In The States – Page 273 – Weekly news about states

Louisiana

The Board of Pharmacy’s Regulation Review Committee met virtually on January 26 to discuss pharmacists’ expanding scope of practice. Last Fall during the special session, the Legislature approved Senate Resolution 39 by Sen. Regina Barrow (D) directing the Board of Pharmacy to make recommendations relative to pharmacists’ testing, screening, and treatment of certain health conditions. The committee approved recommending modernizing the collaborative practice agreements and limited prescriptive authority using Oregon as the model for consideration by the full Board at their February 24, 2021 meeting. Draft language can be found at the links below.

Also in Louisiana. The Department of Health (LDH) is reaching out to community pharmacies to encourage future partnership opportunities with pharmacies to better manage chronic disease and prevention. Click here for the PowerPoint Presentation. Contact LDH’s Marie Darr at marie.darr@la.gov for more information.

Also in Louisiana. Although the Prescription Monitoring Program Advisory Council’s January in-person quarterly meeting was canceled due to COVID, the Board of Pharmacy staff did provide NACDS and the other council members with the report Please click here for more information.

Lastly in Louisiana. LDH continues to add more information to its COVID-19 dashboard. More information and updates can be found here.

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

Michael Angeloni2021-01-29T10:51:45-05:00January 29, 2021|Louisiana|

Maryland

The Department of Health issued an advisory stating that effective February 1, 2021, the Fee-For-Service Professional Dispensing Fee will increase from $10.49 to $10.67, per findings of the most recent Cost of Dispensing Study.

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

Michael Angeloni2021-01-29T10:48:17-05:00January 29, 2021|Maryland|

Massachusetts

Governor Charlie Baker (R) announced the rollout of pharmacies providing COVID vaccination. Additionally, MassHealth has updated the current rates for the administration of vaccines to $33.88 for the first dose and $56.78 for the second dose. Please click here for more information.

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

Michael Angeloni2021-01-29T10:46:48-05:00January 29, 2021|Massachusetts|

Michigan

Mark Glasper has assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer for the Michigan Pharmacists Association. He formerly served as Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Kentucky Pharmacists Association. Please see the press release to learn more.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.

Michael Angeloni2021-01-29T10:44:31-05:00January 29, 2021|Michigan|

Missouri

The Board of Pharmacy will host its next Lunch with the Chief Inspector series on Thursday, February 11, 2021, at noon CST and will cover regulations currently in process. Please register here.

Also in Missouri. MOHealthNet has issued several bulletins outlining changes to pharmacy reimbursement. In one bulletin, MOHealthNet announced changes to the professional dispensing fee and a new policy of one dispensing fee every 25 days, effective February 1, 2021. MOHealthNet also published a new provider manual in which they added a definition for Usual and Customary (pages 162-163). NACDS does not have a record of such a definition previously in Missouri. NACDS has requested feedback to be submitted to Joel Kurzman by COB Tuesday, February 2, 2021.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.

Michael Angeloni2021-01-29T10:58:28-05:00January 29, 2021|Missouri|

Nevada

The Board of Pharmacy adopted a final rule revising standards for electronic transmission of prescriptions. The rule adds provisions on exemption certificates, defines “technologic or electronic failure,” and removes references to the transmission of controlled substance prescriptions via fax.

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

Michael Angeloni2021-01-29T10:41:53-05:00January 29, 2021|Nevada|

New Mexico

The Department of Health provided detailed guidance to pharmacies on receiving, handling, and administering vaccines and is encouraging all New Mexico pharmacies to be enrolled as state providers regardless of participation in the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program. To apply please click here. Questions may be submitted to COVID.Vaccines@state.nm.us.

Also in New Mexico. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) requested community pharmacies display this poster which instructs the public how to sign up for COVID-19 vaccines.

Lastly in New Mexico. The Legislature convened its 60-day session on January 19 with plans to keep the Capitol closed to the public and operate committee hearings virtually. NACDS will continue to monitor activities in New Mexico and update members accordingly.

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

Michael Angeloni2021-01-29T10:59:56-05:00January 29, 2021|New Mexico|

New York

This week the proposed rule on the expansion of the technician ratio in a community setting was published in the State Register. As a reminder earlier this year Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) issued an executive order expanding the pharmacy technician ratio to 4 to 1. This rule will make that executive order permanent.

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

Michael Angeloni2021-01-29T10:38:31-05:00January 29, 2021|New York|

Ohio

The Department of Health (ODH) has issued Updated Provider Guidance on Phase 1B of COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution. The update includes new information on specifics regarding those who have an intellectual or developmental disability AND severe congenital, developmental, or early-onset medical conditions; information on employees of K-12 schools; details as to who will be offering vaccinations for eligible populations; directions for vaccination providers on how to update information in the online vaccine provider directory; important instructions on the handling and storing Pfizer vaccine and notice that ODH will send notifications to enrolled providers about vaccine allocations on Tuesday or Wednesday of each week. Please direct questions or issues to COVIDVACCINE@odh.ohio.gov. You also may visit the ODH COVID-19 Vaccine Provider Information Training page for additional information and resources.

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

Michael Angeloni2021-01-29T10:35:00-05:00January 29, 2021|Ohio|