The Legislature convened on Wednesday, January 13^th for a 120-day session, and is scheduled to adjourn on May 12.

Also in Colorado. The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) Department’s substance use disorder services (SUDS) is now available to Medicaid members effective January 1, 2021. More information can be found here.

Lastly in Colorado. The Board of Pharmacy will hold a virtual public hearing on January 21, 2021, on a proposed rule revising pharmacy standards for refrigerator and freezer storage, allow pharmacy technicians to administer immunizations, and simplify the recordkeeping requirements for pharmacists and pharmacies relating to vaccine administration.

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

The Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) is hosting a virtual stakeholder meeting on December 22, 2020, to gather feedback on a legislative proposal that grants regulatory boards and programs within DPO or the Division greater flexibility to respond to similar, widespread disaster emergencies in the future. Click here to register.

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

The General Assembly approved a COVID-19 relief package of 10 bills on Wednesday, ending a three-day extraordinary session called by Gov. Jared Polis (D) focused on addressing disaster relief funding for small business, child care, housing aid, broadband, food insecurity, utility assistance, and public health response.

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

Gov. Jared Polis (D) is planning to convene a special session of the Legislature after the Thanksgiving holiday to address COVID relief.

Also in Colorado. On November 19, the Board of Pharmacy approved emergency rules effective immediately allowing pharmacy technicians to administer vaccines and immunizations (Rule 19). The Board also unanimously supported a motion for permanent rulemaking at their January 2021 meeting.

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

The Board of Pharmacy will meet virtually on November 19, 2020. On the agenda will be a discussion on pharmacy technicians administering immunizations.

Also in Colorado. The Medical Board will be considering a proposed rule on the electronic prescribing law NACDS supported two years ago that will be implemented on July 1, 2021, defining “temporary technological failure,” “temporary electrical failure,” and “economic hardship” for purposes of the statutory exceptions. A virtual hearing is scheduled for November 19, 2020.

Also in Colorado. The PEP/PrEP final rule adopted by the Board of Pharmacy earlier this year allowing pharmacists to distribute HIV infection prevention medications to patients will become effective on November 14, 2020.

Lastly in Colorado. The Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) Colorado Office of Policy, Research and Regulatory Reform (COPRRR) released the 2020 Board of Pharmacy sunset report which provides recommendations to legislators for the 2021 session. NACDS and the Colorado Retail Council provided extensive joint written comments and held multiple meetings with staff to provide input.

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

The Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (HCPF) is hosting training sessions focusing on the upcoming residential and inpatient substance use disorder (SUD) service benefit on October 22 and 29, 2020. The program will cover topics including an overview of the SUD benefit expansion, enrollment with Health First Colorado as a residential/inpatient SUD treatment provider, billing procedures for the new services, ASAM Criteria documentation of medical necessity, utilization management, provider licensure requirements, and content provided by the Regional Accountable Entities (RAEs) and Managed Service Organizations (MSOs) for treatment providers. Members may register for the training and can visit the Ensuring a Full Continuum of SUD Benefits website (for additional information).

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

The Department of Regulatory Agencies, Division of Insurance, adopted an emergency rule effective August 14 through December 12, 2020, that requires carriers to reimburse providers for medically necessary covered health care services provided through telehealth during the coronavirus public health emergency. The rule replaces the April 3 emergency rule (20-E-05) and requires telehealth services to be reimbursed at rates no lower than in-person services, in compliance with state behavioral health parity laws, and without specific requirements or limitations on the technologies used. Also, the rule requires carriers to allow covered persons who do not have established relationships with specific providers to receive medically necessary health care services via telehealth from those providers. Finally, the rule prohibits carriers from imposing additional certification, location, or training requirements; requires carriers to notify providers of any instructions necessary to facilitate billing for telehealth, and requires carriers to cover telehealth services provided by nonparticipating providers if their own providers can’t provide such services).

Also in Colorado. NACDS and the Colorado Retail Council participated in a meeting with the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) to discuss their progress in developing the Colorado Drug Importation Program. The General Assembly passed legislation in 2019 (SB19-005) that allows the state to establish a program allowing the wholesale importation of prescription drugs from Canada for resale to Colorado residents as an attempt to reign in the high cost of drugs. More information can be found here and here.

Also in Colorado. The Board of Pharmacy adopted several new rules that went into effect on August 30, 2020. These rules provide clarity on the suspended and modified rules related to the COVID pandemic.

Lastly, in Colorado. On September 17, 2020, at 8:45 AM MT, the Board of Pharmacy will host a webinar and will be accepting comments on a proposed rule that would add provisions on the distribution of drugs by other outlet pharmacies, the provision of HIV infection prevention medications to patients, and requirements for prescription orders for controlled substances. The rule would also update references to federal standards. To participate, Register Here. Draft rules can be found here.

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

The final rule approved by the Board of Pharmacy that suspends certain requirements regarding closure and minimum hours of operation of prescription drug outlets, consultant pharmacist inspections, and drug therapy management will become effective August 30, 2020. The rule removes certain requirements for sterile compounding and shortages around garbing supplies, eliminates certain requirements for remote practice and hospital satellite pharmacies, and allows pharmacists to administer COVID-19 tests authorized by the FDA.

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