Gov. Gavin Newson’s released his May Revised 2020-21 Budget last week projecting a $54.3 billion deficit. Since the state’s constitution requires that the legislature submit a balanced budget to the Governor by June 15, 2020, and that the Governor must sign it before the start of the next fiscal year on July 1, 2020, legislators are scrambling to hold hearings on the proposed massive cuts. NACDS and the California Retailers Association submitted a joint letter to both the Senate and Assembly Budget Committee Chairs strongly opposing the proposed elimination of Medi-Cal reimbursement of pharmacist-delivered services such as providing self-administered hormonal contraceptives, vaccines, nicotine replacement products, travel medications, naloxone directly to patients and PEP/PrEP for HIV prevention. 

Also in California... In advance of the Assembly Business & Professions Committee hearing, NACDS and the California Retailers Association submitted a joint letter opposing SB 2983 by Assembly Member Chris Holden, because it would prohibit pharmacies from automatically contacting prescribers to authorize a prescription for any dangerous drug or device for more than a 7-day supply refill without authorization from the prescriber or patient. Further, we objected to the requirement that a pharmacy obtain separate authorization for each prescription. 

Also in California... The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Health and Human Services debated health care cuts proposed by the Department of Finance, which included cuts to the proposed Diabetes Prevention Program. NACDS is a member of a broad-based coalition building support to advance Medi-Cal funding for Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs). 

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

The Department of Finance announced that the state’s revenue decline, estimating late last week that the overall budget deficit is approximately $54.3 billion. 

Also in California... On May 12th, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) announced efforts to expand the state’s ability to provide more COVID-19 testing, including using pharmacists to test. For pharmacists to help, the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) issued the following DCA waiver DCA-20-14 Restrictions on Pharmacists Ordering and Collecting Specimens for COVID-19 Tests.  

Also in California... Having received approval from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the Department of Health Care Services’ (DHCS) request for multiple Section 1135 flexibilities related to Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), new guidance was issued. To the extent applicable, the following modifications also apply to CHIP through the duration of the public health emergency: 

• Extending pre-existing authorizations. 
• Accommodating circumstances that require relocation to an alternative setting to ensure the continuation of needed home and community-based services (HCBS). 
• Temporarily waiving written consent under HCBS programs and permitting documented verbal consent as an alternative.  

Also in California... NACDS participated in the Zoom Board meeting on May 7th where the following actions were taken. 

• Re-elected President Greg Lippe, Vice President Debbie Veale, and Treasurer Maria Serpa to one-year terms as officers. 
• Delegated authority to the president to grant Pharmacy Law waivers for up to 90 days and to extend existing waivers for up to 90 additional days. 
• Approved a proposed regulation to add Title 16, CCR section 1714.3, Community Pharmacy Staffing without NACDS’ amendments.

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

NACDS, the California Retailers Association, and the California Pharmacists Association have submitted numerous requests over the past several weeks and continue to encourage the Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D) Administration to waive existing barriers to allow pharmacists to order and administer COVID-19 and anti-body tests. By allowing pharmacists the ability test, as the state reopens, it will be able to better implement track and trace policies crucial to getting the state’s population back to work.   

Also in California… The Assembly returned to the Capitol on Monday, May 4th, and the Senate announced their session will resume on Monday, May 11th. 

Also in California… An emergency rulemaking action to add section 1747 to Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations relating to the independent initiation and furnishing of HIV preexposure and postexposure prophylaxis as authorized by Statutes of 2019, chapter 532 (SB 159) was finally approved by the Office of Administrative Law. The Notice of Approval and the text of CCR section 1747 – Independent HIV Preexposure and Postexposure Prophylaxis Furnishing, can be viewed on the Approved Regulations page at the Board of Pharmacy’s website, www.pharmacy.ca.gov. 

Also in California… Effective April 1, 2020, an Order of Adoption of a proposal to amend the Protocol for Pharmacists Furnishing Naloxone Hydrochloride was announced by the Board of Pharmacy. To view the regulation and Naloxone Fact Sheet, go to the Approved Regulations on the Board’s website – www.pharmacy.ca.gov. 

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

The California State Board of Pharmacy (Board) is proposing an emergency action to add regulations related to the independent initiation and furnishing of HIV preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and HIV postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) recommended by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to patients, as authorized by Senate Bill (SB) 159 (Wiener, Chapter 532, Statutes of 2019). The proposed regulation would establish the criteria that a training program for participating pharmacists must meet for approval by the Board and the recordkeeping requirements for a pharmacist who has completed the training program.  

Also in California... Despite the fact that the Board of Pharmacy announced that they would extend the comment period to April 30, 2020, NACDS and the California Retailers Association submitted a joint comment letter to the Board of Pharmacy to express our concerns regarding the proposed regulations as unworkable and over-restrictive for staffing requirements for community pharmacies. Our letter stressed that it is crucial that pharmacies have the ability to address fluctuations in staffing but also designate the type of employee that will provide assistance rather than a particular individual. 

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

This week, California joined with Oregon and Washington in a Western States Pact to coordinate the regional reopening of the economy as the COVID-19 pandemic progresses.

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

In anticipation of the Legislature reconvening after the Easter holidays, NACDS and our in-state partners continue to review pending legislation and draft comment letters for policy bills scheduled to be heard later this month. In a joint letter to the Senate Business and Professions and Economic Development Committee, NACDS and CRA registered our opposition to SB 1084 by Senator Tom Umberg (D), which will require pharmacies to dispense Schedule II prescription drugs in lockable vials.   

Also in California… The Board of Pharmacy reminds licensed pharmacists, advance practice pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and designated representatives that you can renew your personal license online. 

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

The Board of Pharmacy’s March 27, 2020 meeting will be held via teleconference. Agenda can be found here – https://www.pharmacy.ca.gov/meetings/agendas/2020/20_mar_bd_tele.pdf  

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

The Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1 on Health and Human Services is having a hearing on March 23, 2020 to consider a State Budget request requiring the Medi-Cal program to cover continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) for adult Medi-Cal beneficiaries with diabetes. Last session, similar legislation passed but was vetoed by Gov. Gavin Newsom (D).

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

Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) appointed two new members to the Board of Pharmacy: Vons pharmacist Seung Oh and Safeway pharmacist Jignesh “Jig” Patel. Rotating off the Board were Allen Schaad and public member Valerie Muñoz.

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