The legislature adjourned its biennial session on June 5. Prior to adjournment, both chambers passed AB 107, out of state licensing issue chain pharmacies supported that the Governor signed into law, effective October 1, 2023. Both chambers also passed and sent to the Governor SB 57 giving the Insurance Commissioner oversight of PBMs by requiring them to register.

Also in Nevada, Gov. Joe Lombardo (R) immediately called a special session for June 6. Shortly thereafter, the Governor convened a second special session solely focused on financing a new major league baseball stadium in Las Vegas.

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

The Retail Association of Nevada, NACDS and the Nevada Pharmacy Alliance sponsored the Pharmacy Day at the Capitol on May 1. More than 50 pharmacists and pharmacy students met at the Capitol to advocate for patient care and the profession. Pharmacist State Senator Jeff Stone (R), the sponsor of SB 201, legislation that clarifies pharmacists can order CLIA tests and serve as lab director, as well as providing payment parity for Medicaid services provided by pharmacist, joined the group that evening at The Brewery in Carson City.

Also in Nevada, SB 57, legislation which will require PBMs to register the Division of Insurance and Department of Business and Industry passed the Senate and is pending in the Assembly Committee on Commerce and Labor.  

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

SB 57, legislation that includes PBMs in the definition of administrators and creating licensing requirements, passed the Senate on April 25 was heard in the Assembly Commerce and Labor Committee on May 3.

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

PBM reform bill, AB 440, was heard in the Assembly Commerce and Labor Committee on March 31. The Retail Association of Nevada offered several amendments defining specialty drugs, patient steering, patient choice, adequate networks, any willing provider, spread pricing, as well as prohibiting retroactive fees and setting a rate floor. 

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

Assembly Speaker Pro Tem Steve Yeager (D) announced several new members of the Democratic Caucus leadership team for the 2023 biennial legislative session. They are Assemblywoman Sandra Jauregui, Majority Floor Leader, and Assemblywoman Daniele Monroe-Moreno, Chair of Assembly Ways & Means Committee.

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

The Board of Pharmacy posted the agenda for the two-day hybrid virtual/in-person October 13 and 14 meeting.

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

The state joined Washington and Oregon in offering the ArrayRx card, a state-backed discount card program.

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

At the September Board of Pharmacy meeting, Board members voted against extending a temporary emergency regulation re-instating the 6:1 pharmacy technician to pharmacist ratio that expired in July of 2022. 

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

In response to a request from chain pharmacy, September 7 & 8 Board of Pharmacy meeting, the Board will discuss and potentially act on the Adoption of an Emergency Regulation in increase the number of pharmaceutical technicians and pharmaceutical technicians in training that a pharmacist may supervise at one time from four to six. The Retail Association of Nevada (RAN) and NACDS encourage members to send a letter of support in advance of the meeting. 

Also in Nevada, pharmacists can now bill the state’s Medicaid program for hormonal contraceptive and HIV prevention services. The Board posted two guidance documents on the new laws that allow pharmacists to dispense self-hormonal contraceptives without a prescription, and allow pharmacists to prescribe and dispense PEP and PrEP drugs. 

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