Colorado
HB 18-1279, mandatory e-prescribing legislation NACDS and a broad coalition support, was heard in the House Health, Insurance and Environment Committee on March 29.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Florida
HB 351, sponsored by Rep. David Santiago (R), was signed by Gov. Rick Scott (R) on March 23. Effective Sunday, July 1, contracts with a PBM shall prohibit the limitation of a pharmacy’s or pharmacist’s ability to substitute a less expensive, generically equivalent drug or to disclose whether a subscriber’s cost-sharing obligation exceeds the retail price for a covered prescription drug and availability of a more affordable alternative drug. Additionally, effective Tuesday, January 1, 2019, PBMs are required to register with the Office of Insurance Regulation and pay a registration fee and a renewal fee every two years from the date of initial certification, both of which shall not exceed $500 and are non-refundable. The Office must issue a registration certificate upon receipt of a completed registration form and adopt rules.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Kentucky
SB 6, a bill that originally would have required pharmacies and practitioners to distribute or sell drug sequestration or deactivation products with every controlled substance prescription, was significantly amended in the House Health and Family Services Committee, subsequently passed both chambers and will be sent to the Governor for signing. The compromise amendment makes it optional for pharmacies to sell or distribute the drug disposal products. However, it requires pharmacies and practitioners to inform patients filling certain controlled substances with information on safe drug disposal methods either verbally, in written format or through signage. The bill also contains graded penalties for pharmacies and practitioners who violate the law, starting at $25 for a first offense. The bill encourages manufacturers of the drug disposal technologies to enter into consignment-reimbursement contracts with pharmacies to stock their products. The Legislature is currently scheduled to adjourn sine die on Saturday, April 14, and the law would be effective 90 days after sine die. NACDS supported the on-the-ground efforts of the Kentucky Retail Federation to amend this bill.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Pennsylvania
HB 1800, legislation related to pharmacists performing medication synchronization, has been introduced with 43 co-sponsors. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Eric Nelson (R), requires insurers to allow partial fills, prorates copays and requires a full dispensing fee. Committee consideration of this legislation, an initiative of the Pennsylvania Association of Chain Drug Stores, is anticipated this spring.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
West Virginia
HB 4524, legislation allowing pharmacists to substitute interchangeable biologic drugs and establishes guidelines for notification, has been signed by Gov. Jim Justice (R) with an effective date of Friday, June 8.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Arkansas
As a result of the special session convened last week, Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) signed into law a PBM licensure bill that grants power to the state’s Insurance Department to regulate how PBMs operate in the state.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Florida
The legislature adjourned last week. Of note, HB 21, sponsored by Rep. Jim Boyd (R), was signed by Gov. Rick Scott (R) on March 20. Included in the many provisions of the bill, effective, Sunday, July 1, specific to controlled substances, the bill requires the dispenser check the identification of unknown persons prior to dispensing. Additionally, the bill imposes a three-day supply limit with an exception for a seven-day supply if certain criteria are met, and requires that the prescriber or dispenser must consult the prescription drug monitoring system to review a patient’s controlled substance dispensing history before prescribing or dispensing a controlled substance for a patient age 16 years or older. This requirement does not apply when prescribing or dispensing a nonopioid controlled substance listed in Schedule V in Federal Regulations.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Indiana
The General Assembly adjourned the 2018 Legislative Session on March 14. Two bills related to opioids that were of concern to pharmacy did not advance. SB 338 would have required the Department of Health to establish a statewide drug takeback program. The bill did not receive a committee hearing. SB 339, which was reported from committee, but not taken up by the full Senate, would have mandated that pharmacists dispense all Schedule II controlled substances in lockable vials. NACDS supported the Indiana Retail Council’s efforts to represent pharmacies’ concerns with both proposals.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Louisiana
The Department of Health (LDH) announced that Mercer will be conducting a mandatory cost of dispensing survey in mid-April 2018.
Also in Louisiana…LDH is hosting public forums across the state to solicit input on the Medicaid Managed Care program adopted in 2012.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.