Louisiana

The legislature adjourned its fiscal session at 6:00 p.m. on June 8. Hours prior to adjournment, HB 471, legislation that would allow pharmacists, pharmacy interns supervised by a pharmacist and licensed technicians supervised by a pharmacist to administer immunizations to individuals seven years of age or older, passed the Senate after the conference committee stripped the killer Vaccines for Children amendments from the bill. However, the bill failed to pass the House; it was three votes short. The final House vote was 50-45, and we needed 53 votes for the bill to pass.

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

2023-06-09T10:16:44-04:00June 9, 2023|Louisiana|

Massachusetts

The Board of Pharmacy has announced that Massachusetts pharmacists may provide patients of abruptly-closed Compass Medical practices with up to 30-days of certain medications even if they do not have remaining refills on their prescriptions. The southeastern Massachusetts medical clinic group shuttered suddenly last week, leaving tens of thousands of patients in the lurch and in need of alternate care arrangements. Under a policy adopted in April, state pharmacy regulators said, pharmacists are allowed to dispense Schedule VI medications that do not require a report to the state Prescription Monitoring Program without a refill order as a way of giving patients the time to find another prescriber. The board’s notice specified that federally controlled substances and gabapentin cannot be provided.

Also in Massachusetts, MassHealth announced in its Pharmacy Claims Processing Update, effective June 5, 2023, MassHealth Members who have no history of a paid MassHealth claim for an opioid in the past 90 days will be limited to a seven-day supply for their first fill with an exception. Please see details in the “Pharmacy Facts”.

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

2023-06-09T10:16:04-04:00June 9, 2023|Massachusetts|

Nebraska

On June 6, Gov. Jim Pillen (R) signed LB 227 that includes among its various provisions the administration of vaccines by pharmacy technicians under the supervision of the pharmacist and the ability of the central fill pharmacy to deliver prescriptions to patients/caregivers if the dispensing pharmacy and the central fill pharmacy are under common ownership and whereas the dispensing pharmacy is responsible for prescriptions filled.

Also in Nebraska, the Department of Health and Human Services posted the recording from the June 7 COVID-19 Provider Call.

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

2023-06-09T10:13:08-04:00June 9, 2023|Nebraska|

Nevada

The legislature adjourned its biennial session on June 5. Prior to adjournment, both chambers passed AB 107, out of state licensing issue chain pharmacies supported that the Governor signed into law, effective October 1, 2023. Both chambers also passed and sent to the Governor SB 57 giving the Insurance Commissioner oversight of PBMs by requiring them to register.

Also in Nevada, Gov. Joe Lombardo (R) immediately called a special session for June 6. Shortly thereafter, the Governor convened a second special session solely focused on financing a new major league baseball stadium in Las Vegas.

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

2023-06-09T10:12:08-04:00June 9, 2023|Nevada|

New York

On June 7, the State Senate approved A6779A, a bill expanding and improving last year’s long-acting-injectable law by removing the “deltoid only” location requirement. The bill now moves to the House.

Also in New York, the State Department of Health Office of Health Insurance Programs will be hosting an informational webinar on the 2023-2024 Enacted Medicaid Budget, on June 15 at 9:00 a.m., which will focus on Medicaid-specific priorities of the Governor’s 2023-24 Enacted Executive Budget. This webinar will be recorded and made available on the NYS DOH Medicaid Redesign Team (MRT) Budget Information webpage.

Finally in New York, the next Medicaid pharmacy benefit fee-for-service (NYRx) monthly all stakeholders call about the pharmacy benefit transition will be held on June 21 at 2:00 p.m. Registration is required to attend.

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

2023-06-09T10:11:07-04:00June 9, 2023|New York|

Ohio

This week, the Senate Finance Committee added language to the state budget bill (HB 33) to preserve the ability of pharmacists, pharmacy interns and pharmacy technicians to administer all ACIP-recommended vaccines to patients who are five years of age and older. It also eliminates the onerous requirement for a prescription for patients ages 7-12 years. NACDS is working diligently with in-state partners to preserve the language as the budget process moves forward. Your communication with Ohio Legislators is highly encouraged. Help us demonstrate to legislators the importance of this legislative remedy to patients in the communities we serve! Simply click here, type in your contact information, and the system will generate personalized communications to your state legislators.

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

2023-06-09T10:09:10-04:00June 9, 2023|Ohio|

Oregon

The Board of Pharmacy posted an agenda for the Compounding Workgroup meeting scheduled to be held on June 20. See link below

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

2023-06-09T10:08:28-04:00June 9, 2023|Oregon|
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