The Board of Pharmacy met on February 17 and 18.

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

The Board of Pharmacy adopted the following changes to proposed rules (Regulation project amending sections 12 AAC 52.020 through 12 AAC 52.990). These regulations will take effect on December 28. 

Pharmacists 

Removal of the transcript requirement  

Delegation of examination eligibility approval to the NABP 

Authorizes a pharmacist-in-charge (PIC) to serve as a PIC for more than one pharmacy upon a written request to the board 

Allows the official License Transfer Application to also serve as a license verification from the reciprocating state 

Removes requirement to submit separate verifications of licensure for reciprocity applicants 

Clarifies patient counseling requirements 

Interns 

Expands the criteria to qualify for an internship license by recognizing recent graduates 

Extends the duration of the license from two years to five years 

Replaces the 1,500 hours education requirement for pharmacist licensure with standardized language  

Removes the affidavit of moral character requirement 

Technicians 

Clarifies pharmacy technician duties 

Removes language relating to on-the-job training for the preparation of sterile pharmaceuticals  

Pharmacies 

Replaces the requirement for pharmacies located outside of the state to submit a certified true copy of the home jurisdiction license with a simple copy 

Replaces the inspection report requirement with an attestation that an inspection will be completed 

Facilities 

Removes the fingerprint and resume requirements for wholesale drug distributors, outsourcing facilities and third-party logistics providers 

For wholesale drug distributors, requires a copy of the home jurisdiction license only if the state requires licensure as a wholesale drug distributor 

Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) 

Adopts by reference the PDMP data dispenser submission guide 

Recognizes 3rd party reporting vendors 

Defines "appropriate identifier" as the provider's/pharmacist's license number 

Clarifies that a provider/pharmacist must submit a zero report when no scheduled II – IV controlled substances are dispensed 

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

The Board of Pharmacy's statutes and regulations booklet has been updated to reflect sections 1 – 10 of HB 145, the new pharmacist and pharmacy technicians expanded practice law passed this year. The October 2022 booklet reflects these changes to AS 08.80: 

• Permits pharmacists to engage in independent monitoring of drug therapy; 
• Clarifies pharmacists can independently prescribe and administer vaccines, related emergency medications, and opioid overdose drugs; 
• Permits pharmacy technicians to administer vaccines or related emergency medications, if approved by the board; 
• Requires interns and technicians to disclose prescription drug prices;  
• Permits pharmacists to provide patient care services outside of a collaborative practice agreement with a physician for general health and wellness, disease prevention and certain conditions, including conditions that involve CLIA-waived tests; 
• Removes dosage form from equivalent drug product and 
• Updates the definition of "practice of pharmacy" 

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

The Board of Pharmacy's upcoming meeting will be held on September 22nd – 23rd via Zoom. A public copy of the board packet will be available on the meetings page soon: https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/cbpl/ProfessionalLicensing/BoardofPharmacy/BoardMeetings.aspx  

Day 1 – Sep 22 

Dial: +871 6050 7807,,074861#  

Registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMscemtrjwiGtP4XtYOfDDhb7SvvHQcL5xa 

Agenda: https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/Portals/5/pub/PHAagenda_2022_09_Day1.pdf  

Day 2 – Sep 23 

Dial: +839 3607 3617,,960860# 

Registration:  https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZckdO-oqTgsG9OKqbjnmAn0HWtv8gClqFja 

Agenda: https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/Portals/5/pub/PHAagenda_2022_09_Day2.pdf  

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

Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R) signed into law HB (House Bill) 145 which recognizes pharmacists as prescribers and mandates payment parity reimbursement for pharmacy services. The bill also broadens collaborative practice agreements, allows pharmacists to independently prescribe and dispense vaccines, and allows pharmacy technicians to administer vaccines and emergency medications. It will go into effect on September 28, 2022.

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

The Board of Pharmacy has proposed rules updating existing regulations on pharmacies, pharmacist interns, pharmacy technicians, wholesale drug distributors, outsourcing facilities, and third-party logistics providers. Written comments are due on June 13, 2022.  

Also in Alaska, legislation expanding the scope of practice for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians was sent to Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R) for his signature. HB (House Bill) 145 

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

Effective May 14, the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development amended regulations under 12 AAC 02 to reduce application, license, registration, and renewal fees for pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, remote and other pharmacies, wholesale drug distributors, outsourcing facilities, and third-party logistics providers.

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

Effective May 14, the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development amended regulations under 12 AAC 02 to reduce application, license, registration, and renewal fees for pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, remote and other pharmacies, wholesale drug distributors, outsourcing facilities, and third-party logistics providers.

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

New rules relating to the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) go into effect on March 17, 2022. The regulations clarify the registration process to align with the account creation steps at alaska.pmpaware.net, replaces “registration” with “designation,” and establishes a new requirement for pharmacists and pharmacies to notify the board within 10 days of a change in dispensing/distributing status of controlled substances. The forms will be available in the coming weeks at pharmacy.alaska.gov.

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