Mississippi

Notice of the Board of Pharmacy announces a statewide standing order to authorize dispensing and administration of naloxone by pharmacists licensed to practice in the state. The order is effective May 18, 2020 and expires May 18, 2021. 

Also in Mississippi... Proposed rule of the Division of Medicaid would amend regulations under Title 23, Part 214, Chapter 1, Rules 1.12 to add standards that remove the beneficiary signature requirement for prescription drug delivery during a national or statewide emergency. The rule also would add to the list of facilities exempted from certain beneficiary signature requirements. No hearing is not scheduled on this rule.  Comments are due June 27, 2020. 

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

2020-06-11T10:08:32-04:00June 11, 2020|Mississippi|

Missouri

The Missouri Board of Pharmacy published an update outlining which COVID-19 related waivers from Executive Order 20-04 would expire on June 15, 2020 and which waivers are extended until September 1, 2020.  Waivers to expire June 15th include practice by out of state pharmacists and technicians, albuterol substitution, emergency dispensing, and dispensing verified medication by technicians and pharmacy interns when the pharmacist is not physically present in the pharmacy.

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

2020-06-11T10:06:42-04:00June 11, 2020|Missouri|

New Mexico

The legislators will return to Santa Fe on June 18, 2020 for a special session on the budget deficit caused by plummeting oil and gas prices, combined with lower gross receipts taxes because of the COVID restrictions. While the Roundhouse will be closed to the public, all committee hearings and floor sessions will be webcast. Any employees and media entering the building will be required to undergo a COVID-19 test; however, legislators will not be required but will be highly encouraged to do so too. All employees will also be required to undergo a COVID-19 test before the start of the special session to enter the Roundhouse. Legislators will not be required to undergo a test, but will be highly encouraged to do so. 

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

2020-06-11T10:05:34-04:00June 11, 2020|New Mexico|

Ohio

The Board of Pharmacy released a notice this week regarding fraudulent verbal and paper prescriptions for promethazine/codeine

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

2020-06-11T10:01:40-04:00June 11, 2020|Ohio|

Oklahoma

Notice of the Insurance Department announces LH Bulletin 2020-03 to advise health insurers and health maintenance organizations on coverage of COVID-19 antibody testing. The department provides information on CPT codes for such tests and expects insurers to cover costs associated with FDA-approved antibody tests.

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

2020-06-11T10:00:12-04:00June 11, 2020|Oklahoma|

Texas

NACDS, the Texas Federation of Drug Stores, and H-E-B pharmacists Doug Read and Jay Bueche, met with New Braunfels Sen. Donna Campbell, an emergency room physician. During the Zoom meeting, we promoted our scope regulatory and legislative agenda, including expanding technician duties and eliminating arbitrary ratios, expanding access to immunizations without a prescription. We also asked the Senator to urge Gov. Greg Abbott to allow pharmacists to test now for COVID and treat later when the vaccines become available.  

Also in Texas... Continuing to advocate for the removal of the remaining barrier to pharmacist COVID-19 testing, NACDS, the Texas Federation of Drug Stores, and other Texas pharmacy organizations with the help of the Executive Director of the Board of Pharmacy (BOP) Allison Benz and the Board president, Julie Spier with Albertsons, finally convinced Gov. Greg Abbott to acknowledge that the federal HHS April 8th guidance document and May 19th advisory opinion clearly authorize pharmacist ordering and administration of COVID-19 testing without any physician involvement. Texas BOP FAQ‘s that provide official guidance on pharmacist testing have been updated to that effect.   

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

2020-06-11T11:39:07-04:00June 11, 2020|Texas|

Alabama

Effective July 1, 2020 the Alabama Medicaid Agency will remove prior authorization (PA) from Mometasone nasal spray (generic Nasonex) and Modafinil (generic Provigil). Brand Nasonex and Provigil will now require PA. They will also update the Preferred Drug List to reflect the quarterly updates. The updates can be found here.   

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

2020-06-04T09:47:41-04:00June 4, 2020|Alabama|

California

NACDS is seeking member comments on Board of Pharmacy approved regulations changing pharmacist consultation requirements that now require either the consultation occur within 10 minutes or a return business call within one business hour.  The regulations are currently under final review at the Office of Administrative Law.   

Also in California... The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) that oversees Medi-Cal announced that Director Brad Gilbert is retiring in June. 

Also in California... The Board of Pharmacy adopted an Emergency rule under 16 CCR 1747 to establish standards for initiating and providing to patients’ HIV preexposure and postexposure prophylaxis and related recordkeeping requirements. The rule was effective April 30th and expires October 27, 2020. 

Also in California... In advance of the June 2nd Assembly Appropriations Committee hearing, NACDS and the California Retailers Association weighed in on two issues important to chain pharmacies. We submitted a joint letter supporting legislation which will extend for five years the sunset on existing law that allows pharmacists to furnish sterile syringes without a prescription (AB 2077-Ting).  We also submitted a joint letter opposing a bill which would prohibit pharmacies from automatically contacting prescribers to authorize a prescription for any dangerous drug or device for more than a 7-day supply refill without authorization from the prescriber or patient. The bill also requires a pharmacy to obtain separate authorization for each prescription and would prohibit a pharmacy from requesting more than the number of refills authorized in the original prescription. (AB 2983-Holden). 

Also in California... The Board of Pharmacy posted important information for pharmacies that were vandalized, looted or set on fire during recent violence in California. 

Also in California... The Board of Pharmacy is scheduled to meet on June 18, 2020 via teleconference. The agenda and instructions on how to join the meeting will be posted on the meetings page at the Board’s website. 

Also in California...  Expecting a delay in processing payments for license renewals submitted by mail during the last week of June and first two weeks of July, the Board of Pharmacy recommends that if your license expires June 30 or July 1, 2020, you need to mail payment by June 11, 2020 to ensure the online verification system accurately reflects your renewal status process during the delay period. Alternatively, pharmacists, advance practice pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and designated representatives can renew your license online, and the processing of online renewal payments will not be delayed. 

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

2020-06-04T09:44:13-04:00June 4, 2020|California|

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