During the 2020 Regular Session, the Legislature adopted House Concurrent Resolution 71 which directs all professional licensing boards to adopt emergency rules to suspend the collection of license renewal fees for existing businesses located in Louisiana for licenses, certificates, permits, and registrations. To be in compliance, at the June 25^th teleconference meeting, the Board adopted emergency rules effective July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2021.

Also in Louisiana. The Legislature reached a balanced budget agreement last week and adjourned their special session on June 30^th. Lawmakers may return for another special session in October to either spend more federal coronavirus aid or make cuts if the budget situation worsens.

Also in Louisiana. Gov. Edwards issued Proclamation 83 JBE 2020 extending the public health emergency until July 24, 2020, unless terminated sooner which means that all previously issued waivers and guidance from the Board relative to this public health emergency have also been extended.

Also in Louisiana. At the June 25^th Board of Pharmacy meeting, Board members voted to terminate their recognition of NABP Passport effective July 31, 2020.  A copy of that notice is here.  Holders of the NABP Passport who have been practicing within or for the State of Louisiana without a separate credential issued by the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy will no longer be authorized to do so after July 31, 2020. The Board also approved an Emergency Rule suspending the collection of license renewal fees from existing businesses located within Louisiana for those credentials scheduled to expire between July 1, 2020, and June 30, 2021.

Lastly in Louisiana. Effective June 20^th, final rules on drug disposal and pain medication treatment guidelines were adopted. In addition, the following Final and Emergency rules have also been published.

• Final rule of the Board of Pharmacy amends regulations under LAC 46:LIII, Chapters 15, 25, and 27, to allow pharmacies to accept returns of previously dispensed drugs for disposal and specify requirements for the disposal of controlled substances and hazardous drugs. The rule also removes the requirement that pharmacies accept returns of controlled substances for disposal and instead allows pharmacies to accept such drugs for disposal. In addition, the rule requires pharmacies to advise patients or their designees of drug disposal options.

• Final rule of the Office of Workers’ Compensation Administration amends regulations under LAC 40:I, Chapter 21, to revise chronic pain disorder medical treatment guidelines. The rule revises guidelines for nonoperative therapeutic procedures.

The Department of Public Health extended until October 22, 2020, an  Emergency rule amending regulations for the continuation of Medicaid programs and services during the coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency. The rule relaxes requirements related to fair hearing requests and asset verification, provides for coverage of diagnostic testing for uninsured individuals, waives the requirement for daily visits by hospice providers, and allows for telemedicine visits by hospice providers. The rule also allows for reimbursement of ambulance providers for allowable services on-site without transport, waives copayments for pharmacy services, and allows a 90-day supply of maintenance medications.

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

Legislators are continuing to meet in a special session convened earlier this month attempting to negotiate a balance budget agreement prior to the star of the new fiscal year on July 1, 2020. 

Also in Louisiana... Two COVID-19 emergency rules have been extended until November. 

Emergency rule of the Department of Health, Bureau of Health Services Financing, adopts regulations under LAC 50:I, Chapter 5, to establish provisions for the delivery of telemedicine during a declared disaster under the Medical Assistance Program. The rule provides that services may temporarily be provided through the use of an interactive audio telecommunications system, without the requirement of video, if such action is determined to be necessary. The rule, which is issued in response to the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, extends a March 16th emergency rule. The rule is effective July 15, 2020, and expires Nov. 12, 2020. 

Emergency rule of the Department of Health amends regulations under LAC 51:II, Chapter 1, to add coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19)/infections with SARS-CoV-2 to the list of reportable diseases. The rule also requires laboratories and health care facilities to report testing results. The rule is effective July 5, 2020 and expires Nov. 2, 2020.  

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

The Board of Pharmacy is meeting via teleconference at 1 PM on June 25, 2020. http://www.pharmacy.la.gov/assets/docs/Board/2020-0625_1_Agenda.pdf

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

The regular session of the state legislature is scheduled to adjourn at 6 PM on June 1, 2020. Immediately after adjournment, at 6:01 PM, Gov. John Bel Edwards is expected to convene a special session to finalize the budget through June 30, the constitution deadline date for a balanced budget. 

Also in Louisiana... The Board of Pharmacy held a full Board meeting via Zoom on May 27th . The Board discussed problems with adequate testing sites for pharmacy graduates, and a pending House Concurrent Resolution 71 that if passed and signed by Gov. Edwards, would temporarily suspend the annual licensing fees imposed by licensing boards and agencies on businesses. The Board plans to hold an emergency virtual Board meeting in June to take action on these two issues. 

Also in Louisiana... NACDS submitted a comment letter raising concerns about adding seven medications that are used to treat hepatitis, as well as gabapentin and oral liquid formulations of promethazine to the drugs of concern list that must be reported to the Prescription Monitoring Program.  

Also in Louisiana... NACDS confirmed that Sen. Mark Abraham will not pursue passage of SB 488, legislation that would have prohibited chain pharmacies from enforcing any policy which would restrict the quantity or dosage of a prescription for a controlled substance or restricts a filling a prescription for a controlled substance issued by a specific prescriber.

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

NACDS and the Louisiana Retailers Association (LRA) submitted a joint letter to Louisiana Governor John Bel Edward’s Rural Development Task Force Chairman Jim Clinton sharing our ideas how community pharmacies are vital to helping reopen the economy. NACDS and LRA also sent a similar letter earlier this month to the Governor’s Health Equity Commission and have been participating in their meetings focused on addressing health disparities during the COVID-19 Pandemic. 

 Also in Louisiana... Gov. John Bel Edwards issued a proclamation extending the public health emergency until June 5, 2020.  

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

NACDS and the Louisiana Retailers Association submitted a joint letter to the COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force charged with addressing health disparities. In our letter, we described how pharmacies and pharmacists can help increase access to care and improve health equity for minority and vulnerable populations throughout the state.

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

The legislature reconvened their session on Monday, May 4, and by constitution, must adjourn by June 1. While the budget is their main focus, several committees did post hearings for this week, including a payment parity bill, HB 459, filed by Rep. Joseph Stagni. The payment parity bill garnered broad support from the Louisiana Pharmacy Congress that represents eight pharmacy organizations — Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding, Louisiana Independent Pharmacies Association, Louisiana Pharmacists Association, Louisiana Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Louisiana State Board of Pharmacy, National Association of Chain Drug Stores, University of Louisiana at Monroe – School of Pharmacy, Xavier University of Louisiana – College of Pharmacy – was scheduled for a hearing in the House Insurance Committee on May 6. Both NACDS launched a RxIMPACT alert to mobilize support for the bill, and so did the Louisiana Pharmacists Association. NACDS and the Louisiana Retailers Association submitted a joint support letter to the committee. Mounting opposition to the bill were the family physicians and insurers led by Blue Cross/Blue Shield. Unfortunately, late Tuesday, the bill was removed from the committee calendar because it was deemed too controversial.  

Also in Louisiana... At their April Board of Pharmacy reduced the number of live CE requirements for 2020.  They determined it appropriate to modify the CE requirements for pharmacist license renewal for Calendar Year 2021 such that a total of 15 hours of ACPE-accredited pharmacist-specific CE will qualify for license renewal without regard to whether the CE is acquired through live presentations or home study methods. 

Also in Louisiana... The Board of Pharmacy is holding a May 29, 2020 hearing on a proposed rule to add nine drugs of concern, including seven drugs for the treatment of hepatitis, promethazine oral liquid formation, and gabapentin. The rule also would add recordkeeping requirements for prescription transactions. NACDS will be submitting a comment letter. 

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

The Board of Pharmacy issued a Proposed rule amending regulations to add nine drugs of concern, including seven drugs for the treatment of hepatitis, promethazine oral liquid formation, and gabapentin. The rule also requires recordkeeping for prescription transactions and revises provisions on authorized access privileges, access registration procedures, and methods of access. In addition, the rule would extend the automatic registration procedures to include dispensers and remove redundant provisions. Comments are due to mstaples@nacds.org by COB May 15, 2020 so that we can submit a comment letter in advance of the May 29, 2020 public hearing. 

Also in Louisiana… The Board of Pharmacy issued a Proposed rule to remove the requirement for pharmacists to publicly display a paper copy of their current license renewal. Comments are due May 29, 2020. 

Also in Louisiana... Dr. Courtney N. Phillips officially joined the Louisiana Department of Health to serve as the Secretary. Dr. Phillips mos

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

The Board of Pharmacy submitted its initial reports to the Joint Oversight Committee on Health and Welfare on four regulatory projects – Prescription Monitoring Program Project 2020-1, Automated Medication Systems Project 2020-2, Pharmacist Licensing Display Project 2020-3, and Marijuana Pharmacy Project 2020-5. For more information on the status of all of the Board’s regulatory projects, go to http://www.pharmacy.la.gov/index.cfm?md=pagebuilder&tmp=home&pid=81 

Also in Louisiana... The Board of Pharmacy announced changes to a proposed rule that would amend regulations under LAC 46:LIII, Chapters 15, 25, and 27, to allow pharmacies to accept returns of previously dispensed drugs for disposal. The rule also would specify requirements for disposal of controlled substances and hazardous drugs. The changes remove the requirement for pharmacies to accept returns of controlled substances for disposal and instead would allow pharmacies to accept such drugs for disposal and require pharmacies to advise patients or their designees of drug disposal options. A second public hearing is scheduled for April 27, 2020. 

Also in Louisiana... Effective March 20th, the Department of Health began reimbursing for vaccines administered to adults by qualified pharmacists, an administration fee of $15.22 which includes counseling when performed.  Vaccine reimbursement for recipients aged 19 and over shall be reimbursed at wholesale acquisition cost (WAC) or billed charges, whichever is the lesser amount. http://bnaregs.bna.com/?id=la_15788

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