affordable. Oregonians are invited to submit applications to serve on two new committees focused on healthcare affordability. May 16 is the extended deadline to apply for both committees. Applications and more information are available on the Committee on Health Care Affordability and Industry Advisory Committee webpages. Once their members are chosen, the committees plan to meet beginning this summer.

The Committee on Health Care Affordability, also simply called the Affordability Committee, is seeking diverse voices. Its members may include people who receive health care, employers that purchase insurance, health economists and health policy experts.

The Affordability Committee will be supported by the Industry Advisory Committee, which also aims to include a variety of perspectives, ranging from health insurers to providers, hospitals and health industry leaders. Health care professionals in small or independent practices, and those who specialize in primary care, behavioral health, oral health or pediatrics are particularly encouraged to apply to the industry committee.

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

Michael Silber2025-05-16T09:47:45-04:00May 16, 2025|Oregon|

South Carolina

The General Assembly has adjourned, with plans to reconvene in June to address appropriations bills, gubernatorial vetoes and legislation advancing from conference committees. All bills left on the calendar will carry over to the 2026 legislative session, including NACDS reimbursement reform and scope expansion.

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

Michael Silber2025-05-16T09:46:41-04:00May 16, 2025|South Carolina|

Texas

Several bills of interest to pharmacy are advancing in the final three weeks of the biennial session:

SB 1236 (HB 3317), PBM reform legislation that provides contract protections for pharmacies. The bill provides fairness and transparency, requires that a group number identifying the plan be on the enrollee's identification card, provides audit protections and ensures compliance with existing laws. The bill passed both houses and is on its way to Gov. Greg Abbott (R).

HB 3540 (SB 254) permanently authorizes pharmacists to order and administer all childhood vaccines to individuals five years of age and older (three years of age and older for flu & COVID) and allows pharmacists to delegate vaccine administration to a certified technician. Physicians, pediatricians and pharmacies reached a compromise. The bill is supported by the Texas Medical Association, the Texas Pediatric Society and all pharmacy groups. The bill is on the House calendar this week. More than a dozen pharmacists from Albertsons, Brookshire Brothers, Kroger and Walgreens spent all-day Tuesday advocating for the immunizations bill and distributing the joint HB 3540 one-pager on the agreed-to bill. The chain pharmacists helped field questions and count votes.

HB 1027, legislation aimed at increasing access to pharmacies in underserved areas, would remove the current mileage restrictions on telepharmacies and also repeals provisions that prohibit a telepharmacy system located at a remote dispensing site from dispensing a Schedule II controlled substance. The bill passed the House and was referred to be considered next by the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.

Also in Texas, Albertsons pharmacist Rob Gagliardi, who also serves as the Bedford Mayor Pro Tem, connected with his friend Rep. Tony Tinderholt (R), the influential Floor Leader for the House Republican Caucus.

Also in Texas, the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) is interested in quality improvement and value-based payment initiatives for Medicaid and other publicly funded health services. HHSC is seeking a pharmacist to serve on the Value-Based Payment and Quality Improvement Advisory Committee. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission executive commissioner will appoint members to the committee to serve a term expiring December 31, 2028. Applications are due by 11:59 pm, May 23. More information is available on the website.

Finally in Texas, the Board of Pharmacy (TSBP) approved rules exempting central fill pharmacies from the 6:1 pharmacy technician-to-pharmacist ratio at the May 6 board meeting. The rules take effect immediately after publication in the Texas Register.

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

Michael Silber2025-05-16T09:46:07-04:00May 16, 2025|Texas|

Washington

NACDS sent Gov. Bob Ferguson (D) a letter asking him to veto a surcharge on prescription medications in Section 201 of HB 2081 due to its detrimental impact on pharmacy operations and patient care. This new proposed tax does not apply to retail sales of prescription drugs exempted in current law.

Also in Washington, the State Department of Health held a Sunrise Review public hearing on May 14 on pharmacist prescriptive authority. The Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee had requested a review of a proposal to increase the pharmacist scope of practice to assess whether it meets the sunrise criteria in RCW 18.120.010. The request would grant the Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission the authority to regulate licensed pharmacist prescribing outside of a collaborative agreement. NACDS and many other groups submitted written comments for the record in advance of the hearing.

Finally in Washington, the Washington Health Care Privacy Toolkit has been updated with new information, including 2024 updates to reproductive health privacy.

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

Michael Silber2025-05-16T09:44:26-04:00May 16, 2025|Washington|