In response to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration amended EUA for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, authorizing the use of a single booster dose for administration to individuals 16 and 17 years of age at least six months after completion of primary vaccination with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine and the CDC expanding the recommendation for boosters to include 16 and 17 year old, North Carolina has updated the  Standing Order regarding vaccine administration.    

Also in North Carolina, the Board of Pharmacy has issued new guidance concerning the application for Pharmacist-Technician Ratio of 1:6 or Greater.  

Finally in North Carolina, please see Information regarding the Administration of Long Acting Injectables in Medicaid. 

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

See the latest Statewide Standing Orders issued by State Health Director Dr. Betsey Tilson for the administration of the COVID vaccines to patients ages 5-11 and 12-17. These Statewide Standing Orders enable pharmacies to be reimbursed for programs such as Medicaid. 

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

On October 29, 2021, State Health Director Dr. Betsey Tilson issued new Statewide Standing Orders for Monoclonal Antibody Therapy for COVID-19. 

NC State Health Director’s Statewide Standing Order for Intravenous Administration of Sotrovimab Monoclonal Antibodies, October 29, 2021 

NC State Health Director’s Statewide Standing Order for Intravenous Administration of Bamlanivimab/Etesevimab Monoclonal Antibodies, October 29, 2021 

More information concerning the US DHHS PREP Act declaration authorizing pharmacists to order and administer select COVID-19 therapeutics is found here. 

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

The next Board of Pharmacy election is scheduled to begin November 1, and North Carolina pharmacists will vote to fill two positions. Voting coincides with the license renewal period and will run from November 1 through March 1, 2022. All pharmacists actively licensed and living in North Carolina at the start of the election will be eligible to vote for both districts. The winners of this election will begin their terms on May 1, 2022. Below is the link to the bios of the candidates in the two districts.

http://www.ncbop.org/election2021WesternDistrictCandidates.html

http://www.ncbop.org/election2021NorthernDistrictCandidates.html

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

Governor Roy Cooper (D) has issued Executive Order 236, which was introduced to amend Executive Orders 130, 139, and 193 and extend Executive Order 152 as well as waive regulations to expedite the administration of COVID-19 vaccines. The new order removes licensing requirements for medical personnel for assisting with vaccine administration and directs the State Health Director to continue all programs that have been previously implemented for the purpose of disease prevention, protection, reporting, and detection. This order extends the order to require the State Health Director to issue statewide standing orders needed to facilitate COVID-19 vaccination and testing, as well as administer monoclonal antibody treatment. This order is effective immediately and will expire on January 5, 2022.

Also in North Carolina, the next Board of Pharmacy election is scheduled to begin November 1, 2021 and North Carolina pharmacists will vote to fill two positions. Voting coincides with the license renewal period and will run from November 1, 2021 through March 1, 2022. All pharmacists actively licensed and living in North Carolina at the start of the election will be eligible to vote for both districts. The winners of this election will begin their terms on May 1, 2022. Below is the link to the bios of the candidates in the two districts.

http://www.ncbop.org/election2021WesternDistrictCandidates.html

http://www.ncbop.org/election2021NorthernDistrictCandidates.html

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

Governor Roy Cooper (D) has issued Executive Order 236, which was introduced to amend Executive Orders 130, 139, and 193 and extend Executive Order 152 as well as waive regulations to expedite the administration of COVID-19 vaccines. The new order removes licensing requirements for medical personnel for assisting with vaccine administration and directs the State Health Director to continue all programs that have been previously implemented for the purpose of disease prevention, protection, reporting, and detection. This order extends the order to require the State Health Director to issue statewide standing orders needed to facilitate COVID-19 vaccination and testing, as well as administer monoclonal antibody treatment.

This order is effective immediately and will expire on January 5, 2022.

Also in North Carolina, Governor Roy Cooper (D) signed SB257, legislation that will impose tighter regulations on pharmacy benefit managers to address spread pricing and requires licensure under the Department of Insurance.

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

The North Carolina General Assembly has passed, and Governor Cooper has signed into law, legislation that authorizes qualified immunizing pharmacists to administer long-acting injectable medications to patients age 18 and older pursuant to prescription.  This new authority becomes effective on October 1, 2021.  Board staff has prepared a guidance document that summarizes the new authority and how pharmacists may exercise it.

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

The Board of Pharmacy issued the following information concerning a change to the federal PREP Act authorizing pharmacists “to order and administer,” and qualified pharmacy technicians and interns “to administer” select COVID-19 therapeutics to patient populations authorized by the FDA including monoclonal antibody combinations.

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

HB96, sponsored by Representative Wayne Sasser (R), was signed by Governor Roy Cooper (D) on August 20, 2021. The measure becomes effective October 1, 2021, and provides for pharmacist vaccine administration, administration of long acting injectables, tobacco cessation, hormonal contraceptives, administration of the COVID vaccine and more.  The North Carolina Board of Pharmacy issued guidance on how the Board is interpreting HB 96. This important guidance can be found here. Thank you to NACDS Members, North Carolina Retail Merchants and the North Carolina Pharmacy Association who worked on this bill.

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