Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D) rescinded the pharmacy waivers found in Executive Order 2020-124 effective July 14 at 8:31 pm. The Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs will give providers though 11:59 pm on August 31, 2020, to return to normal order. The three pharmacy-related waivers still in place are as follows: Executive Order 2020-104; Executive Order 2020-149; and Executive Order 2020-152. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.

Culminating several years of effort by NACDS and the Michigan Retailers Association, Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D) signed into law e-prescribing legislation (HB 4217, SB 248, and SB 254) as Public Acts 134-136 of 2020. The law applies to all drugs, not just controlled substances, and will become effective on October 1, 2021.

Also in Michigan. The broad regulatory waivers afforded to pharmacists and pharmacies under Executive Order 2020-126 were drastically reduced with Executive Order 2020-152, effective on July 15. The following flexibilities are no longer in effect:

• 60-day emergency supply refills of non-controlled maintenance medication
• Pharmacists may temporarily operate a pharmacy in an area not designated on the pharmacy license, but they may not prepare sterile drug products beyond low-risk preparations, as defined by United States Pharmacopeia (USP) standards, for immediate inpatient administration in such temporary facilities
• Dispensing/administering drugs as needed to treat COVID-19
• Substitutions of therapeutically equivalent medication for a medication subject to critical shortages without the authorization of a prescriber
• Supervision of pharmacy technicians and other pharmacy staff remotely (unless licensed as a tele-pharmacy under Michigan law)
• Allowing out-of-state pharmacies and wholesale distributors holding a license, certificate, or other permit in good standing issued by another state to do business in this state

For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) signed into law the interconnected HB 4217, SB 248 and SB 254) to require the electronic prescribing of all drugs effective October 1, 2021.  NACDS salutes the leadership of the Michigan Retailers Association on this legislation.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) has extended her previous Executive Order, including permitting early refills for up to 90-days’ supply and relaxing regulatory limitations on pharmacy operations. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) extended the duration of her previous Executive Order granting broad authority for pharmacies to engage the COVID-19 pandemic, with policies including emergency refills, therapeutic substitution, and suspension of the technician ratio.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) announced an extension of her previous Executive Order with wide-ranging scope of practice and operational measures to facilitate pharmacy engagement in response to COVID-19.  The new order will apply through May 19, 2020.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.

Governors from Michigan, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin have formed a pact for coordinating the reopening of the Midwest regional economy.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.

The Department of Health and Human Services issued an Informational Letter outlining temporary policy changes pertaining to early refills and signature requirements for both fee-for-serice and Managed Medicaid.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.

The House Health Policy Committee will hear SB 248 and SB 254, legislation to require electronic prescribing, on Thursday, March 5, 2020 at 10:30 am.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.