The New Jersey Legislature announced its fall schedule. The first meeting of the Senate Health Committee will be on October 7. NACDS, along with the New Jersey Pharmacists Association, has asked S1981 to be included on the agenda. The bill, a companion to A1899 which has passed the Assembly, would allow immunization of flu and COVID-19 for those ages 5 years and up and allow pharmacy technicians to administer vaccines.

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.

On July 10, Gov. Phil Murphy (D) signed a package of bills targeting prescription drug costs. Most relevant was A536, an Act Concerning Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs). This new law establishes greater oversight of PBMs. The act requires rebates to be used to lower premiums and out-of-pocket costs for consumers and prevents the practice of spread pricing. It also requires PBMs to apply for a license from the NJ Department of Banking & Insurance to strengthen regulatory oversight. 

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.

The New Jersey Board of Pharmacy recently released a letter on its determination to extend the Remote Processing Pilot Program.

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.

This week at the New Jersey Board of Pharmacy, the Board agreed to extend the remote processing pilot program for 6 months to allow time for the regulations to be finalized. The Board will be notifying New Jersey pharmacies of this extension. Today there are 124 pilot programs up and running. NACDS sent a letter last month requesting that the pilot be continued. 

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.

NACDS submitted a letter to the New Jersey Board of Pharmacy asking the Board to extend the Remote Processing Pilot until the rulemaking to permanently allow for this activity is finalized. Although the Board has already initiated rulemaking to allow remote processing more broadly, the pilot is scheduled to expire at the end of June and therefore must be extended for participating pharmacies and pharmacy personnel to continue to engage in remote processing activities.

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.

NACDS submitted a letter to the New Jersey Board of Pharmacy seeking clarification on a policy matter related to the expiration of Schedule III-V controlled substance prescriptions. NACDS members have received direction from representatives of the New Jersey Medicaid program that contradicts both federal and state laws and regulations regarding the timeframe in which Schedule III-V prescriptions expire, NACDS has asked the Board to provide needed clarification on this matter.

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.

The New Jersey Board of Medical Examiners has proposed to amend regulations under NJAC 13:35-7 to require practitioners to identify in advance psychological co-morbidities that affect prescribing and overall treatment decisions and assess whether continued opioid therapy is working to address a patient’s treatment needs. The rule also would address treatment planning, medical records, and management of chronic pain.

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.

The Board of Pharmacy has finalized three regulations dealing with patient counseling documentation requirements, increased out of state permit fees, and removal of waiting period to retake pharmacist exams. 

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.

The Board of Pharmacy has adopted regulations on opioid warning labels. These regulations are effective January 3, 2022.

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.