The Maine legislative session just ended this week with two pharmacy bills left unfunded on the appropriations table, which means they will be reconsidered in the 2024 session. The two bills were LD 1558, a bill that would ban pharmacies from selling most tobacco products, and LD 275, a bill that would study the workplace treatment of pharmacists.

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.

On June 15, the Maine legislature approved LD 899, a bill that would authorize certified pharmacy technicians to administer vaccines under the direct supervision of a pharmacist and complete a certification program. Said certification program must be approved by the board and have at least six (6) hours of vaccine-related training that includes, at a minimum, training on the safe and effective administration of vaccines, hands-on injection technique, clinical evaluation of indications and contraindications of vaccines and the recognition and treatment of emergency reactions to vaccines and cardiovascular life support training. Lastly, the bill also clarifies the timing of when vaccine administration training requirements must be completed by pharmacists. The measure was approved with an emergency preamble and will be effective upon signing by the Governor.

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.

The agenda has been posted for the October 6th Board of Pharmacy meeting.

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

The Maine Board of Pharmacy has released its minutes from April and May meetings. The next Board meeting will be on August 4.

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.

Last year, the legislature passed LD 8 which established a prescription drug take-back program in Maine for pharmacies. Pharmacies will have the choice of a secure collection kiosk or offering customers a voucher for a mail-back envelope to properly dispose of unused prescription medications. Drug manufacturers are due to submit a plan to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) by July 1, 2022.

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.

The Notice of Agency Rulemaking Proposal regarding Joint Rule Between the Maine Board of Pharmacy and Maine Board of Nursing on Collaborative Drug Therapy Management (CDT) has been posted to the Maine Board of Pharmacy website. The comment deadline is January 3, 2022, at 5:00 pm. EST. Written comments may be sent to Geraldine.L.Betts@maine.gov using the subject line: CDT Proposed Rule Comment.

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.

The Maine Board of Pharmacy released the minutes from its August 5 meeting.  The next zoom Board meeting will be October 7 at 8:30 am.

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.

As the Maine Legislature moves toward adjournment two key pieces of legislation have been signed into law.  First, Governor Janet Mills (D) signed into law  Legislative Document (LD) 603 — critical legislation that will help enhance patients’ access to convenient and affordable pharmacy-based care by recognizing pharmacists as providers of healthcare services in the state of Maine.  The Governor also signed into law Legislative Document (LD) 8, the prescription drug disposal proposal that would expand the collection of unwanted prescription drugs for proper disposal and will be fully funded by the drug manufacturers.

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.