The Board of Pharmacy is hosting a virtual Stakeholder Meeting on June 27 at 10 AM MDT to solicit feedback on multiple proposed revisions to the Board's rules on newly passed legislation. Topics include Third Party Logistics Providers, Reporting Violations, and Collaborative Pharmacy Agreements and Appendix C (Statewide Protocol for Pre-Exposure and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis of HIV). Potential considerations to revise the rules to implement new legislation concern Colorado Senate Bills 22-116, 22-173, 22-027, 22-098; and Colorado House Bills 22-1235, 22-1246, 22-1115, and 22-1122. To participate, you must register for the online seminar. If you cannot attend the meeting or want to submit comments, send your comments to: dora_dpo_rulemaking@state.co.us by June 24, 2022.  

Also in Colorado,  HB (House Bill) 22-1370 will pass along drug manufacturer rebates to employers and consumers – valued at more than 16% of overall drug costs for those not sharing in rebates now. This bill represented one of the policy recommendations in the Department's 2021 Reducing Prescription Drug Costs in Colorado Report.  

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

The legislature adjourned on May 11th. Prior to adjournment, several bills of interest to pharmacies passed and will be sent to Gov. Jared Polis (D) to sign into law, including a telepharmacy bill eliminating the mileage restrictions SB-173, and a PBM 340b bill prohibiting additional fees and chargebacks HB-1122,

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

The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) is hosting a virtual Health Cabinet Policy Summit on March 24 and 31. Topics include affordability, behavioral health transformation, pandemic to endemic & future readiness, and keeping Coloradans covered after the Public Health Emergency. HCPF is expanding their value-based payment models that reward providers for better patient outcomes and closes health disparities while driving affordability. Register in advance.

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

Health First Colorado is paying for up to 15 COVID-19 home tests per member each month when provided by an enrolled pharmacy.

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

State Senate President Leroy Garcia (D) announced that he has accepted a position with the Biden Administration and will be resigning in mid-February. Senate Democrats selected Sen. Steve Fenberg to be the chamber’s next president.

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

On February 14, the Board of Pharmacy is holding a Joint Stakeholder meeting to allow interested parties to provide feedback on the proposed revisions to the Statewide Protocol for Prescribing Hormonal Contraceptive Patches and Oral Contraceptives, and the Colorado Self-Screening Contraception Risk Assessment Questionnaire

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

The Department of Health Care Policy and Finance (HCPF) announced today that they received approval from CMS to further increase the Health First Colorado and CHP+ reimbursement rate for COVID-19 vaccine administration to $61.77 for the first two doses, retroactive to September 1, 2021. This rate is triple the typical Medicaid vaccine administration rate and 50% above the Medicare rate.

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

The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPA) issued an Operational Memo informing Health First Colorado (Medicaid) providers of their obligation to effectively communicate coordination of benefits requirements to Health First Colorado members who have primary third party insurance.

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

The Department of Regulatory agencies (DORA) announced that the Board of Pharmacy, Medical Board, and Board of Nursing will hold a virtual Joint Stakeholder Meeting on December 20^th seeking input on whether to develop a new statewide protocol for Statin Therapy within the scope of Collaborative Pharmacy Practice Agreements, as allowed per section 12-280-601(1), C.R.S., and Rule 17.00.00. This proposed protocol would allow pharmacists to provide evidence-based health-care services to increase access to a well-established medical standard of care. Written comments must be submitted by December 17, 2021. Oral comments will be taken from participants who are present via webinar.

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