On June 5, the Board of Registration in Pharmacy met for its regular monthly meeting. The next meeting is scheduled for August 7.

On June 10, the Joint Committee on Financial Services held a hearing on several PBM bills. Of particular interest, the committee heard testimony on H.1234, an Act Relative to Pharmacy Benefit Managers, that was introduced by Rep. John Lawn (D), the Chair of Health Care Finance and sponsor of the PBM law from the previous session.

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

The State Senate debated the state budget legislation, which did not include the Governor’s proposed $2.00 per prescription tax. The budget is now moving to conference committee, having passed the House last month. The legislature will likely finish its work next month. Since neither chamber considered the tax, it cannot be included in the final budget bill. 

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

On April 29, the Joint Committee on Financial Services heard both H1091 and S800, Acts Relative to Pharmacists as Health Care Providers. These bills would authorize the Department of Public Health to allow pharmacists to order, test, screen and treat patients. H1091 and S800 would also require pharmacies to be reimbursed for services. NACDS submitted testimony and will continue to support the bill throughout the legislative session which ends July 31, 2026.    

Also in Massachusetts, the Board of Pharmacy released three updates:  

Policy 2025-01: Rapid Microbial Methods (Rapid Sterility Testing) 

Outlines general considerations and requirements for compounding pharmacies contemplating the use of an alternative sterility testing method. 

Policy 2022-02: Extended Absence or Departure of a Manager of Record or Designated Pharmacist-in-Charge 

Addresses non-resident Designated PIC absences and departures. 

Opioid REMS Program 

Pharmacies can order take-back envelopes and access other information on this website. 

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

On March 21, the Department of Insurance hosted its second of three public hearings on PBM regulations. This hearing focused on the licensing process and standards. NACDS submitted testimony and participated in the hearing. The final hearing is scheduled for April 4.

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

In April 2025, MassHealth will migrate its Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS) base application and Provider Online Service Center (POSC) to an Amazon Web Services (AWS) data center. MassHealth has published All Provider Bulletin 401- MMIS POSC Migration to Amazon Web Services, which outlines key cutover information. All published bulletins can be found on Mass.gov   

The MassHealth Business Support Service (BSS) Provider Relations team will be hosting an information session on March 10 at 10:00 am. Please register online. The following information will be addressed:  

• Reasons for Migration: Understanding the benefits of transitioning to AWS. 

• Timeline of Activities: Key steps along with dates and times you need to be aware of. 

• Provider Impact: How this change may affect your workflow which might include technical impact of the changes, adjusted claims processing timelines, checking member eligibility; along with steps you can take to minimize any disruptions. 

If you have questions, please contact MassHealth at (800) 841-2900 or provider@masshealthquestions.com. 

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

The MassHealth Pharmacy Program updated pharmacists on standing orders for dispensing over-the-counter prenatal vitamins and over-the-counter oral hormonal birth control. 

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

NACDS and the Massachusetts Chain Pharmacy Council have begun engaging the governor’s office and legislative leaders on the budget proposal that includes a $2/prescription assessment to help pay for MassHealth pharmacy benefit program.

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

On January 22, Gov. Maura Healey (D) announced her Fiscal Year 2026 budget proposal. The proposal includes two relevant sections for pharmacies:  

1. The Commonwealth may impose a fee on each prescription dispensed in the state by pharmacies which will include retail, hospital, compounding, specialty and 340B pharmacies. The amount each pharmacy shall pay shall not exceed the lesser of the $2.00 per prescription dispensed by the pharmacy, or an amount equal to 6% of the revenues received by the pharmacy. The Executive Office of Human Services (EOHS) is also given the power to enforce this provision through license suspensions, fines and liens. MassHealth has indicated that these new funds will be used to increase the dispensing fees for all pharmacies that dispense prescriptions in the Fee-for-Service Program and to mandate dispensing fee floors for all pharmacies that participate in the MassHealth MCO pharmacy contracts.  
2. EOHS will seek to create a Universal Adult Vaccine Program. This proposal would expand the current Childhood Vaccination Purchase Trust Fund and require pharmacies to participate in the new program for providing state-sponsored adult vaccines.  

NACDS will continue to work with the Massachusetts Chain Pharmacy Council to engage the administration and legislature. A collective meeting had been scheduled for the end of the month with MassHealth and Mercer on the ongoing cost of dispensing study issues. This meeting and others will be moved up sooner.  

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

On December 6, the Board of Pharmacy published new regulations relative to pharmacy licensing and the Continuous Quality Improvement Program.

Amendments to 247 CMR 6.00

Created six new license categories for certain types of pharmacy practice:

1. sterile compounding,
2. complex sterile compounding,
3. institutional sterile compounding,
4. non-resident drug stores,
5. non-resident sterile compounding,
6. non-resident complex non-sterile compounding.

The proposed changes explain which license types are needed for which activities, set forth the eligibility requirements and procedures for obtaining each type of license, and set forth grounds for denial of licensure due to lack of suitability. The proposed changes update requirements related to the change of a pharmacy’s manager of record, location or ownership, pharmacy renovations and the closure of a pharmacy. The proposed changes remove practice standards from this section in order that all such practice standards may be aggregated at 247 CMR 9.00.

Amendments to 247 CMR15.00

Requires pharmacies to establish and implement a “Continuous Quality Improvement Program,” meaning a system for identifying and documenting prescription dispensing errors; notifying affected patients, and health care providers as necessary; analyzing the error to identify causes and contributing factors; and using the information to improve pharmacy systems and workflow.

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