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.

Although Gov. John Bel Edwards extended the statewide stay at home order to April 30, 2020 on March 31st, the legislature reconvened their legislative session for about an hour before adjourning again because of coronavirus concerns. They did not set a return date. As you recall, the regular session opened March 9th was suspended March 16th. Session will end June 1, 2020 although a special session could be held immediately afterward. All spending bills must be approved before the fiscal year begins July 1, 2020.  
 
Also in Louisiana... The last day for filing bills was also Tuesday, and there were two dozen bills filed mentioning coronavirus. NACDS continues to stay in close contact with our pharmacy champions that have filed our payment parity and immunization bills, and is working with the Louisiana Independent Pharmacy Association on both filing a bill and seeking a statewide protocol for pharmacists to test and dispense antiviral medications. Over the past week, we initiated two meetings with Medicaid to promote our model language for access to essential medications. 
 
Also in Louisiana... The Board of Pharmacy convened a special Board meeting via conference call on April 2nd to discuss guidelines related to COVID19. Link to agenda – http://www.pharmacy.la.gov/assets/docs/Board/2020-0402_1_AgendaBdMtg-T.pdf 

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

After seeing several Emergency Orders allowing early refills, 90-day supply for maintenance medications, extending prior authorizations and waving copays, NACDS reached out to the Department of Health’s Medicaid and Pharmacy staff requesting that they consider additional COVID19 waivers. NACDS shared model language to access essential services at pharmacies, including encouraging the Department of Health to adopt a statewide protocol to allow pharmacists to test and treat for COVID-19 once the anti-viral comes to market. We also discussed 1135 waivers and their pending SPA which will allow pharmacists to be reimbursed for adult immunizations. 

Also in Louisiana... The Board of Pharmacy adopted an Emergency Rule placing limitations on the dispensing of Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19. Link to all emergency rules adopted – http://www.doa.la.gov/Pages/osr/emr/emr.aspx and the guidance document can be found here –  

http://www.pharmacy.la.gov/assets/docs/EmergencyCommunications/2020_COVID-19/COVID-19_BoardGuidance_2020-0323_Rescind-ER.pdf 

Also in Louisiana... Prior to the postponement on the March 18th Board of Pharmacy’s Regulation Revision Committee meeting, NACDS submitted a comment letter on the telepharmacy rules, urging the Board to remove the arbitrary restrictions on location of dispensing sites, prescription volume, and staffing requirements. 

Also in Louisiana... The April 7, 2020 Pharmacy Legislative Day at the Capitol has been cancelled. 

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

Working with our in-state partner the Louisiana Retailers Association, NACDS was successful in identifying strong bill sponsors to pre-file two pharmacy bills prior to the start of the 60-day session which began on March 9^th.

• SB 296 by Sen. Regina Ashley Barrow would allow pharmacists to administer vaccines other than the influenza vaccine to individuals younger than 17 years without a prescription; and allow pharmacists to administer the influenza vaccine to individuals younger than 7 years without a prescription, consistent with pharmacists’ ability to provide such vaccines to older patient populations.
• HB 459 by Rep. Joseph Stagni will would allow pharmacists to be reimbursed by commercial health plans for patient-care services within the pharmacist’s scope of practice

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

NACDS and the Louisiana Retailers Association succeeded in finding legislators to pre-file legislation advancing the practice of pharmacy. Rep. Regina Ashford Barrow (D) introduced a broad immunization expansion bill, SB 296. and Rep. Joseph Stagni (R), Chiropractic Physician, filed HB 459, legislation that mandates payment for healthcare services performed by pharmacists was modeled after the 2019 Texas law. The Legislature convenes at Noon on Monday, March 9.

Also in Louisiana… The Department of Health recently posted these provider notices:

https://www.lamedicaid.com/provweb1/Pharmacy/March_Implementations_2-28-20.pdf

https://www.lamedicaid.com/sitesearch/searchpura.aspx

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

The Executive Commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Courtney Phillips, was hired by Gov. John Bel Edwards to serve as the chief of the Louisiana Department of Health.  Phillips is replacing former Secretary Rebekah Gee who announced her retirement last month as the head of Louisiana’s largest state agency.

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

The Department of Health’s Medicaid Pharmacy Program announced that effective March 2020, MCOs will add a lock-in component.

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

Having received unanimous support from NACDS and the other seven Pharmacy organizations that represent all pharmacists within the state, this week the Board of Pharmacy agreed to file legislation that would expand collaborative practice agreements and allow pharmacists to prescribe. 

Also in Louisiana... NACDS and other representatives from the Louisiana Pharmacy Congress will be meeting with legislators and business groups this week to solicit their support for payment parity legislation which would ensure that payors may not deny reimbursement to a pharmacist for the provision of a service or procedure within the scope of the pharmacist’s license to practice pharmacy.

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