Arizona
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.
Arizona
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.
Arizona
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.
Arizona
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- The board recently updated its COVID-19 FAQs to reflect changes because of Executive Order 2020-20 having been rescinded by the Governor’s Office effective July 9.
- 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.
Arizona
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- Effective July 1, the following EOs was rescinded: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.
Arizona
On April 9, Gov. Doug Ducey (R) signed into law SB 1356 (Chapter 217, Laws 2021) prohibiting PBMs, from directly or indirectly, holding a pharmacist or pharmacy responsible for a fee related to the claims adjudication process, including adjudicating a pharmacy benefit claim, processing or transmitting a pharmacy benefit claim, developing or managing a claims processing or adjudication network or participating in a claims processing or adjudication network. Pharmacies may file a complaint of a violation, and a PBM that commits a violation is subject to penalties.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Arizona
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R) has signed into law HB 2075, which delays the implementation of e-prescribing from January 1, 2019 to January 1, 2020. In addition, the bill removes previous law that phased in e-prescribing by county population. The new law enacts e-prescribing for all controlled substances beginning Wednesday, January 1, 2020.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Arizona
Gov. Doug Ducey (R) signed into law HB 2633 amending the Opioid Law enacted earlier this year during a Special Session. The newly enacted law eliminates the need for pharmacists to verify with the prescriber when a prescription exceeds the state limit for Scheduled II controlled substances containing opioids, eliminates pharmacists having to confirm with the prescriber and the Board of Pharmacy if a prescriber has received a waiver and allows the Board of Pharmacy to waive redcap requirements if it’s not feasible because of specific dosage form or type of packaging.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Arizona
The House of Representatives passed HB 2633, removing certain requirements included in an opioid omnibus bill, enacted earlier this year. At the federal and state levels alike, NACDS is urging policies that would help address the opioid abuse epidemic, and NACDS also points out the burdens and unintended consequences that some new proposals would create, without helping to address the epidemic. Requirements removed by HB2633 include the following:
- Pharmacists are not required to verify with the prescriber when presented with an initial prescription for a Schedule II controlled substance that contains an opioid that is written for more than a five-day supply.
- Pharmacists are not required to verify with the prescriber a prescription order for a Schedule II controlled substance that contains an opioid that is written for more than 90 morphine milligram equivalents per day.
- Pharmacists are not required to verify with a medical practitioner or the Board of Pharmacy whether the medical practitioner has received a waiver for e-prescribing of Schedule II controlled substances that contain an opioid.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.