The Immunization Coalition and Department of Health Immunization Program have put together a brief survey to gauge how provider offices handle vaccines for their adult patients.

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

The Legislative Health and Human Services Committee in early August to discuss state strategies for prescription drug access, access to pharmacy care, controlling the excessive cost of drugs, and pharmacy supply chain stakeholders (wholesalers, pharmacy benefit managers, manufacturers, and Insurers). 

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

The Medical Assistance Division (MAD) of the New Mexico Human Services Department (HSD) is requiring all prescribers including pharmacists with prescriptive authority for Centennial Care members to enroll as a Medicaid Provider by November 12, 2022, to continue to receive payment for prescriptions. Failure to enroll as a Medicaid Provider will result in denial, rejection, or recoupment of payment for prescriptions when written for Centennial Care members.

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

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) signed an executive order creating a Prescription Drug Task Force directed to identify ways to expand access and affordable pricing for medications. The EO (Executive Order) directs its members to analyze and report solutions to manage and minimize the cost of prescriptions for New Mexicans. Membership will include a New Mexico licensed pharmacist engaged in practice at an independent pharmacy, the Superintendent of Insurance, a licensed physician in New Mexico, a patient advocate, and an individual whose profession is in the health insurance industry. 

Also in New Mexico, the Medical Assistance Division (MAD) of the New Mexico Human Services Department (HSD) is now requiring ALL prescribers, including pharmacists with prescriptive authority for Centennial Care members to enroll as a Medicaid Provider to continue to receive payment for prescriptions. Failure to enroll will result in denial, rejection, or recoupment of payment for prescriptions when written for Centennial Care Members effective November 12, 2022. 

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

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) announced that she will call a special session April 5th to address taxpayer relief from high gas prices and a spending bill that the Governor vetoed at the end of the regular session. 

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

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) announced February 17th that effective immediately, masks will no longer be required indoors, except for in hospitals, assisted living centers, certain health care settings, as well as in state correctional and juvenile justice facilities. 

Also in New Mexico, the Legislature adjourned the 30-day fiscal session on February 17th. 

Finally in New Mexico, to better combat the opioid crisis, legislators passed HB 52 which will decriminalize the possession of fentanyl test strips. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) has until March 9, 2022, to sign the bill into law. 

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

The Department of Health renewed the order requiring wearing masks indoors.

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

The New Mexico Board of Pharmacy rules now allow Certified Immunization Pharmacy Technicians to vaccinate ALL vaccines to anyone prescribed by their Supervising Pharmacist, effective November 30, 2021. 

Also in New Mexico, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) extended the Public Health Order requiring masks indoors in all public settings through January 7th, 2022.  

For more information, contact NACDS' Mary Staples at 817-308-2103. 

North Carolina: The North Carolina Board of Pharmacy published proposed administrative rules concerning pharmacy interns. These rules can be found beginning on Page 1049 (PDF Page 57) of the North Carolina Register. 

The Board will hold a public hearing on these rules on February 8, 2022. The public hearing will be held remotely. The public can participate on Teams at https://tinyurl.com/jsuk4bjk or call 336-604-5350, conference ID 903 191 899#. The Board will accept written comments until February 14, 2022, and should be submitted to Jay Campbell, 6015 Farrington Road, Suite 201, Chapel Hill, NC 27517; fax (919) 246-1056; email ncboprulemaking@ncbop.org. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.

Below are highlights from the September issue of the Board of Pharmacy newsletter. See the newsletter for additional details and more information.   

• HIV Post-Exposure Prophylaxis and Point-of-Care Testing:  Pharmacist prescriptive authority for the prescribing of HIV post-exposure prophylaxis therapy in conjunction with point-of-care testing was approved by the Board during its April 2021 meeting. Pharmacists who wish to obtain this prescriptive authority must go through Board-approved training and adhere to the Board-approved protocol.  
• Regulation Updates 
  • 16.19.4 NMAC – Medical cannabis 
  • 16.19.20 NMAC – Changes to the scheduling status of certain substances 
  • 16.19.30 NMAC – Changes to the compounding of nonsterile pharmaceuticals.  
  • 16.19.31 NMAC – Emergency Provisions adding a section outlining Board authority to authorize extensions for unavailable training or testing during a declared emergency. This includes pharmacist license under reciprocity, technician registration, or pharmacist prescriptive authority. 

• 2021 Law Update Schedule 

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