Texas

In advance of the August 6th Board of Pharmacy meeting, NACDS submitted a letter approved by our members operating in Texas recommending the Board eliminate pharmacy technician ratios and expand duties. After much discussion, the Board decided to move forward on all of our recommendations and directed staff to draft a proposed rule for the November 5th meeting that would include expanding technician duties to allow techs to (1) accept a verbal order, (2) transfer a prescription, and (3) contact a prescriber to clarify a prescription. The proposed rule would also eliminate the technician to pharmacist’s ratio which is currently set at 1:4. The Board also directed staff to consult with the Medical Board regarding our recommendation to allow pharmacy technicians to administer vaccinations, and bring back to the Board at the November information from the Medical Board about delegating this task to these paraprofessionals, not a proposed rule.

Also in Texas… On July 17, the TSBP upgraded the prescription monitoring program (PMP) to allow all approved users access to an advanced analytics and patient support tool called NarxCare. In addition to the existing PMP functionality, NarxCare will aggregate and analyze prescription information from providers and pharmacies and present visual, interactive information, as well as advanced analytic insights, machine learning risk scores and more.

Also in Texas… The budget bill signed by Gov. Greg Abbott (R) included the funding necessary to integrate the state’s PMP into pharmacy data systems. The TSBP wants prescribers and dispensers to know that with statewide integration, they will no longer have to interrupt their current workflow to access the PMP. An overview of the integration process, along with informational resources, can be found on the TSBP website.

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

2019-08-08T09:27:44-04:00August 8, 2019|Texas|

California

The Board of Pharmacy is disseminating information that pharmacies are eligible to receive free drug take-back bins and paid disposal service through a federally funded program intended to combat the opioid epidemic and reduce the misuse of medications. The California Statewide Drug Take-Back Program is expected to expand options for consumers to safely dispose of unused, unwanted or expired medications – including controlled substances – for humans and pets. The program is funded by the state Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) and administered by the California Product Stewardship Council (CPSC). California licensed pharmacies, hospitals and other agencies approved by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration can apply to receive free collection bins. The program will pay for the cost of the bins, disposal service through 2020, technical assistance and promotion of bin locations. More information, including a program FAQ sheet and instructions on how to apply for a drug take-back bin, is available on the California Statewide Drug Take-Back Program website.

Also in California… In advance of the July 24 Board of Pharmacy meeting, NACDS and the California Retailers Association sent a letter expressing our concerns regarding the proposed regulations related to the “no pharmacist left alone” bill passed last session. (B&P Section 4113.5 /SB 1442, Statutes of 2018).

Also in California… Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) continues to move forward with the implementation of an Executive Order to take on high prescription drug costs. The DHCS announced this week that they will soon begin accepting proposals to implement a significant component of the state’s prescription drug purchasing plan. Under the proposal, DHCS will be transitioning Medi-Cal pharmacy services from its contracted managed care plans to its directly negotiated fee-for-service system, thereby purchasing on behalf of 13 million enrollees, as opposed to the current 2 million.

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

2019-07-25T16:44:42-04:00July 25, 2019|California|

Colorado

NACDS received a response from the Department of Healthcare Policy and Financing regarding NACDS’ comments on the proposed rules pertaining to Medical Assistance Program Integrity. Some of our suggestions were adopted by the Medical Services Board at its July 12 public hearing.

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

2019-07-25T16:43:35-04:00July 25, 2019|Colorado|

Connecticut

Gov. Ned Lamont (D) recently signed HB 7363, now Public Act 19-199, placing restrictions on clawbacks and direct and indirect remuneration (DIR) fees by pharmacy benefit managers effective Wednesday, January 1, 2020.

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.

2019-07-25T16:42:18-04:00July 25, 2019|Connecticut|

Minnesota

With legislation enacted for the state to comply with CMS’ Covered Outpatient Drugs Final Rule for Medicaid fee-for-service pharmacy reimbursement, next steps include filing a State Plan Amendment (SPA). To this end, the Department of Human Services (DHS) is requesting documentation of pharmacy payment of the state’s 2% wholesaler tax by Wednesday, July 31. The Minnesota Pharmacists Association has created a template to facilitate submission of acceptable documentation. The information may be emailed directly to Chad Hope, PharmD, Deputy Director, Division of Purchasing and Service Delivery at DHS.

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

2019-07-25T16:41:17-04:00July 25, 2019|Minnesota|

Missouri

As part of its ongoing process to comply with CMS’ Covered Outpatient Drugs Final Rule, Missouri HealthNet has issued a cost of dispensing survey. Instructions and information can be found on the Department of Social Services web page. Survey responses are due by Friday, August 16.

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

2019-07-25T16:40:09-04:00July 25, 2019|Missouri|

Nebraska

The Nebraska Health Information Initiative (NeHII) announced it will be changing vendors for the state’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program. Uploading to the new site will be required by Tuesday, September 3, but will be available as early as Monday, August 5. If pharmacies are interested to be early adopters, please contact NeHII.

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

2019-07-25T16:39:11-04:00July 25, 2019|Nebraska|

Nevada

At the July 18 Board of Pharmacy workshop meeting, the Board considered changing the ratio of pharmacist and pharmaceutical technician (currently 1:3 since 2006) to 1:8 ratio where a pharmacist can supervise up to 8 technicians or up to 5 technicians and 3 technicians-in-training. Unfortunately, board members decided to pursue adopting a 1:4 ratio and removing the ability of a clerk, defined as an individual who is not a pharmacist, intern pharmacist, pharmacy technician or pharmacy technician in training, from performing any task in a pharmacy where they come into contact with any prescription drug that is not packaged for final sale and verified by a pharmacist. This issue will be on the Board’s Workshop Agenda at its Wednesday-Thursday, September 4-5 meeting in Reno.

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

2019-07-25T16:38:08-04:00July 25, 2019|Nevada|

Oregon

Gov. Kate Brown (D) recently signed HB 2185, relating to pharmacy benefit managers, into law. Among the various provisions is language that eliminates retroactive fees, clawed back after payments from PBMs to pharmacies have already been made.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

2019-07-25T16:37:04-04:00July 25, 2019|Oregon|

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