North Dakota
North Dakota Medicaid issued an update with information about personnel changes in the Pharmacy Services team
For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.
Texas
In an effort to stay connected with Texas state legislators during the interim, NACDS, the Texas Federation of Drug Stores and our chain pharmacists from HEB, Kroger, Walgreens and United have been engaged in Zoom meetings. Over the past couple of weeks, we have met with nine lawmakers — West Texas State Senators Charles Perry & Kel Seliger, Ft. Worth State Senator Beverly Powell, San Antonio State Representative Phillip Cortez, Houston State Representative Garnet Coleman, El Paso State Representative Lina Ortega, Arlington State Representative Chris Turner, Dallas State Senator Nathan Johnson and Wichita Falls State Representative James Franks. During these meetings, we covered a wide range of issues beyond the great work pharmacist and pharmacies are doing during the pandemic throughout Texas to ensure access to medications, promoting our scope regulatory and legislative agenda, — expanding technician duties and eliminating arbitrary ratios, and enhancing access to immunizations without a prescription. We also urged them to tell Gov. Greg Abbott to allow pharmacists to test now for COVID and treat later when the vaccines become available.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Wisconsin
The March ForwardHealth Update pertaining to COVID-19 has been updated and can be found here
For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.
Arkansas
NACDS participated in conference call with Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) last week where he announced that the state had submitted a State Plan Amendment to CMS to increase the payment rates for pharmacist administered vaccines effective in late July 2020. The SPA increases the rates to $15.45 for administration of the influenza immunization. The SPA also increases rates for other Medicaid payable vaccines to $13.14. NACDS will be submitting a comment letter supporting the increase.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
California
NACDS, the California Retailers Association, and the California Pharmacists Association have submitted numerous requests over the past several weeks and continue to encourage the Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D) Administration to waive existing barriers to allow pharmacists to order and administer COVID-19 and anti-body tests. By allowing pharmacists the ability test, as the state reopens, it will be able to better implement track and trace policies crucial to getting the state’s population back to work.
Also in California… The Assembly returned to the Capitol on Monday, May 4th, and the Senate announced their session will resume on Monday, May 11th.
Also in California… An emergency rulemaking action to add section 1747 to Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations relating to the independent initiation and furnishing of HIV preexposure and postexposure prophylaxis as authorized by Statutes of 2019, chapter 532 (SB 159) was finally approved by the Office of Administrative Law. The Notice of Approval and the text of CCR section 1747 – Independent HIV Preexposure and Postexposure Prophylaxis Furnishing, can be viewed on the Approved Regulations page at the Board of Pharmacy’s website, www.pharmacy.ca.gov.
Also in California… Effective April 1, 2020, an Order of Adoption of a proposal to amend the Protocol for Pharmacists Furnishing Naloxone Hydrochloride was announced by the Board of Pharmacy. To view the regulation and Naloxone Fact Sheet, go to the Approved Regulations on the Board’s website – www.pharmacy.ca.gov.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Colorado
May 18, 2020 is the tentative date for the Legislature to resume the session that was paused on March 14th. While there are more than 350 bills pending, it is very likely that most will die and the legislators will focus only on COVID issues and the state’s budget, which forecasters estimate it to be around a $3.2-4 billion shortfall.
Also in Colorado. The Department of Public Health and Environment, Prevention Services Division, issued a Final rule repealing regulations regarding the state’s Cancer Drug Repository Program, effective May 15, 2020.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Connecticut
This week Connecticut State Officials from the Governor’s Office and Department of Consumer Protection met with NACDS, the Connecticut Community Pharmacy Association and pharmacies to discuss any impediments to pharmacists being able to order, administer and interpret COVID tests. State officials felt strongly that the key to rapidly increasing the testing of its citizens required the support of the pharmacy community. State officials agreed to consider several actions to expedite the process.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.
Louisiana
The legislature reconvened their session on Monday, May 4, and by constitution, must adjourn by June 1. While the budget is their main focus, several committees did post hearings for this week, including a payment parity bill, HB 459, filed by Rep. Joseph Stagni. The payment parity bill garnered broad support from the Louisiana Pharmacy Congress that represents eight pharmacy organizations — Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding, Louisiana Independent Pharmacies Association, Louisiana Pharmacists Association, Louisiana Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Louisiana State Board of Pharmacy, National Association of Chain Drug Stores, University of Louisiana at Monroe – School of Pharmacy, Xavier University of Louisiana – College of Pharmacy – was scheduled for a hearing in the House Insurance Committee on May 6. Both NACDS launched a RxIMPACT alert to mobilize support for the bill, and so did the Louisiana Pharmacists Association. NACDS and the Louisiana Retailers Association submitted a joint support letter to the committee. Mounting opposition to the bill were the family physicians and insurers led by Blue Cross/Blue Shield. Unfortunately, late Tuesday, the bill was removed from the committee calendar because it was deemed too controversial.
Also in Louisiana... At their April Board of Pharmacy reduced the number of live CE requirements for 2020. They determined it appropriate to modify the CE requirements for pharmacist license renewal for Calendar Year 2021 such that a total of 15 hours of ACPE-accredited pharmacist-specific CE will qualify for license renewal without regard to whether the CE is acquired through live presentations or home study methods.
Also in Louisiana... The Board of Pharmacy is holding a May 29, 2020 hearing on a proposed rule to add nine drugs of concern, including seven drugs for the treatment of hepatitis, promethazine oral liquid formation, and gabapentin. The rule also would add recordkeeping requirements for prescription transactions. NACDS will be submitting a comment letter.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
New Hampshire
The New Hampshire Board of Pharmacy Licensed Advanced Practice Technician (LAPT) Committee continues to meet with interested stakeholders, including NACDS, on the duties and educational training for the newly created LAPT position. The committee agreed to draft their recommendations for full Board of Pharmacy consideration at their summer meeting.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.