Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) signed into law two bills NACDS supported. HB 1278 (Act 652 of 2019) will allow pharmacists to vaccinate anyone 7 years of age and older without a prescription, and HB 1269 (Act 637 of 2019) will allow the substitution of interchangeable biosimilars. Note that under Arkansas law, these new laws will become effective 90 days upon adjournment of the legislature.  The Legislature will recess on Thursday, April 12, and return three weeks later to address outstanding issues so they can officially adjourn in early May, thus making the effective date of these new laws in early August.

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

SB 174, legislation NACDS promoted, mandating e-prescribing of controlled substance prescriptions, was signed into law by Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) and is now Act 447.

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

NACDS-backed SB 174, which mandates e-prescribing of controlled substance prescriptions and passed the Senate last week, was approved by the House and sent to Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) to sign into law, effective Friday, January 1, 2021. Thanks to the sponsors of the legislation, Sen. Kim Hammer (R) and Rep. Justin Boyd (R), and the governor’s drug czar, Kirk Lane, who was instrumental in getting this legislation passed.

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

Pharmacists are urged to immediately call their State Representative to ask them to vote for HB 1278, sponsored by Rep. Jimmy Gazaway (R) and Rep. Robin Lundstrum (R). The legislation enhances access to immunizations for school-aged children by authorizing pharmacists to administer vaccinations like Tdap, human papillomavirus or meningococcal as well as catch-up vaccines like the MMR vaccine to patients at least seven years of age as authorized by a physician under a physician’s written protocol and without an individual prescription. Best number to call between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday is the Arkansas House switchboard at 501-682-6211.

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

There are several bills of interest to chain pharmacies that are expected to be heard in the House Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee in the next two weeks, including HB 1278, a bill allowing pharmacists to vaccinate anyone 7 years of age and older without a prescription; HB 1164, legislation allowing pharmacists to dispense oral contraceptives without a prescription and HB 1269related to substitution of interchangeable biosimilars.

Also in Arkansas…The Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously passed SB 174, legislation supported by chain pharmacies and Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) that mandates electronic prescribing of controlled substance prescriptions. The full Senate is expected to take action soon.

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

There are several bills of interest to chain pharmacies that have been filed, including mandating e-prescribing for all controlled substances (SB 174), allowing pharmacists to vaccinate anyone 7 years of age and older (HB 1278), allowing pharmacists to dispense oral contraceptives (HB 1164) and permitting substitution of interchangeable biosimilars (HB 1269).

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

The Board of Pharmacy published a final rule amending Regulation 7 to revise requirements for transferring prescriptions between pharmacies and dispensing Schedule II controlled substances prescriptions. The rule allows individuals other than pharmacists to transfer prescriptions, allows electronic prescription transfers and requires transfer of controlled substances to follow federal standards. The rule also clarifies that licensees may not dispense a quantity of a Schedule II controlled substance that exceeds the prescriber’s authority to prescribe. In addition, the rule clarifies language regarding partial filling of Schedule II controlled substance prescriptions. The rule took effect on January 1, 2019.

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

In advance of the September 26 Board of Pharmacy meeting, NACDS submitted comments on proposed changes to Regulation 7 regarding prescription transfers. Our letteradvocated for enhanced technician roles to improve access to patient care services by allowing pharmacy technicians to be involved in the prescription transfer process.

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

Scott Pace, the Executive Vice President & CEO of the state pharmacists association, announced that he will be leaving the association at the end of September to become a partner at Impact Management Group, a lobbying, public opinion, public affairs and political consulting firm in Little Rock.

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