Governor Ned Lamont (D) issued an Executive Order this week authorizing pharmacists to administer COVID and flu vaccinations to all ages effective immediately. More information on this Executive Order can be found here.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.
The Connecticut Insurance Department met with NACDS to discuss the issue of pharmaceutical drug pricing in the state. The Department indicated that they also held calls with drug wholesalers, drug manufacturers, health plans, independent pharmacies, and the PBMs. No legislation proposal was discussed on the call.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.
The legislature just passed Bill number 6003, which gives pharmacists the ability to dispense and prescribe emergency insulin to diabetics. The legislation also addresses a proposal to provide insulin for the uninsured. The Governor is expected to sign into law.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.
This week Connecticut State Officials from the Governor’s Office and Department of Consumer Protection met with NACDS, the Connecticut Community Pharmacy Association and pharmacies to discuss any impediments to pharmacists being able to order, administer and interpret COVID tests. State officials felt strongly that the key to rapidly increasing the testing of its citizens required the support of the pharmacy community. State officials agreed to consider several actions to expedite the process.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.
This week, Connecticut joined with Delaware, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island in a regional pact to coordinate the regional reopening of the economy as the COVID-19 pandemic reaches its apex in the region. The Pact shall include state officials, economic experts and public health officials. No timeline or details are available, but the vision is a gradual return to work in the region.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.
Gov. Ned Lamont (D) recently signed HB 7363, now Public Act 19-199, placing restrictions on clawbacks and direct and indirect remuneration (DIR) fees by pharmacy benefit managers effective Wednesday, January 1, 2020.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.
The state legislature adjourned after passage of SB 197 (Public Act No. 18-74), permitting substitution of interchangeable biologic products, and SB 246 (Public Act No. 18-77), directing the Commissioner of the Department of Social Services to make recommendations for automatic fills in the Medicaid fee-for-service program. The legislature rejected a proposal requiring the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program database be checked each time an opioid is filled and also rejected a proposal prohibiting prescriptions of Narcan® (an opioid antagonist) to a family member. With the entire legislature up for re-elections, controversial budget issues were punted until after the election.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.
NACDS and the Connecticut Association of Community Pharmacy met with Rodrick Marriott, Director, Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, Drug Control Division, to discuss the January 1, 2018 launch of mandatory e-prescribing for controlled substances Schedules II through V prescriptions. Subsequently, the Drug Control Division published an FAQ that included a statement noting that “a pharmacist is NOT required to verify that a prescriber has a waiver from the requirement to electronically prescribe, or properly falls under one of the other exceptions from the requirement to electronically prescribe. Pharmacists may continue to dispense medications from otherwise valid written, oral, or fax prescriptions that are consistent with current laws and regulations.”
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.