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.