The Department of Public Health would like to hear from pharmacies who may be interested in providing the FDA approved COVID-19 therapeutic pill, Molnupiravir. Please take a minute to complete this COVID-19 Molnupiravir Pharmacy Interest Survey. 

If you would like to learn more about Merck’s Molnupiravir pill, CLICK HERE to watch a 30-minute presentation by Lisley Brooks B.S., Doctor of Pharmacy Candidate 2022 and Tracy Dabbs, PharmD, Georgia Department of Public Health. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.

The Department of Public Health, Division of Health Protection, Section of Emergency Preparedness and Response Department has received the following updates on the Moderna Expiry Lot Checker regarding the following lots: 046A21A, 008B21-2A, 017B21A, 020B21A, 022B21A, 039B21A, 046B21A, 044B21A. These have successfully been updated to the expiry look up tool. We have been informed that the Moderna team is continuing to work on the expiry extension and the next batch (weekly) will include five priority lots in distribution and all lots expiring in October.

If any providers have expiring doses that have not been updated in the Moderna Expiry Lot Checker yet, the advice is to safely quarantine the expired doses until the dose extension can be verified and to administer new shipments of Moderna vaccine in the meantime. If providers cannot safely quarantine doses of vaccine with unknown extension status and there is concern that expired does may be administered, please properly dispose of vaccine and report as waste.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.

Fall Virtual Medicaid Fair, Thursday, October 28, 2021 at 8am EST. The opening session will highlight news from the Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) including an overview of current initiatives and program and policy updates. The day will feature WebEx based break-out sessions focused on relevant topics for our provider community along with time for questions and answers. To register online and for details, visit here. Attendees must register to reserve a seat for each individual session selected.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.

Fall Virtual Medicaid Fair, Thursday, October 28, 2021 at 8am EST. The opening session will highlight news from the Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) including an overview of current initiatives and program and policy updates. The day will feature WebEx based break-out sessions focused on relevant topics for our provider community along with time for questions and answers. To register online and for details, visit here. Attendees must register to reserve a seat for each individual session selected.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.

The Georgia Pharmacy Association (GPhA) is offering Immunization Delivery Training for Pharmacy Technicians, a 6.0-hour CE program consisting of both home-study and live training. Under HHS authorization (PREP Act 10.20.20) trained pharmacy technicians can administer certain vaccines under the supervision and authorization of a pharmacist. GPhA is offering live training on Saturday, October 16, 2021 in Sandy Springs. Space is limited. You can find more information here. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.

The Georgia Board of Pharmacy issued a final rule to amend regulations under GAC 480-10 to require a Class A balance with weights or electronic balance only if compounding on-site using components that must be weighed. The rule became effective May 10.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.

Several final rules from the Board of Pharmacy effective May 3.

• Final rule of the Board of Pharmacy amends regulations under GAC 480-11 to require a Class A balance with weights or electronic balance only if compounding on-site using components that must be weighed.
• Final rule of the Board of Pharmacy adopts regulations under GAC 480-10 to require retail pharmacies with affiliates to file a disclosure statement annually by June 30.
• Final rule of the Board of Pharmacy amends regulations under GAC 480-10 to provide an exception from the requirement for a combined retail/hospital pharmacy to maintain a separate prescription department and have a pharmacist on duty when open for business. The rule also allows a nursing supervisor access to the pharmacy.
• Final rule of the Board of Pharmacy amends regulations under GAC 480-36 to remove provisions on the responsibility of the pharmacist on duty at the primary dispensing pharmacy to assure the accuracy of remote entry drug order processing. A hearing is scheduled for Sept. 16, 2020, via teleconference.

Also in Georgia: The Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner issued a notice to announce Bulletin 21-EX-8 to specify that, when an audit of a pharmacy is conducted by a managed care company, insurance company, pharmacy benefits manager, or another payor, the final audit report must be delivered to the pharmacy within 90 days after receipt of the preliminary audit report or final appeal, whichever is later. Contact: Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner; 404-656-2056

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.

Three pieces of legislation in Georgia have passed both Chambers and are on the way to Governor Kemp for signature. HB316 moves the number of pharmacy technicians a pharmacist may supervise from 3:1 to 4:1. SB46 allows Georgia pharmacists to administer any adult ACIP approved vaccine under a vaccine protocol agreement with a physician. HB653  will statutorily allow Georgia pharmacists to order, administer, and interpret COVID-19 tests for up to twelve months after the expiration of the Federal State of Emergency.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.