The Massachusetts legislature completed, and Governor Charlie Baker (R) signed into law the state budget — HB (House Bill) 5500, which included several provisions of interest to pharmacies.

Mandatory Reporting by PBM (Pharmacy Benefit Manager) for State Agency Managed Care Contracts. The report must be filed with the Legislature by February 15, 2023, on the financial performance of the managed care and accountable care organizations, as well as their effectiveness in serving the MassHealth recipients.

Funding for Public Awareness Campaign Relative to Prescriptions for Contraceptives

Funding for Programs to Combat Opioid Addiction

Expanding Protection for Reproductive Rights – This law provides legal protections for Massachusetts health care providers, including pharmacists, from prosecution by out-of-state jurisdictions for legally protected health care and reproductive health care services and products, including contraceptives, provided in Massachusetts to out-of-state residents. This language protects these providers from criminal prosecution and associated civil lawsuits from states that prohibit access to legal health care and reproductive health services and products. This bill also provides for one statewide standing order to be issued to authorize the dispensing of emergency contraception by licensed pharmacists. This language would replace

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

The Massachusetts House of Representatives passed HB 4930 “Relative to Expanding Access to Reproductive Rights” by a vote of 136 – 17. This bill will now be considered by the State Senate. This legislation provides legal protections for Massachusetts health care providers, including pharmacists, from prosecution by out-of-state jurisdictions for legally protected health care and reproductive health care services and products provided in Massachusetts to out-of-state residents. This language is designed to protect these providers from criminal prosecution and associated civil lawsuits from states that prohibit access to legal health care and reproductive health services and products.  

Also in Massachusetts, the Commonwealth’s Senate today unanimously passed SB 2955 which will allow pharmacists to prescribe, dispense and administer HIV prevention drugs. This bill now goes to the House for their consideration.  

Finally in Massachusetts, the Board of Pharmacy has announced that additional guidance will be provided now that the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (Food and Drug Administration) has updated the emergency use authorization (EUA) for Paxlovid™ to permit prescribing by pharmacists, subject to the terms of that EUA. Any prescribing must comply with the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) and DPH’s prescribing guidance.  

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

MassHealth just released its latest edition of Medicaid Pharmacy Facts updated Drug Lists.

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

The Massachusetts Board of Pharmacy has updated its Policy 2022-03 which deals with unfilled Prescriptions. The Board decided to update the policy based on information from the DEA to allow pharmacies to send unfilled electronic prescriptions for federally controlled substances, including CII, to another pharmacy for initial fill. This can be done either by verbal transfer or election transmission, but methods must be pharmacist-to-pharmacist and follow the transfer requirements of 21 CFR section 1306.25. The next Board of Pharmacy meeting is scheduled for August 4.

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

This week, NACDS wrote the Commissioner at the Department of Public Health a letter to urge her to make permanent pharmacy practice modernization in alignment with allowances under the federal PREP (Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness) Act.

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

Massachusetts Medicaid, MassHealth, released its March Pharmacy Facts which includes updates for pharmacy providers on MassHealth policy.

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

The Massachusetts Board of Pharmacy has updated information on the Licensee Scope of Practice dealing with certified pharmacy technicians and has issued a document on Extended Absence of a Manager of Record.

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

MassHealth, Medicaid, has updated its COVID-19 Pharmacy Practice regarding perpetual inventories.

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

The Massachusetts Board of Pharmacy has updated two policies. Policy 2022-01 dealing with loss or theft of Controlled Substances which now requires confirmed and possible losses be reported within a 7 calendar days period. The second policy change deals with USP 800 in Community Pharmacies.

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