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.

The Board of Pharmacy will conduct a Full Board Meeting via conference call on December 9 at 9:30 a.m. See the board meetings page for details. Note: the following on the agenda. 

• 2023 Legislative Session 
  • Governor’s Red Tape Relief Initiative 
  • DLI Legislative Drafts Important to Pharmacy 
    • LC0394 Standardize licensing board organization 
    • LC0395 Consolidating and clarifying penalties for unlicensed practice 
    • LC0396 Revise laws related to professional and occupational licensure 

• 2023 Future Rulemaking Efforts 
  • Governor’s Red Tape Relief Initiative 
  • Implementation of 2023 Legislation 

• Rules, effective as of September 24, 2022: 
  • 24.174.401 – Fee Schedule 
  • 24.174.1201 – Wholesale Distributor and Third-Party Logistics Provider Licensing 
  • 24.174.1202 – Manufacturer and Repackager Licensing
  • 24.174.1203 – Personnel 
  • 24.174.1207 – Change in Location 
  • 24.174.1208 – Change in Ownership 
  • 24.174.1211 – Minimum Facility Requirements 
  • 24.174.1212 – Minimum Requirements for Establishment and Maintenance of Drug Distribution Records
  • 24.174.1213 – National Clearinghouse for Wholesale Drug Distributor Licensing 
  • 24.174.1702 – Information Required for Submission 
  • 24.174.1703 – Electronic Format Required for the Transmission of Information 
  • 24.174.1704 – Requirements for Submitting Prescription Registry Information to the Board 

Also in Montana, the Cheyenne Department of Veterans Affairs reported that two (2) prescription pads have either been lost or stolen. The prescription pads are serialized and numbered: 

• 9282501 – 9282600 
• 9282601 – 9282700 

If you receive or have received hardcopy prescriptions within these serialized numbers, please contact the Board of Pharmacy office.  

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

This week, Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) declared a statewide disaster due to severe flooding in several counties with additional flood warnings in other areas of the state.

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

On May 13, the Department of Public Health, and Human Services (DPHHS) revised its Provider Revalidation Extension. The following is currently posted on the DPHHS website:  

“On December 13, 2021, Montana Healthcare Programs began sending revalidation notices to providers who are due for provider revalidation. The letters specify a due date. Montana Healthcare Programs is extending the required revalidation date for any provider who has received a revalidation notice. This extension is primarily due to a known system issue that is creating challenges for some providers when trying to revalidate. Providers should not attempt to revalidate their provider information at this time. Notices will be posted when the online revalidation feature is working properly. Providers will be given a minimum of 90 days
to complete revalidation activities once notification has occurred.” 

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

Pursuant to MAR 24-174-78, the Board of Pharmacy’s final rule amendments were published in the Administrative Rules of Montana, effective March 26, related to elimination of the ratio of pharmacy technicians and interns to pharmacists and inclusion of other healthcare licensees for vaccine administration and corresponding changes to the technician utilization plan.

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

The Department of Public Health and Human Services issued a Notice of Amendment to ARM 37.85.105, updating effective dates of Medicaid fee schedules retroactively to January 1, 2022. Reimbursement for outpatient drugs did not change.

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

The Board of Pharmacy reminds pharmacies that the temporary emergency rule (MAR 24-174-77) expired on January 11, 2022; this temporary rule included the removal of the pharmacist to pharmacy technician ratio for purposes of vaccine and testing administration and allowed other healthcare providers authorized to administer vaccines to assist pharmacists with vaccine administration. Since these provisions are no longer in effect, the pharmacist to pharmacy technician ratio is 1:4 per ARM 24.174.711. 

Also in Montana, the Board of Pharmacy issued a Notice of Public Hearing on Proposed Amendment in MAR 24-174-78. This proposed amendment removes the pharmacist to pharmacy technician ratio, provides for certain pharmacist-in-charge oversight in staffing and allows for other healthcare providers authorized to administer vaccines to assist pharmacists with vaccine administration. The Public Hearing will be held via remote conferencing on February 4. Written comments must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on February 11. 

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