In The States – Page 345 – Weekly news about states

West Virginia

Several bills advancing pharmacy practice were signed by Gov. Jim Justice (R).Â HB 2525 allows pharmacists to initiate tobacco cessation therapy and dispense tobacco cessation products under a statewide standing order. The law requires the Commissioner of the Bureau of Public Health to issue the necessary standing orders for therapy, non-controlled prescription and over-the-counter drugs. HB 2583 permits a pharmacist to dispense a self-administered hormonal contraceptive under a standing order to patients 18 years of age or older, after completion of a Board of Pharmacy approval of training programs. HB 2524 allows pharmacists, under certain circumstances, to convert maintenance medications to a 90-day quantity and allows for emergency refills under certain conditions. The bills will be effective on Thursday, June 6.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.

Karen White2019-04-05T11:26:00-04:00April 4, 2019|West Virginia|

Utah

Gov. Gary Herbert (R) has signed into law House Concurrent Resolution 1urging the Drug Enforcement Administration to approve a pilot program for drug takeback drop boxes in pharmacies that are controlled by local law enforcement agencies.

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

Karen White2019-04-05T11:15:40-04:00April 4, 2019|Utah|

Texas

The Health and Humans Services Department of State Health Services’ Immunization Unit created this flyer to help pharmacies educate patients about opting into ImmTrac2, the state’s immunization registry.

Also in Texas… HB 2174/SB 1233, legislation filed by Rep. John Zerwas (R) and Sen. Lois Kolkhorst (R) that the Attorney General and pharmacies support mandating e-prescribing for all controlled substances by Friday, January 1, 2021 and also includes provisions to limit the day supply for acute pain medications to seven days, has been heard in both the House Public Health and Senate Health and Human Services Committee.

Also in Texas… SB 420/HB 577, legislation filed by Sen. Dawn Buckingham (R) and Rep. Senfronia Thompson (D) clarifying the new requirements to check the prescription monitoring program for certain refill prescriptions has passed the Senate and is pending further action in the House Public Health Committee.

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

Karen White2019-04-05T11:12:51-04:00April 4, 2019|Texas|

Oklahoma

Last week, the Board of Pharmacy approved regulations NACDS supported that if approved by the Legislature, will increase the pharmacy technician to pharmacist ratio from 2:1 to 5:1.

Also in Oklahoma… NACDS is closely monitoring SB 856, legislation pending in the House Health Committee that pharmacies oppose filed by pharmacist Sen. Rob Standridge (R) that would limit the technician to pharmacist ratio to 2:1.

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

Karen White2019-04-05T11:10:41-04:00April 4, 2019|Oklahoma|

North Dakota

Gov. Doug Burgum (R) signed into law SB 2231 effective Thursday, August 1. The law allows pharmacists to initiate/modify drug therapy pursuant to established protocols, authorizes a pharmacist to furnish different types of medications, and eliminates some of the administrative requirements for collaborative practice agreements.

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

Karen White2019-04-05T11:08:24-04:00April 4, 2019|North Dakota|

New York

New York met its April 1 deadline for completion of its 2019-20 state budget. The final budget included a rejection of an across-the-board reduction in Medicaid claims totaling $380 million in combined federal and state dollars and included the elimination of spread pricing for Medicaid Managed Care plans. It did not include an expansion of the pharmacy technician ratio that was supported by NACDS. A $100 million opioid excise tax on drug manufacturers and wholesalers was also included. NACDS and the Community Pharmacy Association of New York State worked diligently to reject this tax citing that this would really be a tax on patients and pharmacies. NACDS is coordinating a legal review of the new tax law with the Healthcare Distribution Alliance to identify potential legal challenges, if any, to the new law.

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

Karen White2019-04-05T11:06:45-04:00April 4, 2019|New York|

Nevada

AB 310, legislation introduced by Speaker of the House Jason Frierson (D) mandating e-prescribing for all controlled substances by Friday, January 1, 2021, was heard in the Senate Business and Commerce Committee last week.

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

Karen White2019-04-05T11:04:57-04:00April 4, 2019|Nevada|

New Mexico

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) signed into law SB 221, legislation that will permit pharmacists and other healthcare providers who prescribe an opioid analgesic for a patient to co-prescribe an opioid antagonist if the amount of opioid analgesic being prescribed is at least a five-day supply effective Tuesday, June 4.

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

Karen White2019-04-05T11:03:18-04:00April 4, 2019|New Mexico|

Montana

SB 322, legislation creating a $5 million endorsement fee and endorsement license on wholesalers distributing opioids into the state, has failed to gain a majority vote in committee and failed an attempt to pull the bill directly to the floor. The bill is now considered dead for the 2019 Legislative Session.

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

Karen White2019-04-05T11:01:31-04:00April 4, 2019|Montana|