On October 7, The DEA in coordination with HHS, held a virtual webinar titled, “Supporting Healthcare Professionals during the Pandemic.” Topics discussed included drugs of abuse and trends, COVID 19 guidance, telemedicine, updates on fraud and robberies, and an overview of DEA requirements regarding the handling of controlled substances according to Federal regulations.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Health Commissioner Dr. Kristine Box has issued a Standing Order allowing pharmacists and interns to administer vaccines as recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) to patients age 11 and older. The Standing Order recognizes HHS’ recent declaration permitting pharmacists to order and administer (and interns to administer) vaccines for children ages 3-18 and notes that for these immunizations ordered or administered under HHS’ declaration, the declaration requirements should be followed. Commissioner Box also signed immunization protocols for the administration or dispensing of vaccines to individuals 11 and older, which is the current age range under the state statute.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
The Iowa Medicaid Enterprise issued an informational letter announcing changes to the Preferred Drug List effective October 1. Among other policy changes included in the Informational Letter, prior authorization is now needed for 90 morphine equivalent units (MME), reduced from 120 MME.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.
Representative Bentley, Pharm.D. (R) has pre-filed BR 328, which would require commercial insurance plans to reimburse pharmacists for claims submitted for services within their scope of practice, as well as require the insurer to credential pharmacists for these services.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
The Legislature convened a 30-day special session on Monday, September 28, focused primarily on budget and COVID issues. Seizing on the opportunity to pursue an NACDS initiative to make waivers permanent, NACDS and the Louisiana Alliance of Retail Pharmacy (LARP) persuaded Senator Regina Ashford Barrow (D) to file an immunization bill lowering the age for pharmacists to vaccinate without a prescription order to three and older to align with the federal PREP Act declaration. The current arbitrary age limits set in the statute are 7 years or older for influenza and all other vaccines, 17 years or older.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
The Board of Pharmacy Rules Committee Work Group met on October 7 to discuss the Controlled Substance Rule. The meeting agenda can be found here. The full Board will meet on October 14, 2020. The meeting agenda and Zoom meeting access information can be found here.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.
Governor Mike Parson (R) issued a waiver authorizing pharmacists to order and administer COVID vaccinations per the HHS guidance issued under current the PREP Act declaration. For more information, please visit the above link.
Also in Missouri. The Board of Pharmacy issued a reminder that all amendments to existing immunization protocols that add additional childhood vaccines, revise age limits, or add the COVID-19 vaccination must be signed and dated by all pharmacists participating in the protocol in addition to the physician.
Also in Missouri. The Missouri Pharmacy Association (MPA) has shared information that Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) grant funding is available to help pharmacies become accredited sites for diabetes classes and education and bill for these services. For more information, please contact MPA’s Annie Eisenbeis.
Also in Missouri. The Board of Pharmacy filed an emergency rule to implement Class R Remote Dispensing sites per 2019 HB 1682 effective August 28 and published a guidance statement. Questions about Class R licensure can be emailed to the Board. For more information, please visit the above links.
Lastly in Missouri. The Board of Pharmacy will meet on October 8, 2020. Among the many agenda items, the Board has proposed rule language on prescription and medication order transfers. For more information please visit the above link.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.
Medicaid expansion took effective October 1. To date, 10,288 eligible residents have signed up, but state officials expect enrollment to reach 90,000 within a few years. For more information please visit the above link.
Also in Nebraska. The Department of Health and Human Services held a public hearing on October 8, 2020, to address amendments to regulations on wholesale drug distributors and delegated dispensing permits. For more information please visit the above links
For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.
The Commission for Public Health announced a notice of intention to issue a temporary rule that would adopt regulations under 10A NCAC 41A to require all health care providers and clinical laboratories to report allCOVID-19 diagnostic test results, both positive and negative. The rule would include requirements for how the reporting should occur and the timeframe for reporting positive and negative results. The rule currently is in effect as an emergency rule. A hearing is scheduled for October 9 by teleconference. Comments are due October 16, 2020.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.