The following bills will be heard in the House Regulatory Affairs Committee on March 13:  

• SB 1164, legislation prohibiting PBMs (Pharmacy Benefit Managers) from limiting or excluding coverage of a prescription drug for any covered individual who is on a specific prescription drug when certain conditions are met; prescribing formulary change notification requirements; and establishing a prescription coverage exemption determination process. 
• SB 1165, legislation prohibiting an auditing entity from retroactively reducing the amount of a claim payment to a pharmacist or pharmacy after adjudication of the claim for a prescription drug, with certain exceptions and prescribes requirements for a wholesale invoice audit. 

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

The 60 Plus Association, a nonpartisan organization, submitted a letter of support to both members of the House and Senate in support of SB 1085 (Senate Engrossed), legislation that would authorize pharmacists to offer testing and treatment services for flu, strep throat and a respiratory illness, condition, or disease.

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

On February 21, the Senate Committee of the Whole (COW) adopted an amendment to SB 1085 (Senate Engrossed). The bill failed the third reading in the Senate on February 22.  Senate President Warren Petersen (R) offered a Motion to Reconsider.

Also in Arizona, SB 1021 (Senate Engrossed), repealing the Sunrise process for expansion of scope of practice for a “health professional group”, was adopted by the Senate with a vote of 24-4-2. 

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

NACDS submitted a letter to the Senate Finance and Commerce Committee in support of SB 1165, expanding PBM reforms in the state. The bill would prohibit PBMs from deploying discriminatory reimbursement practices that favor pharmacies affiliated with and under common control of the PBM over other, non-affiliated, network pharmacy providers. Additionally, the bill also includes provisions that would strengthen the state’s existing laws for audits conducted by PBMs, preventing PBMs from engaging in audit practices that penalize pharmacy providers for clerical or administrative issues on claims for covered medications that otherwise are payable.

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

On January 30, the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services recommended SB 1085 “do pass” with a vote of 6-1. This bill would authorize pharmacists to test and initiate treatment for conditions such as influenza, COVID, strep and other respiratory illnesses and to delegate the administrative and technical tasks of performing a test to a trained member of the pharmacy staff who is under the supervision of the pharmacist. It also prohibits a health insurer from denying reimbursement for any test, screening or treatment that is within the scope of the pharmacist’s license and would be covered, if otherwise performed by a physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant.

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

This week, NACDS submitted a letter of support to the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services for SB 1085, authorizing pharmacists to test and initiate treatment for conditions such as influenza, COVID, strep and other respiratory illnesses and to delegate the administrative and technical tasks of performing a test to a trained member of the pharmacy staff who is under the supervision of the pharmacist. It also prohibits a health insurer from denying reimbursement for any test, screening or treatment that is within the scope of the pharmacist’s license and would be covered, if otherwise performed by a physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant. 

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

The Board of Pharmacy posted its January 2024 Newsletter. See the “Compliance Corner” for important, timely updates.

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

HB 2183 related to parental rights and medical records will be heard in the House Health & Human Service Committee on January 22 and is listed on the agenda. The bill entitles parents with the right to have access to any electronic portal or other health care delivery platform, including written medical records, for their minor child.  

Also in Arizona, SB 1085, legislation permitting pharmacists, pursuant to a statewide written protocol, to independently order, perform and interpret CLIA-waived tests and initiate treatment to individuals three years of age and older and who test positive for influenza, Group A streptococcus pharyngitis, SARS-COV2 or any other respiratory illness, condition or disease and a condition related to an emerging or existing public health threat identified by the Department of Health Service for which a standing order rule or executive order is issued, was introduced, read for the first time and assigned to the Senate Health & Human Services Committee. The bill also permits the pharmacist to delegate the administrative and technical tasks of performing a CLIA-waived test to a trained member of the pharmacy staff who is under the supervision of the pharmacist and states a health insurer may not deny reimbursement for these services performed within the scope of the pharmacist’s license and covered by the insurer if performed by a physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistance. 

Also in Arizona, HB 2450, legislation adding a pharmacy technician trainee to requirements for work at a remote dispensing site pharmacy, has been introduced. 

Finally in Arizona, HB 2582, legislation permitting a pharmacist to enter into a collaborative practice agreement with a certified nurse midwife or physician assistant, was introduced, read for the first time and assigned to the House Health & Human Services Committee.  

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

The Board of Pharmacy issued a notice and agenda for a virtual task force/stakeholder meeting on December 20 at 10:00 am.

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