Gov. Dennis Daugaard (R ) signed into law SB 75 on February 8 pertaining to the substitution of interchangeable biosimilars with various options for pharmacists to communicate the product dispensed.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) announced he is advancing a 30-day budget amendment that would codify an Executive Order temporarily allowing pharmacists to administer flu vaccines to children ages two to 18 years. If enacted, this legislation would permanently suspend the section of the state education law that limits the authority of pharmacists to administer immunizing agents to anyone under 18 years of age. The budget amendment also includes language to encourage pharmacies to enroll in the New York State Vaccines for Children Program, which provides vaccines to children and individuals regardless of their ability to pay.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.
NACDS sponsored and attended the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin’s Legislative Day on February 8. A primary focus was support for companion bills, AB 680 and SB 576, which would give pharmacists independent authority to provide vaccines listed on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice’s (ACIP) recommended vaccine schedules for anyone 6 years of age and older; allow pharmacists to provide vaccines not currently recommended by ACIP pursuant to a prescription, standing order or protocol for anyone 6 years of age and older; and allow pharmacists to provide vaccines to children younger than 6 years of age pursuant to a prescription.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.
The Senate Finance Committee held a hearing on SB 13, legislation that would require pharmacies to report dispensing information on all drugs to the state’s Health Information Exchange. The Maryland Association of Chain Drug Stores and the Maryland Pharmacists Association testified in opposition to the bill, citing the lack of input by pharmacy previous to the bill being filed. Following that testimony, the Committee adopted a motion directing the Maryland Health Care Commission to further explore the concept through stakeholder’s workgroup meetings.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Gov. Doug Ducey (R) called a special session on January 22 to address the state’s opioid abuse crisis. On January 26, the Governor signed into law SB 1001 that rapidly moved through the legislature. Among the various pharmacy provisions in the bill are requirements for pharmacists to check the prescription drug monitoring program database for all new opioid prescriptions and to place a red cap and adhere a warning label to a prescription vial containing an opioid product. The warning label will be developed via Board of Pharmacy regulations. Beginning January 1, 2019, there will be requirements for e-prescribing of Schedule II controlled substances prescription phased in based upon population in a county with all counties in compliance by July 1, 2019.
The Senate Committee on Civil Law reported out an amended version of SB 339, sponsored by Sen. James Merritt (R). As proposed, the bill would have required that a pharmacy dispense all Schedule II controlled substances in a lockable vial. The amended bill would require a pharmacist to offer patients the option of receiving their prescriptions in lockable vials. NACDS is supporting the on-the-ground efforts of the Indiana Retail Council to oppose this bill, which is now eligible for consideration by the full Senate.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) issued an emergency order which allows pharmacists to administer flu vaccines to children ages two to 18 years. Subsequently, NACDS worked with the Chain Pharmacy Association of New York State and the New York State Department of Health (DOH) on implementation concerns. Over the weekend, Howard Zucker, Commissioner of DOH, signed a statewide, non-patient specific order for licensed pharmacists with a certificate of administration issued by the New York State Education Department to vaccinate patients ages two years to 18 years against seasonal influenza.
Also in New York…NACDS and the Chain Pharmacy Association of New York State met with state Medicaid staff and were advised that the changes to Medicaid fee-for-service pharmacy reimbursement using NADAC plus a $10.00 professional dispensing fee will be implemented effective Thursday, February 22, on a prospective basis. Staff do not yet know when retroactive adjustments to April 1, 2017, will be made.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.
The Board of Pharmacy and the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services are offering two free continuing education offerings for a full day conference on The Opioid Epidemic: What Pharmacists Need to Know. To register for either the Friday, March 9 meeting at the University of Oklahoma Tulsa-Schusterman Center Perkins Auditorium or the Friday, March 30 meeting at Moore Norman Technology Center South Penn Campus, contact lharrison@pharmacy.ok.gov.
SB 542, legislation that would allow a pharmacist to dispense up to a 30-day supply of medication as an emergency refill, passed both chambers unanimously and has been sent to Gov. Tom Wolf (D) for his signature. The bill amends the current statute which only allowed a 72-hour supply to be dispensed.