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raised the concern that the language specifying that pharmacies keep a perpetual inventory that includes counts for “outdated” controlled substances could create confusion, so we provided clarifying language.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.

Letters submitted by NACDS and others opposing HB18-1538, legislation that would require pharmacies to post for the public each pharmacy’s drug prices, was killed in the House Health, Insurance and Environment Committee last week by a surprising 12-1 vote.

Also in Colorado…HB 18-1284, The Patient Drug Cost Savings Act, passed both the House of Representatives and the Senate and was signed into law by Gov. John Hickenlooper (D). Among its various provisions, the newly enacted law states a carrier or PBM acting on behalf of the carrier shall not prohibit a pharmacy or pharmacist from providing a covered person with information about the amount of the covered person’s cost share for the covered person’s prescription drug and the clinical efficacy of a more affordable alternative drug among its various provisions.

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

In advance of the Board of Pharmacy’s April 17 stakeholder meeting on proposed draft rules on perpetual inventory, NACDS provided detailed comments that the proposal is too broad.

Also in Colorado…HB 18-1279, legislation chain pharmacies support that would mandate e-prescribing, passed the House on April 17 by a close 33-30 vote. However, the bill failed to advance and died in the Senate State,Veterans and Military Affairs Committee on April 25.

Also in Colorado…On Friday, May 11, the Department of Health Care Financing and Policy will hold a hearing on a proposed rule that will increase the durable medical equipment (DME) encounter rate by 1.402%.

Also in Colorado…Working with our in-state partners, NACDS is opposing HB18-1538, legislation that would require pharmacies to post for the public each pharmacy’s drug prices promptly at the pharmacy and on the pharmacy’s website, including the date of the price change. The Board of Pharmacy is required to establish rules on price disclosures by pharmacies. Most concerning is that if the Board determines that a pharmacy does not comply with the requirements, this constitutes unprofessional conduct and the pharmacy/pharmacist may be subject to disciplinary action. The bill is scheduled to be heard on April 26 in the House Health, Insurance and Environment Committee.

Also in Colorado…Gov. John Hickenlooper (D) signed into law HB 18-1112, legislation requiring pharmacists be paid for healthcare services in professional shortage areas.

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

HB 18-1279, mandatory e-prescribing legislation NACDS and a broad coalition support, was heard in the House Health, Insurance and Environment Committee on March 29.

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

With support from NACDS, the Colorado Retail Council’s chain drug committee hosted a legislative luncheon in the Capitol where chain pharmacists educated lawmakers on the business of pharmacy and our 2018 legislative agenda which includes mandatory e-prescribing legislation. This annual event has proven to be an excellent way to enhance the visibility of chain pharmacies in the Capitol.

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