On March 30, Gov. Doug Ducey (R) signed HB 2490 (Chapter 98), providing clarity for collaborative practice agreements including requirements, rules, and definitions.

Also in Arizona, on March 24, Gov. Doug Ducey (R) signed HB 2612 (Chapter 59), removing certain occupational licensing requirements and regulations that applicants/persons must be “of good moral character” to be approved for certain licenses and certifications including pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.

Finally, in Arizona, on March 25, Gov. Doug Ducey (R) signed SB 1639 (Chapter 78), that requires integrating a medical practitioner’s electronic medical records system with the state’s Controlled Substances Prescription Monitoring Program (CSPMP) central database tracking system either directly or through the statewide health information exchange or a third-party vendor, by December 31, 2026.

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

Governor Doug Ducey (R) signed SB 1309 (Chapter 77), extending temporary licenses issued during the COVID-19 emergency declaration and active on March 1, 2022; they do not expire until January 1, 2023. 

Also in Arizona, Gov. Ducey announced the end of the COVID-19 emergency declaration. 

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

SB (Senate Bill) 1016, legislation requiring a pharmacist to dispense all prescription orders during a public health state of emergency with certain immunity protections and conditions for refusal to dispense, failed to pass the State Senate with a vote of 14-15.

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

The Board of Pharmacy issued a Notice of Supplemental Proposed Rulemaking 4 AAC 23 related to pharmacist delegation/technician rules; see pages 339-343. A public hearing has been scheduled for March 9 at 9:00 a.m. (local time). Please note the current proposal excludes a pharmacist’s delegation of vaccine administration by a technician which was the issue of concern in the former rules package.  Please recall the technician rules package was removed from the Governor’s Regulatory Review Council’s December 2021 agenda prior to the meeting by the Board of Pharmacy over concerns expressed about technician vaccine administration.  

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

The Board of Pharmacy is scheduled to meet February 9-10. Once available, the agenda will be posted on the website.

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

NACDS submitted comments to the Board of Pharmacy stating support for the proposed rules allowing pharmacists to delegate additional nondiscretionary tasks to pharmacy technicians, including the technical act of administering vaccines and performing other tasks that a pharmacy technician is trained to perform.

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

The Board of Pharmacy reminds prescribers and dispensers that mandatory e-prescribing of Schedule II controlled substances that are opioids resumed on July 9.   

Also in Arizona, the Board of Pharmacy issued a notice of proposed rulemaking allowing pharmacy technicians to perform additional tasks delegated by pharmacists, including administration of a vaccine. Oral proceedings will be held on September 21.

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

The Board of Pharmacy published its July 2021 Newsletter. Highlights include: 

• The board recently updated its COVID-19 FAQs to reflect changes because of Executive Order 2020-20 having been rescinded by the Governor’s Office effective July 9.    
  • COVID-19 FAQs  
  • COVID-19 Resources  

• Various updates to the Controlled Substances Prescription Monitoring Program (CSPMP) 
• List of bills signed by Gov. Ducey 
• COMING SOON – License and Permit Renewals Information 

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

The Industrial Commission of Arizona posted the 2021-22 Fee Schedule Staff Proposals and Request for Public Comment on June 29. The proposal relates to Workers’ Comp claims. The 2021-22 Arizona Physicians’ and Pharmaceutical Fee Schedule includes a new product reimbursement methodology including NADAC. A public hearing will be held on July 29. 

Also in Arizona, on July 2, Gov. Doug Ducey (R) announced plans to rescind a variety of pandemic-related executive orders (EOs) related to the public health emergency including these pharmacy-related EOs: 

• Effective July 1, the following EOs was rescinded:  
  • Executive Order 2020-17 deferred requirements to renew state agency and board licenses that had an expiration date between March 1, 2020 and September 1, 2020 by six months from the expiration date unless those requirements could be completed online. The timeframe for the deferrals lapsed on March 1.  
  • Executive Order 2020-58 ensured cost-sharing requirements, such as co-pays and co-insurance, for the COVID-19 vaccine are waived. This policy was codified by congress through the CARES Act.  
• Effective July 9, the following EO was rescinded: Executive Order 2020-20 allowed pharmacists to dispense emergency refills of maintenance medications for up to 180 days, minimizing unnecessary trips to the doctor. With legislation expanding availability of telemedicine, obtaining refills is now more accessible.  

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