NACDS submitted a statement to the Senate Business, Labor and Technology Committee in support of SB19-079, legislation that would require Schedule II, III and IV controlled substance prescriptions to be electronically prescribed. The legislation subsequently passed the Senate and was introduced in the House and assigned to the Public Health Care & Human Services Committee.

Also in Colorado…NACDS submitted a statement to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee opposing SB19-005, legislation establishing a commercial prescription drug importation program in the state. NACDS outlined how the legislation would violate federal law against drug importation, undermine federally mandated security protections of the drug supply chain and increase the risk of counterfeit drugs in the state’s drug supply chain and thereby compromise patient safety.

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

On January 31, the Senate Health and Human Services Committee held a hearing on SB19-005, a bill that creates the “Colorado Wholesale Importation of Prescription Drugs Act”, under which the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing shall design a program to import prescription pharmaceutical products from Canada for sale to Colorado consumers.

Also in Colorado…HB 19-1077, legislation allowing a pharmacist to dispense an emergency supply of chronic maintenance medications under certain circumstances to a patient without a prescription passed the House on January 28.

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

NACDS submitted comments to the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) on proposed rules pertaining to the reporting requirements for payers submitting data to the All-Payers Claims Database. In our letter, we asked that a pharmacy’s reimbursement be based on the services provided, not in any way be tied to or negatively impact a pharmacy’s reimbursement (product and/or dispensing fees) for prescription drugs.

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

In advance of the September 14 Medical Services Board public hearing, NACDS submitted a comment letter supporting the proposed rule adding pharmacists as providers.

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

The Board of Pharmacy is seeking individuals to volunteer to serve on two short-term task forces to examine certain rules and draft amendments. The rules under review are:

• Rule 6.00.00 Drug Therapy Management
• Rule 17.00.00 Collaborative Pharmacy Practice
• Rule 14.00.00 Other Outlets (Telepharmacy)

Those interested should submit a cover letter indicating your interest in a particular rule and resume to Yukon Morford by Monday, August 20. The Board will review the applicants and select the task force members at its Thursday, September 20 meeting.

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

Failing to receive an endorsement from the Democrat Party, Ballot Initiative 146: Healthcare Price Transparency will not be on the November 6 ballot. Similar to legislation (HB18-1358) that Planned Parenthood, chain pharmacy and a broad-based healthcare coalition defeated this past legislative session, this ballot initiative would have required all healthcare providers that receive and treat patients to provide an easily accessible list of prices for each healthcare service offered. The price list would have to be provided in printed form and electronically.

Also in Colorado…In advance of the July 19 Board of Pharmacy meeting, based on member input, NACDS submitted comments on the proposed rule on perpetual inventory. NACDS raised the concern that the language specifying that pharmacies keep a perpetual inventory that includes counts for “outdated” controlled substances could create confusion, so we provided clarifying language.

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

On June 6, Gov. John Hickenlooper (D) signed into law HB 18-1313 that clarifies that a licensed and qualified pharmacist may serve as a practitioner and prescribe over-the-counter medication pursuant to a collaborative pharmacy practice agreement. The law is effective Wednesday, August 8.

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

HB 18-1313, legislation chain pharmacy supported that clarifies that pharmacists are practitioners for the purposes of prescribing under statewide protocols, passed both Houses and was sent to Gov. John Hickenlooper (D) for his consideration.

Also in Colorado…The Board of Pharmacy is convening a stakeholder meeting on Monday, June 11 to solicit input on the following proposed draft rules before commencing the formal rulemaking process.

• Rule 3.05.00 – Would establish a new rule acknowledging pharmacist’s ability to issue a prescription for and dispense OTC medications to recipients under the Colorado Medical Assistance Act.

• Rule 6.00.00 – The purpose of any proposed amendments to Board Rule 6.00.00 is to address the requirements of drug therapy management.

• Rule 14.00.40 and 14.00.80 (telepharmacy)

• Proposed draft changes to Rule 14.00.40 would require any telepharmacy that dispenses more than 50,000 dispensing units in a calendar year to register with the Board as a prescription drug outlet.
• Proposed draft changes to Rule 14.00.80 would establish an inspection and visitation timeline based on dispensing volume for consultant pharmacists with responsibility over telepharmacy sites.

• Rule 17.00.00 (collaborative pharmacy practice), Rule 17.00.00 Appendix A (statewide protocol for dispensing hormonal contraceptive patches and oral contraceptives) and Rule 17.00.00 Appendix B (statewide protocol for dispensing tobacco cessation products):

• Proposed draft revisions to Rule 17.00.00 outline the specific education / training to participate in statewide protocols as part of collaborative pharmacy.
• Proposed draft revisions to Rule 17.00.00 Appendix A replace references for “prescribing” contraceptives pursuant to the statewide protocol with references to “dispensing” contraceptives pursuant to the statewide protocol
• Proposed draft revisions to Rule 17.00.00 Appendix B replace references for “prescribing” smoking cessation products pursuant to the statewide protocol with references to “dispensing” smoking cessation products pursuant to the statewide protocol

• Rule 25.00.14 – Would allow and address the corresponding expectations of involved pharmacists in the packaging and labeling of medication for a specific patient by an automated device at a specialized prescription drug outlet.

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

This week, Gov. John Hickenlooper (D) signed into law SB 18-022 that includes a seven–day opioid prescribing limit.

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