The New York State Legislature has passed  S.8182A/Hoylman/A.10508-A Paulin which authorize licensed pharmacists to administer any approved vaccine for COVID-19.  The bill will proceed to the Governor for review and signature before year’s end.

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

This week, New York joined Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island in a regional pact to coordinate the regional reopening of the economy as the COVID–19 pandemic reaches its apex in the region.  The Pact shall include state officials, economic experts and public health officials.  No timeline or details are available, but the vision is a gradual return to work in the region.

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

Effective April 3, 2020, the New York State budget has been finalized.  The total spending package is reduced from the Governor’s initial proposal and attempts to address the growing budget deficit that the State is experiencing from the COVID-19 pandemic, and the collateral impact it is having on the state economy, which the Comptroller has said could total $15 billion. The final budget items of interest of community pharmacy are:  

• Shift Pharmacy Benefit to FFS: Includes language stating that it is in the best interest of the Medicaid program/patients to move the pharmacy benefit from Medicaid Managed Care back to Fee for Service and Department of Health (DOH) has the administrative authority to do so.  DOH shall not implement the transition sooner than April 1, 2021 and upon federal approval.  DOH is authorized to establish uniform standards, payment policies and reimbursement methodologies based on actual acquisition costs and professional dispensing fee. DOH is required to convene an advisory group of stakeholder representatives for the purposes of providing non-binding recommendations to the department by 10/1/20 on available methods of achieving savings beginning on and after 4/1/21. 
• Extend Immunizer Law: Extends the sunset date on NY’s pharmacist immunizer law two years to July 1, 2022 (despite our strong advocacy efforts we could not achieve expansion this session); 
• Bans the sale of tobacco/vaping products in pharmacies (including pharmacies as departments within stores) effective July 1, 2020; and 
• ATB Cuts: As part of MRT 2 and as published yesterday in a Public Notice by NYSDOH in the State Register for intent to file a SPA, it is our understanding that the state intends to increase the across the board Medicaid provider cut from 1% enacted 1/1/20 to 1.875% effective 4/1/20 (this can be done administratively and with federal approval). More details to follow.

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

NACDS joined the Community Pharmacy Association of New York State in meetings with over two dozen legislators on provisions in Governor Cuomo’s budget proposal.  Nearly a dozen NACDS member companies advocated in support of the budget proposal to expand a pharmacist ‘s authority to immunize and the proposal to regulate and reform of PBMs.  The Governor also proposed a $2.5 Billion cut to Medicaid.  NACDS strongly opposed any reductions in the Medicaid program which would impact our reimbursement and offered to work with the Department to achieve savings in other areas. The budget must be final before April 1, 2020.

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

 NACDS met with a dozen key state legislators this week to urge their support for the expansion of pharmacist authority to administer immunizations. 

Also in New York... NACDS joined the New York pharmacy sector in discussions with the New York State Department of Health on Governor Cuomo’s budget proposal which would slash $2 billion from Medicaid. The Budget must be approved by April 1.

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

In advance of public hearings this week, NACDS submitted a Memo of Support for the provisions in New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s (D) 2020-2021 budget proposal to expand pharmacist immunization authority to include the administration of all vaccines, recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, to patients 18 years of age and older and to make the law permanent by removing the current sunset provision.

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

NACDS and the Community Pharmacy Association of New York State held a series of lobby days and grassroots initiatives to support pharmacy technician legislation that this week Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) signed into law.  It takes effect in 18 months and includes a change of the ratio of licensed pharmacist to unlicensed personnel from 2:1 to 4:1. 

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

On October 2, the State Department of Health released its proposed regulations to implement the drug disposal law passed in 2018 (Chapter 120) which requires chain pharmacies of 10 or more and non-resident pharmacies to offer patients a drug disposal/drug takeback option via an in-store receptacle or mail back program. Under the law, the program is to be managed and funded by the drug manufacturers. NACDS engaged in numerous meetings with both state regulators and drug manufacturers to insure a workable program for all.

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