The Board of Pharmacy alerted pharmacies to remain vigilant during this period of social unrest as criminals may seek the opportunity to gain access to controlled substances.
Also in Nevada... The Board of Pharmacy met on June 3rd via conference call. Link to agenda and meeting materials – https://bop.nv.gov/uploadedFiles/bop.nv.gov/content/board/ALL/2018_Meetings/5.15.2020.June%202020%20Amended%20Agenda.p
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Primary elections were held on Tuesday, June 2nd. Early returns indicate that four powerful incumbent Senate Democrats may have lost their primary contests: John Smith – Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Mary Kay Papen – Senate President Pro Tempore, Clemente Sanchez, Chairman of the Senate Corporations and Transportation Committee, and Richard Martinez, Former Chair of Senate Judiciary Committee.
Also in New Mexico... On June 18, 2020, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is convening a special session on the budget. The state shortfall for the next fiscal year is estimated to be as high as $2.8B due to plunging oil and gas revenues and the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, there is an estimated shortfall between $368M and $483M for the current fiscal year.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
The New York State Legislature has passed S.8182A/Hoylman/A.10508-A Paulin which authorize licensed pharmacists to administer any approved vaccine for COVID-19. The bill will proceed to the Governor for review and signature before year’s end.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.
NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) issued a request for qualifications from vendors to provide COVID-19 testing and contact tracing. NCDHHS is seeking to create a pool of qualified vendors to support the response to COVID-19 by providing diagnostic and antibody testing including specimen collection and laboratory processing and contact tracing. The RFQ can be found here. The first deadline to respond to the RFQ is 2 p.m. on June 9, 2020. Qualified applicants will be notified on June 17, 2020. This is a rolling qualification process and vendors will be able to submit a response by the first of very month through December. In addition, the NCDHHS anticipates issuing future RFQs for other functions beyond testing, lab capacity and contact tracing.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Rep. Bill Roemer (R) has introduced HB 673. This legislation authorizes licensed pharmacists and pharmacy interns to administer immunizations for COVID-19. Specifically, this measure states that licensed pharmacists and pharmacy interns are authorized to administer COVID-19 immunizations to individuals aged seven and older. Additionally, it allows for pharmacists to conduct COVID-19 diagnostic and antibodies tests. The House Local and State Government Committee heard proponent testimony this week. NACDS is on record supporting the bill.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Pharmacy Caucus Co-Chair, Sen. Judy Ward (R) issued a co-sponsorship memo for a bill that would exempt a pharmacy or pharmacists from the laboratory experience requirements, clearing a barrier remaining to pharmacists to perform COVID-19 testing.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
NACDS is drafting expanded scope legislation for the 2021 session.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Alabama Medicaid Agency has issued an ALERT stating that all previously published expiration dates related to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) emergency are once again extended. The new expiration date is the earlier of June 30, 2020, the conclusion of the COVID-19 National emergency, or any expiration date noticed by the Alabama Medicaid Agency through a subsequent ALERT.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
NACDS was successful in placing an op-ed on vaccinations signed by Steve Anderson in Talk Business and Politics, an on-line Arkansas publication that covers business and political communities. The opinion letter title was “For COVID-19 vaccinations, all signs point to pharmacists.”
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.