Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) ended the state’s mask mandate effective immediately, February 10, 2022.

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

Since all counties continue to be designated high risk masks are mandatory regardless of vaccination status per Gov. Steve Sisolak’s (D) Directive 045. 

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

Effective January 1, 2022, all controlled substance prescriptions MUST be transmitted to a pharmacy by electronic prescribing, except for the following prescriptions: 

1. a) Issued by a veterinarian;
   b) Issued under circumstances where:
   Electronic transmission is unavailable due to technologic or electronic failure; or
        2. The drug will be dispensed at a pharmacy located outside of this State;
   c) Issued by a practitioner who will also dispense the drug;
   d) For which electronic prescribing is prohibited by federal law;
   e) Issued pursuant to a protocol for research; or
   f) Issued under circumstances in which the practitioner determines that:
        1. The patient is unable to obtain the drug in a timely manner if the prescription is given by electronic transmission; and
        2. Delay will adversely affect the patient’s medical condition. 

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

An opinion letter https://www.nacds.org/ceo/2021/0827/7-22-21-Practicing-Pharmacy-into-Nevada.pdf issued by the Board’s General Counsel in July now interprets the law to require that any pharmacist who dispenses or compounds prescriptions for a controlled substance or dangerous drug for a patient located in the state of Nevada needs to be registered/licensed with the Board. This interpretation is a complete reversal of the Board’s long-standing practice of requiring a non-resident pharmacy to hold a Nevada license, but not the individual pharmacists who work at the pharmacy. 

Also in Nevada, the Board of Pharmacy will hold a three-day Board meeting in Las Vegas on August 31-September 2. The Board’s agenda and information on the videoconference link are available here – January 2000 Agenda (nv.gov) 

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

Thirteen counties mandate masks for everyone in a public indoor setting must wear a mask: Carson, Churchill, Clark, Douglas, Elko, Humboldt, Lincoln, Lyon, Mineral, Nye, Pershing, Washoe & White Pine. Four counties require that only unvaccinated people are required to wear a mask indoors: Esmerelda, Eureka, Lander & Storey. 

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

State Attorney General Aaron Ford (D) recently issued an opinion that all pharmacists working in an out of state facility of any type must be licensed in Nevada. https://www.nacds.org/ceo/2021/0813/7-22-21-Practicing-Pharmacy-into-Nevada.pdf

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

Before the adjournment of the biennial session on May 31, legislators passed four bills NACDS and the Retail Association of Nevada promoted that expand pharmacists’ scope of practice and mandate public and private payor reimbursement for services rendered.

• SB 425 by Sen. James Settelmeyer (R) authorizes pharmacists to provide PEP/PrEP and recognizes pharmacists as health care providers mandating payment by both public & private payors.
• SB 190 by Sen. Nicole Cannizzaro (D) allows pharmacists to furnish self-administered hormonal contraceptives under BOP protocol,
• SB 229 by Sen. Julia Ratti (D) expands collaborative practice agreements and recognizes pharmacists as health care providers so they can be paid.
• AB 178 by Assemblywoman Melissa Hardy (R) authorizes payment for a fill or refill of a 30-day supply of a prescription during a declared disaster or state of emergency.

Also in Nevada, unfortunately, AB 177 by the Assistant Majority Leader Assemblywoman Teresa Benitez-Thompson (D) that NACDS opposed was sent to the Governor. As originally filed, the bill required a pharmacy to provide a second prescription label on the vial in any language the patient requests. As a result of efforts by the Retail Association of Nevada (RAN), the bill was amended to require only a second label be attached to the vial translating the directions for use. RAN also negotiated liability protections to be added for both pharmacies and pharmacists who follow the rules.

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

SB190 by Sen. Nicole Cannizzaro (D) that NACDS and the Retail Association of Nevada support allowing a pharmacist to dispense a self-administered hormonal contraceptive under the standing order passed the Senate 21-0 and was heard in the Assembly Commerce and Labor Committee on May 10.

Also in Nevada, AB177, legislation NACDS opposed filed by Majority Leader Benitez-Thompson (D) that requires pharmacies to post the rights of patients to demand information that at the request of the patient, pharmacies provide written translations on the prescription label in a language other than English. Despite opposition from NACDS and pharmacists, the bill passed the Assembly by a vote of 26-16. It was referred to the Senate where it was amended on May 11^th and is awaiting a vote out of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.

Also in Nevada, SB229, legislation expanding pharmacy collaborative practice agreements that NACDS and the Retail Association of Nevada support passed the Senate 17-4, was heard in the Assembly Commerce and Labor Committee in late April. A second work session was held on May 12. The next step is for the Committee to approve the bill and send it to the full Assembly.

Lastly in Nevada, AB178 by Assemblywoman Hardy allows under certain conditions a pharmacist to fill or refill a prescription in an amount that is greater than the amount authorized by the prescriber but cannot exceed a 30-day supply when a disaster or state of emergency is in effect.

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

AB177, legislation pharmacies strongly oppose that mandates language translations be on the prescription vial passed the Assembly and is pending action by the Senate Health and Human Services Committee on April 29. The bill requires retail pharmacies to provide the information required to be included on the label of a prescription drug in English and, upon request of a prescribing practitioner, patient, or an authorized representative of a patient, any language prescribed by regulations adopted by the Board.

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