Gov. Laura Kelly (D) appointed two new pharmacists members to the Board of Pharmacy, Joanna Robinson, PharmD, MS, BCSCP, and Janine Ohler, PharmD, BCPS. They will each serve a four-year term and are replacing Jonathan Brunswig, PharmD, and William Walden, RPh, both of whom served eight years on the board. 

Also in Kansas, SB 63 which became law earlier this year on February 20, requires in Section 4 that "if a healthcare provider violates the provisions of Section 3 of the law, the healthcare provider has engaged in unprofessional conduct and, notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the license of such healthcare provider shall be revoked by the appropriate licensing entity or disciplinary review board with competent jurisdiction in this state". 

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

The Department of Health and Environment issued two bulletins for paying pharmacists for services. The Stand-Alone Vaccine Counseling and Pharmacists bulletin authorizes pharmacists to provide and bill for vaccine counseling services for patients under the age of 21 years, retroactive to April 1, 2025. The Pharmacist as Provider, Emergency Opioid Antagonists and Medication Therapy Management adds payment for the extra counseling required when pharmacists dispense emergency opioid agonists (EOA) using the statewide protocol, commonly referred to as the naloxone protocol. This should be billed with the date of service dispensed and counseled, retroactive to January 1, 2025. 

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

The Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), Medicaid, is encouraging pharmacy providers to participate in a Myers and Stauffer pharmacy cost of dispensing survey. Responses are due April 23. The survey results will be used to evaluate the costs associated with dispensing medications in the Medicaid pharmacy program. To help prepare pharmacies to participate in the survey, Myers and Stauffer will be conducting an informational online seminar at 3:00 pm Central Time on April 8, presenting details about the survey process, discussing what information is being requested and answering questions regarding the survey form. Attendance at one of the online seminar sessions requires a reservation. Please call 800-374-6858 or email disp_survey@mslc.com for a reservation and further meeting details. For additional details and links to the survey, please visit the website.

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

The Board of Pharmacy posted the November newsletter. It includes an update on the new Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) regulations adopted earlier this year.

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

The Board of Pharmacy reminded pharmacy technicians that they must pass a national technician certification exam before the first renewal or, if previously registered, at the time of application. The Board approved the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) and the National HealthCareer Association Examination for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ExCPT).

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

The Board of Pharmacy published its July 2024 newsletter.

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

The Board of Pharmacy is meeting at 8:30 am on July 11 in Topeka via Teams; view the meeting's webpage for a list of proposed rules and instructions on how to join the meeting in Teams. At 1:00 pm, the Board will be discussing the new proposed telepharmacy regulations.

Also in Kansas, Gov. Laura Kelly (D) convened a special session on June 18 to address taxes. The session was necessary because she vetoed the legislature's tax bill. 

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

The Board of Pharmacy's May newsletter is available online. 

Also in Kansas, Gov. Laura Kelly (D) reappointed Erick Axcell, PharmD, and Andy Truong, PharmD, to the Board of Pharmacy for an additional four-year term. 

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

Now that Kansas pharmacists are recognized in state statute as providers, starting on June 1, all KanCare (Medicaid) vaccine billing, including flu shots, will be under the new provider designation "Non-Physician/Pharmacist." The benefit of medical billing is that vaccine administration is billed at Kansas Medical Assistance Program (KMAP) rate of $14.20 instead of $10.50.  

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