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.

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 and was sent to Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R) to sign into law.

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

The Executive Administrator of the Board of Pharmacy, Michael Bowles, provided additional guidance on the new regulations on Pharmacist-in-Charge (PIC) requirements, Indian Health Service (IHS) pharmacies and self-inspection forms. 

1. Self-inspection forms no longer need to be submitted to the board for renewals of pharmacies or any other facility type. Self-inspections still need to occur, but the form should be maintained at your pharmacy/facility and made available to the board upon request. The attestation mentioned in the regulation below is on the renewal applications.   

12 AAC 52.300. LICENSE AND REGISTRATION RENEWAL. 

(a) Pharmacy, remote pharmacy, wholesale drug distributor, outsourcing facility, third-party logistics provider, manufacturer, pharmacist, pharmacy technician and drug room licenses must be renewed biennially on or before a date set by the department. 

(b) An applicant for renewal of a pharmacy, wholesale drug distributor, outsourcing facility, third-party logistics provider, manufacturer or drug room license must submit on or before the license expiration date 

(3) an attestation that a self-inspection of the premises using the form provided by the department was completed within the last two years or since the last time the license was initially issued; the applicant must retain the self-inspection and make it available to the board upon request for the duration of the licensing period in which it was completed. 

1. The PIC of an Alaska licensed pharmacy located outside of Alaska is required to be licensed in Alaska and have an active Alaska Pharmacist license. This must be the actual PIC of the pharmacy, not a separate staff pharmacist/owner/etc. designated by the pharmacy as “the Alaska PIC.” 

1. Pharmacies under the IHS that hold an Alaska Pharmacy license must have an active Alaska Pharmacist license. The IHS exemption currently in place through May 18 does not extend to the PIC.  

  12 AAC 52.020. PHARMACY LICENSE. 

(a) An applicant for a pharmacy license shall submit the items required in (b) of this section for review and approval by the executive administrator. An application that does not clearly demonstrate qualifications for licensure must be reviewed and approved by the board. 

(b) An applicant for a pharmacy license shall submit 

(1) a complete notarized application on a form provided by the department that includes 

(F) the name, active Alaska license number and contact information for the pharmacist-in-charge. 

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

Prior to the quarterly meeting on April 11, the Board of Pharmacy posted the agenda and the meeting packet. 

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

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) approved an extension effective March 26, 2024, through December 31, 2028, for a 1115 “Behavioral Health Reform” demonstration project. This approval continues the state’s existing authority to receive federal financial participation (FFP) for providing clinically appropriate substance use disorder (SUD) treatment services for short-term residents in residential and inpatient treatment settings that qualify as an institution for mental diseases (IMD), as well as provides additional services to enhance the comprehensive and integrated behavioral health system for children, youth and adults with serious mental illness (SMI), severe emotional disturbance (SED) and/or SUDs (Substance Use Disorders). 

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