On August 5, the Environment Department (NMED) filed an emergency amendment to require employers to report positive COVID-19 cases in the workplace to the NMED Occupational Health and Safety Bureau within four hours of being notified of the case. The emergency rule is effective for 120-days, or until December 3, 2020, unless NMED proposes and the Environmental Improvement Board adopts a permanent rule.  Guidance documents can be found here.

Also in New Mexico. The Board of Pharmacy approved the recommendations by the Board’s Practice Committee for a new protocol allowing pharmacists to treat patients with a positive CLIA-waived result. The five treatment areas under the new protocol are flu, strep, HIV PEP, and COVID-19. Notably, the new protocol includes language allowing the treatments to be FDA approved or FDA Emergency Use Authorizations (EAU). Certain COVID-19 tests have received authorization from the FDA that classify them as CLIA-waived tests. The protocol must now  gain approval from both the Medical and Nursing Boards in August who may then return the revised protocol to the Board of Pharmacy for final approval. Protocols can be found here.

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

In response to a request by chain pharmacies, on July 23 the Board of Pharmacy discussed allowing pharmacy technicians to administer vaccinations to help meet the anticipated public demand for influenza vaccinations this fall, and COVID vaccinations when they are available. NACDS submitted a support letter in advance of the meeting.

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

On June 18th, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham convened a special legislative session to address the state’s huge fiscal shortfall caused by the oil price crash and novel coronavirus pandemic. The modified budget approved by both the House and Senate that was sent to the Governor uses a combination of spending cuts and federal funding to deal with a projected $2 billion drop in state revenue for the next fiscal year. The revised fiscal year 2021 budget reduces spending by more than $600 million, bringing the budget to $7 billion. The revised budget reduces spending by 4 percent for most state agencies.

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

The legislators will return to Santa Fe on June 18, 2020 for a special session on the budget deficit caused by plummeting oil and gas prices, combined with lower gross receipts taxes because of the COVID restrictions. While the Roundhouse will be closed to the public, all committee hearings and floor sessions will be webcast. Any employees and media entering the building will be required to undergo a COVID-19 test; however, legislators will not be required but will be highly encouraged to do so too. All employees will also be required to undergo a COVID-19 test before the start of the special session to enter the Roundhouse. Legislators will not be required to undergo a test, but will be highly encouraged to do so. 

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

Primary elections were held on Tuesday, June 2nd. Early returns indicate that four powerful incumbent Senate Democrats may have lost their primary contests: John Smith – Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Mary Kay Papen – Senate President Pro Tempore, Clemente Sanchez, Chairman of the Senate Corporations and Transportation Committee, and  Richard Martinez, Former Chair of Senate Judiciary Committee.  

Also in New Mexico... On June 18, 2020, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is convening a special session on the budget. The state shortfall for the next fiscal year is estimated to be as high as $2.8B due to plunging oil and gas revenues and the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, there is an estimated shortfall between $368M and $483M for the current fiscal year.

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