Several bills have been introduced to advance NACDS’ Scope of Business Campaign. HF 4008 and SF 3823 would provide payment parity for pharmacy-based services and HF 4009 would update the states’ pharmacy immunization and testing authority to match the PREP Act.  

Also in Minnesota, the House Health Finance and Policy Committee heard HF 3854, allowing pharmacists to prescribe HIV prevention medications. NACDS and our in-state partners were instrumental in forming a coalition of stakeholders that is proactively advancing the bill. Committee members had no major concerns and there was no opposition voiced at the hearing from the medical community. The committee held the bill over for possible inclusion in an omnibus committee bill. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.

Companion bills, SF 3154, and HF 3854, allowing pharmacists to initiate treatment for PeP (Post Exposure Prophylaxis) and PReP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis), have been introduced by Sen. Scott Dibble (DFL) and Rep. Athena Hollins (DFL). The language has been updated from last session, reflecting the work of a broad coalition of supporters formed by the joint efforts of NACDS, the Minnesota Retailers Association, the Minnesota Pharmacists Association, patient advocates and the bill sponsors. The bills have been referred to the appropriate committee for further consideration.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.

The Department of Health has published a weekly covid vaccine providers report. To subscribe to it click here.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.

The Division of Insurance of the Department of Commerce’s Final Rule on PBM Licensure and Regulation was adopted with the revisions, published in the register, and became effective Jan 18. For further detail and background or to read stakeholder comments, including those filed by NACDS, go to the Department’s rulemaking page.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) will host a public, virtual meeting on Wednesday, December 29, 2021, at 2 p.m. CST to demonstrate the functionality of the registration system and provide an update on the technical build for the Prescription Drug Price Transparency Act (the “Act”) (Minnesota Statutes 62J.84; amended by Minnesota Laws, 2021, Regular Session, Chapter 30 – HF 2128 – Article 3, Sec. 5 – 9). To join, use the  Webex Meeting Link, Meeting Number (access code): 2494 346 4226, Meeting Password: tXaTGFdT722. MDH will post–meeting materials on the Prescription Drug Price Transparency Meetings page. Additional information is available online at www.health.state.mn.us/data/rxtransparency, where interested individuals and stakeholders may also subscribe to periodic updates. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.

The Administrative Law Judge assigned to the PBM rulemaking process, Kimberly Middendorf, has concluded her review of the Department of Commerce’s proposed rule and SONAR, as well as all comments, responses, and rebuttals from members of the public, and on Friday issued a “Report of the Administrative Law Judge. Judge Middendorf’s report is available for review on the Commerce website (scroll down to Report of the Administrative Law Judge). 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.

On November 3 NACDS and the Minnesota Retailers Association will co-host a virtual discussion concerning legislation that would give pharmacists the authority to prescribe HIV preexposure and postexposure prophylaxis. If you would like to join the discussion, please email Jill McCormack for meeting sign in information.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.

The Insurance Division of the Department of Commerce has published a proposed rule  on PBM Licensure and Regulation. The rule is a result of the passage of legislation in the 2019 Legislative Session and will be the subject of a hearing on September 20.  NACDS intends to draft comments that will be sent out for member review. Should you have comments in the meantime, please send them to Jill McCormack by Sept. 3. Instructions for accessing the hearing virtually and by telephone are included in the rule.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.

Gov. Tim Walz (D) signed HF 33, the Health and Human Services omnibus budget bill on June 29. Notably, the final bill includes an increase in the Medicaid professional dispensing fee from $10.48 to $10.77, an expansion of the list of drugs permitted to be dispensed in a 90-day supply, an allowance for medication therapy management via telehealth and a requirement that Medicaid conduct a cost of dispensing study to determine a statewide dispensing fee for specialty drugs.  

Also in Minnesota, the Board of Pharmacy posted an announcement and FAQs that they rescinded COVID operational variances due to Gov. Walz ending the state of emergency on July 1. The Board expects pharmacies to be compliance with current statute and rules by July 16. The announcement clarifies that the PREP Act and Declarations pre-empt state laws and remain in effect.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.