Nebraska

On October 13, Gov. Pete Ricketts (R) signed Executive Order No. 21-15 — Further Health Care Workforce Capacity, including language waiving “Neb. Rev. Stat. § 38-2866.01 and its implementing regulations… to permit pharmacists to have any number of pharmacist interns and pharmacy technicians under their supervision insofar as they determine it necessary within their professional discretion when administering vaccinations…”. It took immediate effect and will remain in effect until December 31, 2021.

Also in Nebraska, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) announced the next weekly COVID-19 Medicaid Provider call will take place on October 20 at noon (Central).

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

2021-10-15T11:38:12-04:00October 15, 2021|Nebraska|

New York

The New York State Department of Health has updated its policy and billing guidance document regarding Medicaid’s reimbursement policy for the administration of COVID-19 vaccines authorized for emergency use and instructions for providers to bill the cost of administration of authorized COVID-19 vaccines.

Also in New York, the NYS Education Department has proposed changes to the Pharmacist Licensure Examination, Licensure by Endorsement and a new Requirement for Three Continuing Education Hours in Compounding per Licensure Period for Pharmacists. The Board of Regents is looking to adopt these changes in December to take effect January 1, 2022.

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.

2021-10-15T11:37:25-04:00October 15, 2021|New York|

Oklahoma

The Board of Pharmacy issued this alert: “Please be aware that there have been several Pharmacy Burglaries (Nighttime Break-Ins) recently. Please be alert to any suspicious activities. The DEA 106 Forms for theft/loss of CDS must be reported to the DEA, OBNDD and OSBP. OBNDD is requesting that the pharmacies fax the DEA 106 Forms for Burglaries to: Attention: Cynthia Perez, Criminal Intelligence Analyst, Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs – Fax 405-530-7619. Make sure that you include the Police Report and provide Surveillance Video if available. Please make sure that your alarm systems are working properly and consider enhancing your security systems as well.”

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

2021-10-15T11:36:09-04:00October 15, 2021|Oklahoma|

Oregon

The Board of Pharmacy has posted the agenda for the October 27, 2021 CE Rules Advisory Committee meeting.

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

2021-10-15T11:35:00-04:00October 15, 2021|Oregon|

Texas

Gov. Greg Abbott (R) issued an Executive Order this week banning COVID-19 vaccine mandates for employees or customers. Any entity that fails to comply could receive up to a $1,000 fine. This state order conflicts with President Biden’s (D) order mandating that companies with federal contracts must have all employees vaccinated.

Also in Texas, to assist with planning for the distribution of the pediatric COVID-19 vaccine pending the authorization by the Food and Drug Administration and the recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for 5-11 years of age, the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is asking chain pharmacies to complete one survey with an estimate for all stores by 5 PM on Wednesday, October 20th.  DSHS Survey

Also in Texas, the Board of Pharmacy will hold its quarterly meeting in-person in Austin on Tuesday, November 2.  TX BOP Meeting On the agenda for possible final adoption are onerous proposed rules impacting pharmacies that compound non-sterile preparations. Written comments must be submitted to the board on or before October 25th.

Also in Texas, NACDS submitted several recommendations to the Board of Pharmacy to assist with the development of their 5-year strategic plan, including updating laws and regulations to permanently codify the scope of practice expansion under the PREP Act for all pharmacy personnel, and to further modernize the practice of pharmacy to allow for practices now permitted in other states.

Finally in Texas, on October 1st, NACDS and other Texas pharmacy organizations met with Health and Human Services Commission’s representatives from the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) and the Vendor Drug Program (VDP-Medicaid) to discuss considerations for a pilot program to address barriers that have inhibited broad pharmacy participation in the Texas Vaccines for Children Program.

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

2021-10-15T11:31:43-04:00October 15, 2021|Texas|

Virginia

The Board of Pharmacy held a workgroup on September 23 to consider making recommendations to the Legislature on passing legislation that would expand pharmacy technician duties in the 2022 session. The workgroup was mandated by HB 1304 of 2020. This law will require pharmacy technicians to be certified by July 2022. According the draft minutes the workgroup took the following actions:

  • Motion to recommend the elimination tech ratio failed; subsequent motion to not recommend the elimination of tech ratio passed 6-2
  • Motion to recommend permanently authorize nationally certified techs to administer vaccines in accordance with PREP Act passed 7-1
  • BOP Executive Director clarifies that pharmacists and technicians under supervision are currently authorized to perform CLIA-waived testing
  • Motion that the BOP further study, rather than recommend, Technician Product Verification passed unanimously
  • Motion passed unanimously to recommend that pharmacy technicians be authorized to clarify number of refills and drug quantity for new prescriptions or refills (Sch. VI)
  • Motion to allow techs to accept new prescriptions failed 6-2
  • Motion passed unanimously to recommend allowing a nationally certified technician to electronically transfer a Schedule VI refill that is not an “on hold” prescription when authorized by Pharmacist in Charge.
  • Board voted unanimously that the BOP clarify regulations, if needed, to allow pharmacy technicians to take medication histories independently to include drug name, dosage and frequency.  It was the opinion of Board staff that this is currently authorized.

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

2021-10-15T11:30:26-04:00October 15, 2021|Virginia|

California

Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed SB 409, the Board of Pharmacy’s legislation that would permit pharmacists to perform a list of CLIA-waived tests, including SARS-CoV-2or other respiratory illness, condition or disease and strep throat, plus any additional tests approved by the Board of Pharmacy, in conjunction with the Medical Board of California and Laboratory Field Services.

Also in California, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has created a flyer to assist pharmacy providers to prepare for the Medi-Cal Rx implementation date of January 1, 2022. Note the inclusion of readiness survey; the results will be used to tailor training sessions to prepare providers for the transition to Medi-Cal Rx.

Also in California, NACDS and the California Retailers Association worked with Magellan and the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) to schedule a webinar for chain pharmacies to hear first-hand from these entities about the important elements related to implementation of Medi-Cal Rx (start date of January 1, 2022). The webinar will be held on Wednesday, October 13 at 5:00 p.m. EDT, 4:00 p.m. CDT, 3:00 p.m. MDT and 2:00 p.m. PDT; T; for information to access the webinar, click here.  During the webinar, Magellan and DHCS will share information about portal registration, interacting with the new system and other key items. Please be prepared to ask questions. If your company would like to schedule its own training after October 13, please contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801 or sguckian@nacds.org, and we will connect you directly to Magellan and DHCS to schedule the training.

Finally in California, Ashkan Soltani will lead the California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA) as its Executive Director. He helped to shape the California Consumer Privacy Act and the California Privacy Rights Act of 2020.

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

2021-10-08T10:16:27-04:00October 8, 2021|California|

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