NACDS reminds members that on March 29 the new Acting Physician General Denise Johnson signed a new standing order for naloxone. All prescriptions using the standing order from former Secretary of Health Levine or former Acting Physician General Braund, and any remaining refills on those prescriptions are null and void.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
On May 6, HB678 by Rep. Phil Cortez (D), overwhelmingly passed the House by a vote of 139-7. HB678, supported by NACDS, allows pharmacists to independently order, and both pharmacists and technicians to administer, all immunizations to anyone 3 years of age or older without a prescription. The bill will now be heard by the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. NACDS members are urged to call their State Senator to ask them to HB678 expanding access to immunizations by permanently removing existing administrative barriers.
Also in Texas, the Board of Pharmacy launched a new podcast for Board news and updates. The first episode covers the November 2020 and February 2021 Board meeting rule adoptions, along with recent Board news and an important scam alert. www.pharmacy.texas.gov/podcast
Laslty in Texas, the Texas Department of State Health Services Commissioner John Hellerstedt is encouraging vaccine providers to order additional COVID-19 vaccines as needed as the state is now receiving about 1.5 million a week. Texas has now administered more than 18.3 million doses of the vaccine. More than 11 million people have received at least one dose, and over 7.9 million are now fully vaccinated. covidvaccine.texas.gov.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
The Department of Health, Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission adopted regulations allowing retired pharmacists to apply for a retired active pharmacist license status and practice pharmacy under certain conditions.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
For veterinary prescriptions that may not be refilled between May 1, and June 30, 2021 (due to the one-year time limitation on prescriptions), the director of the Department of Consumer Affairs extends an order waiving the California Code of Regulations, title 16, section 2032.1, subdivision (c) to the extent it prohibits a veterinarian from prescribing a drug for a duration longer than one year from the date the veterinarian examined the animal and prescribed the drug, subject to the condition that any such prescription may be refilled for a total period not to exceed 18 months from the date the veterinarian last examined the animal and prescribed the drug.
Also in California, recent Medi-Cal Rx News updates include the following:
• The Pharmacy Provider Self-Attestation Process has been extended through May 9, 2021, and has a new web address. If your company already submitted your self-attestation and received a confirmation email from CODSurvey@mercer.com, please disregard April 30, 2021, notice.
• Changes to the Contract Drugs List have been made effective May 1, 2021.
• Changes to the Contract Drugs List – Authorized Drug Manufacturer Labeler Codes have also been made effective May 1.
Lastly in California, the Medi-Cal Update Bulletin 990 – April 2021 includes the following items of interest. See bulletin for additional information.
• A new DUR Educational Article titled “Drug Safety Communication: Potential Increased Arrhythmia Risk from Lamotrigine (PDF)” is available on the DUR: Educational Articles page of the Medi-Cal website.
• Updates to the List of Enteral Nutrition Products effective for dates of service on or after March 1 have been made available.
• The MAPC per Unit of Measure for HCPCS code A4657 in The Medical Supplies Billing Codes, Units, and Quantity Limits spreadsheet has been corrected to ‘By Report”.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-837-4195.
The Board of Pharmacy published a notice to amend regulations under FAC 64B16-31 to update the incorporated pharmacist licensure and pharmacy intern and technician registration forms.
Also in Florida, the Department of Health published a notice of a workshop to adopt regulations under FAC 64J-4 to establish requirements for the Prescription Drug Donation Repository Program. The workshop is scheduled for May 14, 2021, via video and teleconference.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-408-9774.
HB 386, mandating the pharmaceutical industry fund a product stewardship program for the collection and destruction of unused drugs, failed to pass before adjournment of the legislature.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-837-4195.
MedImpact will hold a series of informational webinars for providers to share information on the transition to a single PBM, which will be effective July 1, 2021. The seminars will be held on May 14, June 15, and July 15, 2021. For more information on the seminars and other information about the transition, click here.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-525-8962.
The Board of Pharmacy has issued guidance that allows for the pharmacist-manager to expand the pharmacist-technician ratio to 3:1 or 4:1 if in the judgment of the pharmacist-manager demonstrates that the pharmacy employs enough certified technicians to meet the ratio.
Also in North Carolina, the Board of Pharmacy has initiated rulemaking to expand the use of centralized processing for all pharmacies. The Board will hold a remote public hearing on July 20, 2021, at 10:00 am. Written comments will be accepted until July 20, 2021.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-408-9774.
Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) signed into law SB 505/Act 651 legislation requiring prescribers to co-prescribe an opioid antagonist to patients under certain conditions: (1) dosage is equal to or above 50MME per day; (2) benzodiazepine has been prescribed or will be prescribed at the same time as the opioid; and (3) the patient has a history of drug abuse or a drug overdose.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.