California

NACDS and our in-state partners, the California Pharmacists Association and the California Retailers Association, are supporting AB 1710 by Assembly Member Wood, legislation that will leverage pharmacists to administer the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as it is viable.

Also in California. The Board of Pharmacy will be meeting virtually on July 29 and 30, 2020. The agenda and meeting materials are available here.

Also in California. Several temporary pharmacy waivers are set to expire.  Below is a list of those waivers that have expired or will be expiring in July.

Also in California. The Board of Pharmacy extended three previously approved waivers through September 22, 2020.

Also in California. The Board of Pharmacy has published a final rule that amends regulations under 16 CCR 1707 to revise the duty to consult standards for pharmacists. The rule specifies the minimum time requirements a pharmacist must be available to speak to patients, and the maximum amount of time a consumer must wait before speaking to a pharmacist. The rule also expands the current requirements for when a pharmacist must provide oral consultation to all settings, effective October 1, 2020.

Also in California. The Department of Managed Health Care released a notice to announce its  All Plan Letter 20-024 to health care service plans in Riverside and Sonoma counties. The notice provides guidance on reporting requirements under a pilot project to assess the impact of health care service plans and pharmacy benefit manager prohibitions on the dispensing of certain amounts of prescription drugs by network retail pharmacies. All reporting will be required annually by July 1. The pilot project will be in effect until Jan. 1, 2023.

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

2020-07-23T13:39:16-04:00July 23, 2020|California|

District of Columbia

The D.C. Council passed B23-758, legislation that protects individuals and businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, and has been transmitted to Congress for the 30-day review period. Among other provisions, the measure permits an individual licensed to practice pharmacy to authorize and dispense a refill of a patient’s prescription medication before the expiration of the waiting period between refills to allow residents to have an adequate supply of such drugs during a public health emergency. The bill was sponsored by City Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D).

Also in the District of Columbia. The Committee of the Whole has approved B23-430, sponsored by Councilmember Mary Cheh (D). The bill, which has been advanced after approval, would allow pharmacists to dispense interchangeable biological products and includes notification provisions that align with language that has been adopted in other states and members have supported.

Also in the District of Columbia. NACDS received this response from DC Health to the letter NACDS jointly signed with NCPA, NGA, and FMI asking for clarity around pharmacists’ COVID testing policy. As we read it, they will allow pharmacists to administer all FDA-approved and authorized tests; provide guidance on PPE recognizing not all locations/types of testing requires the same kind of PPE; and consider our request for technicians to be authorized to provide testing. They also confirmed they will continue to require appointments to test and require testing to be done outside.

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

2020-07-24T16:56:30-04:00July 23, 2020|District of Columbia|

Indiana

Medicaid has announced an additional 3-month extension of its Prior Authorization waiver policy under COVID-19 waivers. No prior authorization will be needed for medications dispensed before Sept. 1, 2020.

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

2020-07-23T13:36:00-04:00July 23, 2020|Indiana|

Louisiana

At the Louisiana Pharmacists Association’s virtual annual meeting this week, NACDS honored Walgreens pharmacist Jeff Gaude as the Louisiana Chain Pharmacist of the Year. Jeff was selected by his peers as an outstanding pharmacist dedicated to the advancement of the profession.

Also in Louisiana. The Board of Pharmacy scheduled a special Board meeting at 9 AM on July 28, 2020.  Meeting details and agenda can be found here.

Also in Louisiana. NACDS is continuing efforts to urge the Louisiana Office of Public Health (OPH) to persuade  Gov. John Bel Edwards to issue an Executive Order NACDS drafted leveraging pharmacists and other qualified healthcare professionals and vaccinators in mass immunization efforts once COVID-19 vaccines are available. The NACDS model language would also allow pharmacists to delegate technical, non-clinical immunization tasks to pharmacy technicians, and includes a provision requiring insurance carriers, Medicaid, and any contracted pharmacy benefit managers reimburse pharmacies for the cost of acquiring and administering a COVID-19 vaccine.

Also in Louisiana. NACDS virtually attended the Board of Pharmacy’s Regulation Revision Committee (RRC) meeting monitoring the discussions on pharmacy staffing ratios, telepharmacy counseling requirements, and electronic prescribing draft rules. While the Committee voted against increasing the pharmacy technician ratio, they did commit to discussing the issue of pharmacy technicians administering immunizations at the August 12, 2020 Board meeting. The electronic prescribing rules were not discussed, so they remain on the RRC agenda for their next meeting this Fall.

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

2020-07-24T16:39:43-04:00July 23, 2020|Louisiana|

Michigan

Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D) rescinded the pharmacy waivers found in Executive Order 2020-124 effective July 14 at 8:31 pm. The Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs will give providers though 11:59 pm on August 31, 2020, to return to normal order. The three pharmacy-related waivers still in place are as follows: Executive Order 2020-104; Executive Order 2020-149; and Executive Order 2020-152. 

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

2020-07-23T13:33:36-04:00July 23, 2020|Michigan|

Mississippi

The Division of Medicaid published a proposed rule that would amend regulations under Title 23, Part 200, Chapter 4, to clarify which provider activities constitute a change of ownership. The rule also would require a provider to notify the department of a change of ownership within 35 days. Comments are due July 25, 2020.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.

2020-07-23T13:31:54-04:00July 23, 2020|Mississippi|

Nevada

At the in-person Board of Pharmacy meeting in Las Vegas last week, the Board agreed with NACDS, the Retail Association of Nevada (RAN), and chain members to move forward with proposed rules allowing pharmacy technicians to administer all vaccines. NACDS and RAN will continue to advocate expedited adoption by making it an emergency rule.

Also in Nevada. The special legislative session on the budget ended on Sunday, July 19. Lawmakers continue to discuss convening a second special session this Fall to address policy.

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

2020-07-23T13:16:27-04:00July 23, 2020|Nevada|

New Mexico

In response to a request by chain pharmacies, on July 23 the Board of Pharmacy discussed allowing pharmacy technicians to administer vaccinations to help meet the anticipated public demand for influenza vaccinations this fall, and COVID vaccinations when they are available. NACDS submitted a support letter in advance of the meeting.

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

2020-07-23T13:15:16-04:00July 23, 2020|New Mexico|

North Carolina

Governor Cooper announced this week that North Carolina will continue to stay paused in the “Safer at Home Phase 2”. As a part of this initiative, the Governor’s executive order expired Friday, July 17, and has been extended for three weeks until Friday, August 7, 2020.

Also in North Carolina. The Board of Pharmacy published a temporary rule that amends regulations under 21 NCAC 46 to establish a list of restricted drugs during the coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency. The rule also establishes that pharmacists can fill the prescription drugs on the list only if the prescription bears a written diagnosis from the prescriber consistent with the evidence for its use. This Rule does not apply to prescriptions for a Restricted Drug for a patient previously established on that Restricted Drug on or before March 10, 2020.  The rule is effective June 26 and expires on March 23, 2021.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.

2020-07-23T13:13:49-04:00July 23, 2020|North Carolina|

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