On May 1, Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) signed SB 112 (Chapter Number: 322), legislation allowing pharmacists to prescribe certain medications with limitations. In the coming months, the Board of Pharmacy will promulgate rules.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) signed the following bills: 

• HB 379 (Chapter Number: 259), extending the prohibition on PBMs to require federally certified health entities to identify 340B drugs from June 1, 2023, to June 1, 2025. 
• HB 710 (Chapter Number: 216), permitting a pharmacist to delegate the administration of immunizations to a pharmacy technician or licensed intern, who has completed requirements for education and training. Administration of immunizations by technicians and interns will be supervised by the pharmacist. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

The Dept. of Labor and Industry published the following effective March 25, 2023: 

• 24.174.101 – The Board of Pharmacy adopts and incorporates the organizational rules of the Dept. of Labor and Industry. 
• 24.174.201 – The Board of Pharmacy adopts and incorporates the procedural rules of the Dept. of Labor and Industry.
• 24.174.202 – The Board of Pharmacy adopts and incorporates the public participation rules of the Dept. of Labor and Industry. 

Also in Montana, HB 710, legislation permitting pharmacy interns and technicians to administer immunizations, passed the House (90-8) and Senate (44-5). It has not yet been transmitted to the Governor. 

Finally in Montana, SB 112, legislation allowing pharmacists to prescribe certain medications with limitations, passed the Senate (34-15). In the House Human Services Committee, the bill was amended and passed (14-7).    

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

HB 710, legislation permitting pharmacy interns and technicians to administer immunizations, passed the House (90-8) and was transmitted to the Senate on March 3. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

HB 710, legislation permitting pharmacy interns and technicians to administer immunizations, was introduced on February 21 and passed the Business and Labor Committee on February 24. After SB 239 failed to advance, the Montana Retail Association and the Montana Pharmacy Association found a new sponsor to pursue this legislation.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

HB 379, extending the prohibition on PBMs to require federally certified health entities to identify 340B drug from June 1, 2023 to June 1, 2025, was amended and passed the House Business and Labor Committee on February 14.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

SB 112, allowing pharmacists to prescribe certain medications with limitations, passed the Senate Human Services Committee (6-3) and the Senate (34-15). The bill is now in the House Human Services Committee.  

Also in Montana, SB 239, making pharmacist and technician immunization flexibilities under the PREP Act permanent, will not advance. The Montana Retail Association and the Montana Pharmacy Association are seeking a new sponsor and a new placeholder draft, LC 1310, permitting a pharmacy intern and technician to administer immunizations. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

The Department of Public Health and Human Services posted the 2023 Naloxone Standing Order on its Opioids and Overdose website.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

LC 1633, related to 340B, was a prefile for the 2023 state legislative session. As drafted, PBMs or health insurers may not:  

• Prohibit federally certified health entities or pharmacies from participating in the insurer’s network;  
• Reimburse a federally certified health entity or pharmacy differently than reimbursing other similarly situated pharmacies;  
• Require a claim or a drug to include a modifier to indicate that the drug is a 340B drug, unless the claim is for Medicaid payment; or 
• Create restrictions or impose additional charges on patients who choose to receive drugs from a federally certified health entity or pharmacy  

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.