The Board of Pharmacy met on November 14. The agenda and public meeting packet are posted on the Board’s website.

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

Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R) signed a bill into law that aims to ensure consumers have access to affordable prescriptions and level the playing field for pharmacies by regulating pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) House Bill 226 – CHAPTER 61 SLA 24.

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

The Board of Pharmacy met on October 10.

Also in Alaska, the Pharmacy Board revised statutes and regulations are now available on the website. Effective September 28, there are significant changes affecting collaborative practice authorities, nationally certified pharmacy technician practices, sterile pharmaceutical guidelines, manufacturer license requirements, prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) registration, alternative to probation program and “owner” / “change of ownership” definitions.

Finally in Alaska, the Board issued new rules on expanded pharmacy technician duties (2 AAC 52.235. PHARMACY TECHNICIAN WITH NATIONAL CERTIFICATION).

(a) A pharmacy technician who holds a national certification may, at the direction of the pharmacist on duty and under the direct supervision of that pharmacist,

(1) perform a final check of and distribute a non-controlled substance prescription if

(C) the pharmacy uses software that displays the image or graphical description of the correct drug being verified; however, if there is any deviation between the image or graphical description and the actual product being distributed, a pharmacist must review and dispense the order; and (Previous Version)

(C) the pharmacy uses software that displays the image or graphical description of the correct drug being verified, or the institutional facility uses software that performs and verifies a barcode scan before administration [; HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ANY DEVIATION BETWEEN THE IMAGE OR GRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION AND THE ACTUAL PRODUCT BEING DISTRIBUTED, A PHARMACIST MUST REVIEW AND DISPENSE THE ORDER]; and (New Version, Bold and Underlined is added and Bracketed is removed)

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

Licensing applications that were unable to be renewed prior to June 30, 2024, were given a 90-day extension if the application was received and the fee was paid. If the extended applications are not completed by September 30, 2024, the license will move into lapsed status on October 1, 2024. Pharmacists need to complete their Alaska Law Questionnaire and upload it into their My License portal. Pharmacies and Facilities must provide the Board of Pharmacy with their Alaska corporate entity number.

Also, in Alaska, effective September 28, pharmacy technicians with national certification can perform expanded duties under the direct supervision of a pharmacist (12 AAC 52.235). PHARMACY TECHNICIAN WITH NATIONAL CERTIFICATION). Specifically, certified technicians can perform a final check of and distribute a non-controlled substance prescription if the pharmacy uses software that displays the image or graphical description of the correct drug being verified.

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

The Board of Pharmacy adopted regulation changes in August related to pharmacy technicians, collaborative practice authorities, sterile pharmaceutical guidelines, manufacturer license requirements, PDMP registration, alternative to probation program and definitions. The regulation changes were reviewed and approved by the Department of Law, signed and filed by the Office of the Lieutenant Governor on August 29, 2024, and are effective on September 28, 2024. The filed version of the regulations will be posted in Register 251, October 2024 of the Alaska Administrative Code.

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

Effective September 2024, Medicaid will now permit pharmacists to enroll as providers and bill for pharmacy services. This significant development results from collaborative efforts by various pharmacy organizations, including the Alaska Pharmacy Association. The change aligns with HB 145 of 2022. It allows pharmacists to enroll as rendering providers and get paid for their services through medical benefits while affiliated with a pharmacy professional group, Tribal Health Organization, Federally Qualified Health Center or Rural Health Clinic.

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

The Board of Pharmacy reminded licensees that both pharmacy and facility licensing renewal applications are due by 11:59 pm on June 30 or the license will expire. There is no grace period. Here are the links to the Alaska Board of Pharmacy applications and forms:

• Online Applications: Board of Pharmacy, Professional Licensing, Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing (alaska.gov)
• Paper Applications: Applications & Forms, Board of Pharmacy, Professional Licensing, Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing (alaska.gov)

If you have not registered your corporate entity in Alaska yet, you can find information on how to register your entity at Corporations, Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing (alaska.gov).

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

The Board of Pharmacy proposed regulation changes dealing with pharmacy technicians, collaborative practice authorities, sterile pharmaceutical guidelines, manufacturer license requirements, PDMP (Prescription Drug Monitoring Program) registration, alternative to probation program and definitions. Written comments should be submitted to RegulationsAndPublicComment@alaska.gov by 4:30 pm on July 8.

• Proposed Regulations
• Proposed Regulations FAQ

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

HB 226D, comprehensive legislation pharmacies supported to ensure patient choice of pharmacy, improve transparency and accountability in pharmacy benefit management and enhance the standards for pharmaceutical care across the state, passed the legislature. The bill is awaiting transmittal to Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s (R) office to be signed into law.

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