The Legislature adjourned its biennial session on June 2.

Also in Nevada, Gov. Joe Lombardo (R) signed into law SB 389, a bill that requires the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to select and contract with a single PBM to manage Medicaid pharmacy and establish methodologies for the payment of and rates of reimbursement for prescription drugs. The bill also required DHHS to approve PBM contracts.

Also in Nevada, SB 316, a PBM reform bill that would have ended below-cost reimbursements for non-ERISA plans, passed the Senate, was amended in the Assembly, and died on the Senate calendar awaiting a vote. Through a series of maneuvers and a filibuster, the GOP minority stalled all action on the Senate floor, late in the evening of June 2, sine die. This unexpected maneuver prevented the approval of the PBM reform bill. 

Finally in Nevada, the Board of Pharmacy met in Las Vegas on June 5 and 6.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.

The Legislature adjourned its biennial session on June 2. 

Also in Nevada, the legislature sent Gov. Joe Lombardo (R) SB 389, a bill that requires the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to select and contract with a state PBM to manage Medicaid pharmacy and establish methodologies for the payment of and rates of reimbursement for prescription drugs. The bill also requires DHHS to approve PBM contracts.  

Also in Nevada, SB 316, the PBM reform bill amended several times that would have ended below-cost reimbursements for non-ERISA plans, prevented steering patients to affiliated pharmacies and enhanced enforcement authority for the Insurance Commissioner, died on the Senate floor due to a Senator filibustering on an unrelated bill, just minutes before the biennial session adjourned sine die at midnight on June 2. 

Finally in Nevada, NACDS signed a coalition letter urging Gov. Joe Lombardo (R) to veto AB 259, legislation that would establish maximum fair pricing thresholds. The Governor vetoed a similar bill in 2023. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.

SB 316, a PBM reform bill that NACDS supports that would require insurers to issue a report to the Insurance Commissioner that includes information regarding prescription cost data to help promote transparency and assess any impact on premiums. The bill also prohibits patient steering to affiliated pharmacies and unfair below cost reimbursements to nonaffiliated pharmacies; ensures any willing pharmacy terms; includes anti-discrimination provisions to protect pharmacy contracting; and subjects PBMs to civil monetary penalties for any violations. The bill is scheduled for a hearing in the Business and Commerce Committee on March 24.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.

Senator Rochelle Nguyen (D) filed SB 316, a broad PBM reform bill that includes enforcement provisions and pass-thru rebates, was filed this week and referred to the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.

AB 186 by Rep. David Orentlicher (D), a pharmacist, filed legislation expanding pharmacists’ scope of practice by allowing test and treat for minor ailments and allowing pharmacists to be recognized as lab directors and order tests. Also, it cleans up existing conflicting laws regarding administering and ordering CLIA-waived tests. NACDS and the Your Care Coalition submitted support letters. The bill was heard in the Assembly Commerce and Labor Committee on March 3. Testimony in support of the bill was presented by Ken Kunkle with the Nevada Pharmacy Alliance (NPAA), Liz MacMenamin with the Retail Association of Nevada (RAN) and Albertsons pharmacist Liz Moyr. Doctors opposed. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.

The Legislature convened its biennial session on February 3. Several bills pharmacy groups collaborated on during the interim have been filed, including: 

• AB 186 by Assemblymember David Orentlicher (D) expands pharmacist scope of practice. 

• SB 118 by Senator Jeff Stone (R) establishes payment parity for Medicaid. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.

The Legislature convenes on February 3, 2025.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.

In advance of the Board of Pharmacy’s Public Hearing on January 16 on proposed rules on minimum staffing requirements, NACDS submitted a letter of concern. Rather than imposing burdensome staffing requirements that could limit pharmacies’ ability to deliver pharmacy care, we urged the Board to focus on policy changes that allow pharmacies to deploy innovative pharmacy care models and technologies that improve pharmacy efficiencies and enhance capacity to deliver the level of care that patients demand. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.

The Board of Pharmacy posted the agenda for the two-day hybrid meeting in Las Vegas scheduled for October 16 and 17. On October 17 there will be a public hearing on proposed rules regarding documentation a pharmacy must obtain from a person before dispensing a controlled substance prescription.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.