HB19-1216 limits the cost sharing of insulin for commercial pay patients to $100 for a 30 days’ supply, effective January1, 2020. The Department of Regulatory Agencies Division of Insurance issued emergency rules to address implementation. https://gallery.mailchimp.com/6431ea4066ae863439c487bd4/files/bd896d11-f54b-4f15-b31d-fd2c3ccad71d/Emergency_Regulation_19_E_08_Concerning_Prescription_Insulin_Drug_Cost_Sharing_and_Limitations.pdf 

Also in Colorado… General Assembly convened on January 8th.  

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

The Department of Regulatory Agencies, Board of Pharmacy, adopted several rules http://bnaregs.bna.com/?id=co_15353 effective November 30, 2019 that amend regulations under 3 CCR 719-1 to:

1. add pharmacy interns and pharmacy technicians to the provisions related to responsibilities of pharmacists;
2. allow pharmacists to dispense an emergency supply of a chronic maintenance drug without an order under certain conditions;
3. adds a labeling requirement for opioids prescribed for outpatient use;
4. requires pharmacists to prescribe and dispense over-the-counter medications according to requirements of the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing;
5. removes definitions related to pharmaceutical care, drug therapy management, and practice by protocol and adds requirements for inspections and visitations of telepharmacies; and
6. establishes certification requirements for pharmacy technicians.

Also in Colorado… in an effort to address the opioid epidemic in Colorado, the Colorado Hospital Association has taken the lead forming a new group to launch an initiative called Colorado’s Opioid Solution: Clinicians United to Resolve the Epidemic (CO’s CURE) – https://cha.com/opioid-safety/cos-cure/

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

The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, Medical Services Division is having a rulemaking hearing on Friday, January 10 on a proposed rule (10 CCR 2505-10, Section 8.800.18.C.1.a) regarding the Rx Review program which allows the program’s members to do a consultation with a pharmacist over the telephone if they live outside of a reasonable travel distance from the consulting pharmacist. Members may submit comments directly to Chris Sykes, Medical Services Board Coordinator.

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

HB19-1242 – Regulate Pharmacy Technicians  will require all pharmacy technicians to obtain a certification or provisional certification from the Board of Pharmacy (Board) by March 30, 2020. At the Board’s October 3rd Rulemaking Hearing, rules affecting pharmacy technicians were adopted effective November 30, 2019, in order to allow pharmacy technicians enough time to prepare to apply for and become certified by March 30, 2020. Applications for pharmacy technician certification and provisional certification will be available early 2020. The fee for a pharmacy technician certification or provisional certification will be $57. Additional information related to the new pharmacy technician certification requirements will be posted on the Board’s website – https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/dora/Pharmacy?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery#_blank

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

On Wednesday, August 28 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Mountain, the State Board of Pharmacy is hosting a stakeholder meeting to receive input regarding the implementation of several new laws. Copies of the proposed rule changes, HB19-1242, HB19-1109, HB19-1077, SB19-228 and SB19-005 are available for download. The meeting will be held at the Civic Center Plaza, 1560 Broadway, Room 110D (1st Floor). Those unable to attend may participate and must pre-register for the webinar.

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

NACDS received a response from the Department of Healthcare Policy and Financing regarding NACDS’ comments on the proposed rules pertaining to Medical Assistance Program Integrity. Some of our suggestions were adopted by the Medical Services Board at its July 12 public hearing.

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

NACDS submitted a letter to the State Board of Pharmacy on proposed rules for pharmacy technicians. In our comments, NACDS sought board clarification on several issues related to the administrative process implementing the recent new statutory requirements for applicants for certification as a pharmacy technician.

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

Gov. Jared Polis (D) signed HB 19-1242, legislation requiring technicians be certified by March 30, 2020. The Board of Pharmacy’s proposed rules codifying the registration process for pharmacy technicians will be discussed at the Monday, June 17 meeting.

Also in Colorado… The Governor signed HB 19-1077, legislation allowing pharmacists to dispense an emergency supply of chronic medications under certain circumstances.

Also in Colorado… The Governor also signed SB 19-227, legislation expanding the Department of Public Health and Environment’s household medication take-back program to include needles and syringes.

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

Gov. Jared Polis (D) is expected to sign into law SB 19-005, legislation requiring the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing to develop a cost savings plan to import prescription medications from Canada by January 1, 2020.

Also in Colorado… HB 19-1242, the Colorado Pharmacists Society’s (CPS) mandatory pharmacy technician certification bill, passed both chambers and was sent to Gov. Jared Polis (D) for signature. Chain pharmacies were successful in clarifying that un-certified support personnel are still allowed in the pharmacy and adding provisions allowing the Board of Pharmacy to determine what additional duties certified technician may perform.

Also in Colorado… SB 19-228 was sent to the governor for signature. Chain pharmacy successfully amended the bill to allow the Board of Pharmacy to develop rules on opioid warning labels. The bill will pay a pharmacy an enhanced dispensing fee if the pharmacy has entered into a collaborative pharmacy practice agreement to administer injectable antagonist medication for medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for substance abuse disorder (SUD) or if a pharmacy dispenses a Schedule II or III opioid to a patient who has not previously received an opioid prescription and the pharmacy provides counseling concerning the risk of opioids to the patient.

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