The Board of Pharmacy has filed an emergency and ordinary amendment to allow pharmacists to prescribe and receive Medicaid reimbursement for Paxlovid. Specifically, the amendment removes the list of specific conditions that require a Board-approved protocol for pharmacists to be authorized to treat patients with illnesses. Instead, the regulation would allow a pharmacist to utilize any protocol approved by the board to provide treatment services. This emergency amendment will allow for any prescriber–approved protocol to be reviewed for approval by the Board of Pharmacy. If the regulation is approved, the physician Director of Medicaid Services can also sign a prescriber–approved protocol for any pharmacist to initiate the dispensing of Paxlovid for Medicaid patients. Additionally, the board approved a new board authorized protocol for Paxlovid. The emergency regulation was effective immediately, but the ordinary version must be go through the promulgation process with the Board. NACDS expects the physician community to oppose this regulation and encourages members to join us in submitting supportive comments by September 30. Further detail and contact information for comments are on the regulation webpage.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.