Alabama
The Legislature convened on Tuesday, February 4, 2020
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
California
At the January 2020 Board of Pharmacy meeting, Anne Sodergren was hired as the Board’s Executive Officer.
Also in California... In response to the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) announcement that they would be reinstituting the Medi-Cal reimbursement clawback process effective February 10, 2020, that has been on hold since June 14, 2019, the California Pharmacist Association (CPhA) intends to file for a temporary restraining order this week against DHCS to suspend the clawbacks on pharmacies who serve Medi-Cal patients.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Iowa
The Iowa Pharmacy Association’s scope of practice legislation was not advanced by a Subcommittee of the Human Resources Committee after hearing from proponents and opponents of the bill. The legislation seeks to expand pharmacist immunization authority and establish statewide protocol for point of care testing for flu and streptococcus A.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.
Louisiana
Having received unanimous support from NACDS and the other seven Pharmacy organizations that represent all pharmacists within the state, this week the Board of Pharmacy agreed to file legislation that would expand collaborative practice agreements and allow pharmacists to prescribe.
Also in Louisiana... NACDS and other representatives from the Louisiana Pharmacy Congress will be meeting with legislators and business groups this week to solicit their support for payment parity legislation which would ensure that payors may not deny reimbursement to a pharmacist for the provision of a service or procedure within the scope of the pharmacist’s license to practice pharmacy.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Maryland
Several bills of interest to pharmacy are scheduled to be heard by their respective committees of reference. If any member wishes to testify, please contact Jill McCormack at jmccormack@nacds.org.
Feb. 13 at 1pm before the Senate Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee -SB 440: Pharmacist Tobacco Cessation
Feb. 18 at 1pm before House Health and Government Operations Committee-
HB 30 – pharmacists administration of vaccines
HB 656 – pharmacists administration of self-administered medications and injectables
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Michigan
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) signed into law SB 340 pertaining to telepharmacy.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.
New Mexico
During week two of the four-week legislation session, payment parity legislation which provides for reimbursement parity for prescribing pharmacists, HB 42 by Rep. Deborah Armstrong, that has broad-based support from NACDS, NMPhA, NMRA, pharmacists and pharmacies, passed the House State Government, Elections & Indian Affairs Committee and was sent to the full House for further consideration. NACDS, NMPhA, NMRA, pharmacists from around the state supported the bill. Also supporting the bill are several of the health plans – Blue Cross Blue Shield, Presbyterian, American Health Insurance Plans, AARP and Young Women United.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Oklahoma
The legislature convened on Monday, February 3.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
South Carolina
H.4663: Influenza Vaccinations was amended and passed out of the House Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Subcommittee, favorably.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.