In this week’s election for governor, Attorney General Andy Beshear (D) has claimed victory over incumbent Governor Matt Bevin (R) in a very tight race. However, Bevin has not conceded. Bevin claims that the race is too close to call and has requested a recount. That recount is scheduled to take place next week.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
In state-wide elections this week, current Lt. Governor Tate Reeves (R) defeated Attorney General Jim Hood (D) in the gubernatorial race. Mississippi requires that gubernatorial candidates not only win the popular vote, but also that they secure a majority of legislative districts as well. Of note, current State Treasurer Lynn Fitch (R) will become the state’s first female Attorney General. Additionally, Republicans gained a supermajority in the Senate and maintained their supermajority in the House. Speaker Phil Gunn (R) is expected to remain Speaker in
Also in Mississippi… the Mississippi Division of Medicaid’s (DOM) Universal Preferred Drug List (PDL) is updated on a quarterly basis each year, with off-cycle changes made as the need arises. As a reminder to pharmacies and prescribing Medicaid providers, effective Nov. 1, 2019, three off-cycle PDL changes will occur. For more information please click here.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
In elections this week, the Virginia Legislature flipped to Democratic control, with Democrats winning the majority in both the Commonwealth’s Senate and House of Delegates. With Gov. Ralph Northam (D), this places Democrats in political control of the state for the first time in over a quarter of a century. Gov. Northam is two years into a four–year term.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
The agenda for the November 5 & 6, 2019 Board of Pharmacy meeting in Sacramento has been posted on-line – https://pharmacy.ca.gov/meetings/agendas/2019/19_nov_bd.pdf
Also in California… State Senator Jeff Stone, PharmD, announced his resignation from the California State Senate this week where has served since being elected in 2014. As the only pharmacist in the legislature, he served as Vice-Chair of Senate Health Committee and Senate Human Services Committee.
Also in California… for a limited time period, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) Pharmacy Benefits Division will have an online application for the Alternative Payment Option for Pharmacy Retroactive Payment Adjustments. An online form for alternative payment arrangement applications will be open from October 28 through November 22, 2019. The online form will close on November 22, 2019. Applications will not be accepted after that time. Chain pharmacies must complete individual forms specific to each National Provider Identifier (NPI) for which they are seeking this arrangement. Providers may refer to the Pharmacy Reimbursement Project web page of the DHCS website for additional information regarding this project.
Also in California… during the current state of emergency declared by Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) earlier this week, treatment authorization requests (TARs) for medications (new, refill or replacement) will be automatically approved if the TAR indicates that the beneficiary is impacted by fire or by power shutoffs. The situation of being impacted by fire/power shutoff alone will meet the criteria of medical necessity and the TAR will be approved.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) held a press conference this week announcing aggressive action his Administration is taking against the Board of Pharmacy. Apparently, a 2005 law requiring fingerprinting and criminal background checks for applicants seeking wholesale pharmacy licenses was never implemented despite the fact that the Board collected fees from the applicants. The Governor announced that he will be making new appointments to the Board, and that the 10-month investigation being conducted by two independent agencies will continue.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
NACDS and the Community Pharmacy Association of New York State held a series of lobby days and grassroots initiatives to support pharmacy technician legislation that this week Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) signed into law. It takes effect in 18 months and includes a change of the ratio of licensed pharmacist to unlicensed personnel from 2:1 to 4:1.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.
NACDS met with Joe Schnabel, Executive Director of the Oregon Board of Pharmacy to discuss upcoming rulemaking to implement legislation requiring: 1) prescription labels in English AND the patient’s native language beginning January 1, 2021; and 2) a requirement that all pharmacies provide label readers to those patients indicating they are visually impaired.
The Board does not feel it has much flexibility with regard to the labeling issue. In addition, NACDS’s lobbyist has met with two key Senators who have indicated the translation issue will not be considered in the 2020 Legislative Session. NACDS members have expressed serious concerns with costs and timelines associated with implementing the translation labeling.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
The Tennessee Pharmacists Association has partnered with America Pharmacists’ Association (APhA) to offer the APhA’s “Pharmacist & Patient-Centered Diabetes Care” Certificate Training Program to pharmacists at a promotional rate of only $99, on Friday, November 22, 2019, at the Embassy Suites by Hilton in Memphis, TN. For more information click here.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
The Texas Board of Pharmacy is meeting on Tuesday, November 5, 2019. There are several issues on the agenda of interest to NACDS, including rulemaking for legislation chain pharmacy supported, discussion on the strategic plan for 2021-2025, and proposed rules to eliminate technician ratios. For more information go to – https://www.pharmacy.texas.gov/files_pdf/BN/Nov19/Agenda.pdf
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.