Gov. Jared Polis (D) is expected to sign into law SB 19-005, legislation requiring the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing to develop a cost savings plan to import prescription medications from Canada by January 1, 2020.
Also in Colorado… HB 19-1242, the Colorado Pharmacists Society’s (CPS) mandatory pharmacy technician certification bill, passed both chambers and was sent to Gov. Jared Polis (D) for signature. Chain pharmacies were successful in clarifying that un-certified support personnel are still allowed in the pharmacy and adding provisions allowing the Board of Pharmacy to determine what additional duties certified technician may perform.
Also in Colorado… SB 19-228 was sent to the governor for signature. Chain pharmacy successfully amended the bill to allow the Board of Pharmacy to develop rules on opioid warning labels. The bill will pay a pharmacy an enhanced dispensing fee if the pharmacy has entered into a collaborative pharmacy practice agreement to administer injectable antagonist medication for medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for substance abuse disorder (SUD) or if a pharmacy dispenses a Schedule II or III opioid to a patient who has not previously received an opioid prescription and the pharmacy provides counseling concerning the risk of opioids to the patient.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.