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.

The Board of Pharmacy proposes to adopt regulation changes dealing with closure of a pharmacy and examination requirements for licensure. Written comments are due April 10. 

• Notice of Proposed Regulations 
• Proposed Regulations 
• Proposed Regulations FAQ 

Also in Alaska, both pharmacy’s patient freedom of pharmacy choice bills are moving forward in both houses but are facing stiff opposition. SB 121 was heard in the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee on March 20. HB 226 is pending in the House Labor and Commerce Committee.  

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

PBM (Pharmacy Benefit Management) reform bills NACDS supports continued to advance this week. SB 121 was heard in the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee and HB 226 was heard in House Labor and Commerce on Committee. 

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

In advance of hearings in both the House Health and Social Services Committee on February 27 and the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee on February 28, NACDS submitted a letter in support of HB 226/SB 121, broad PBM reform legislation.

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

The broad PBM reform bill pharmacies are supporting, AK SSSB 121 was amended and referred to both the Senate Labor and Commerce and the Finance Committees for action.

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

The Board of Pharmacy is meeting online on February 15. Anyone wanting to attend the Zoom meeting must register. Here are the agenda and public meeting packet.

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