The Dept. of Public Health and Human Services issued a Notice of Public Hearing on proposed amendments to ARM 37.85.105, updating effective dates of Medicaid fee schedules; see the relevant section related to outpatient drugs located on pages 1888-9. The public hearing will be held on January 13 and comments are due January 22. 

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

The Board of Pharmacy held a full board conference call meeting on September 2 to discuss issuing an emergency rule to address pharmacy staffing shortages related to COVID-19 and flu vaccinations.  As a result, the Board of Pharmacy adopted temporary emergency rules, effective September 14, 2021, and expiring on January 11, 2022, including the following:   

• Rule I: Temporary emergency suspension of pharmacist to pharmacy technician ratio for purposes of vaccine activities and COVID-19 testing. 
• Rule II: Temporary emergency expansion of personnel who may work in a pharmacy or under the supervision of a pharmacist. 

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

The Board of Pharmacy has scheduled the following meetings:

• Screening Panel on September 23 (Executive Session-Closed)
• Adjudication Panel on September 24 (Prior to full Board)
• Full Board on September 24 (Open Via Teleconference Only) – Note: Full agenda will be posted on the Board Events website within 10 days of the meeting date with changes permitted up to three days prior to the meeting date.

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

SB 395 Chapter Number: 501, establishing licensure, reporting, marketing, and advertising, network adequacy requirements, and 340B related provisions for PBMs, was signed by Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) on May 12, 2021.

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

On March 31, 2021, Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) announced a directive to reduce barriers to vaccine administration in pharmacies across Montana. The directive permits pharmacists to use any qualified, licensed health care providers, under their scope of practice, to assist with the administration of COVID-19 vaccines for the remainder of the state of emergency and temporarily waives the current restriction on the number of pharmacy technicians a pharmacist may supervise for the administration of COVID-19 vaccines and associated administrative duties and procedures. The directive is in effect for the remainder of Montana’s state of emergency per Executive Order 2-2021.

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

Effective September 21, the pharmacy technician–to–pharmacist ratio increased from 3:1 to 4:1. The Board of Pharmacy still has a mechanism in place for pharmacies to request a waiver from the Board for additional technicians by providing a utilization plan.

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

The Montana Board of Pharmacy approved rules to increase the pharmacy technician to pharmacist ratio from 3:1 to 4:1 with anticipated implementation in September 2019.  The rules will continue to allow pharmacies to request a waiver above the new 4:1 ratio.

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

Gov. Steve Bullock (D) signed HB 231, expanding immunization services provided by pharmacists to include the administration of vaccines to individuals seven years of age and older as provided by the most recent guidelines by vaccine and age group as published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and under collaborative practice agreements.

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