Massachusetts

Now that the Massachusetts State of Emergency has been lifted, the Department of Public Health has issued several regulatory updates.

Therefore, effective June 30, 2021, the Board will return to the following pre-pandemic requirements:

12 hour workday maximum (247 CMR 6.02(9)(c))
supervisory ratios (247 CMR 8.06(3))
perpetual inventory every 10 days (247 CMR 9.01(14))
compounding copies of commercially available drugs
restocking emergency kits in long term care facilities within 48 hours (105 CMR 150.008(E))
ID requirement for picking up a federally controlled substance or gabapentin prescription (105 CMR 700.012)
- NOTE: ID is not needed to pick up prescriptions for federally scheduled controlled substance in certain circumstances. However, the individual must print his or her name and address on the reverse side of the prescription and sign it. In the case of an electronic prescription, they must provide an electronic signature. Review the Data Submission Dispenser Guide for details.

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

Michael Silber2021-06-25T09:20:51-04:00June 25, 2021|Massachusetts|

Governor Charlie Baker (R) announced the rollout of pharmacies providing COVID vaccination. Additionally, MassHealth has updated the current rates for the administration of vaccines to $33.88 for the first dose and $56.78 for the second dose. Please click here for more information.

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

Michael Angeloni2021-01-29T10:46:48-05:00January 29, 2021|Massachusetts|

Massachusetts

Earlier this year, Governor Charlie Baker (R) signed into law SB 2984 which among other things, recognizes pharmacists as health care providers. Please visit the above link for bill language.

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

Michael Angeloni2021-01-08T10:37:27-05:00January 8, 2021|Massachusetts|

Massachusetts

The Massachusetts Board of Pharmacy has just released a new FAQ dealing with COVID-19. The FAQ provides numerous helpful links for pharmacies and pharmacists. More information can be found here.

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

Michael Angeloni2020-12-11T08:04:32-05:00December 11, 2020|Massachusetts|

Massachusetts

NACDS joined the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans to promote childhood vaccinations. Recently Governor Charlie Baker (R) issued an executive order that all children ages 3 and up enrolled in school must have a flu vaccination before January 1, 2021. Attached is one of the communications highlighting this issue.

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

Michael Angeloni2020-09-25T12:51:24-04:00September 25, 2020|Massachusetts|

Massachusetts

This week, Massachusetts joined Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island in a regional pact to coordinate the regional reopening of the economy as the COVID-19 pandemic reaches its apex in the region. The Pact shall include state officials, economic experts and public health officials. No timeline or details are available, but the vision is a gradual return to work in the region.

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

Michael Angeloni2020-04-16T09:39:12-04:00April 16, 2020|Massachusetts|

Massachusetts

This week, Gov. Charlie Baker (R) released his Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 budget request which includes a proposal for a 15 percent tax on opioid manufacturers on gross receipts from the sale of opioid products. This tax income would be used to pay for the $48 million proposed increase for treatment and other services. The total amount budgeted for these services will be $266 million. In addition, the Governor’s budget contains a provision which would give MassHealth the ability to negotiate directly with drug manufacturers over price and use a public rate-setting process for the high-cost prescription drugs similar to how rates for other Medicaid services are set.

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

Michael Angeloni2019-02-05T14:12:07-05:00January 25, 2019|Massachusetts|

Massachusetts

Gov. Charlie Baker (R) signed into law HB 4742 (formerly HB 4866), requiring that on or after Wednesday, January 1, 2020, prescriptions for Schedule II through VI controlled substances must be issued via an electronic prescription from the prescriber to a pharmacy. The law also creates a statewide standing order for the dispensing of naloxone and permits pharmacists to bill the insurer for the person requesting an opioid antagonist dispensed through the standing order. Additionally, pharmacists are not required to determine the identity of the ultimate user and the customer may pay cash for the prescription, if they prefer.

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

Karen White2018-08-17T09:37:19-04:00August 16, 2018|Massachusetts|

Massachusetts

In a meeting this week, the MassHealth (Medicaid) announced that it will not be pursuing a proposed $1.00 reduction in the Medicaid fee-for-service professional dispensing fee. The fee will remain $10.02.

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

Karen White2018-06-22T11:48:31-04:00June 21, 2018|Massachusetts|