With two-thirds support in both houses, on May 17, lawmakers, not Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) called a special legislative session to get more time to finalize the state's $12.8 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year and to ensure that they get the final say on any bills they pass. The special session ran concurrently with the regular legislative session that adjourned sine die on May 26. The special session gives lawmakers the ability to come back in June if they need to override any of Gov. Kevin Stitt's vetoes on budget bills or related pieces of legislation. 

The legislature officially adjourned the regular session on May 26. Prior to adjournment, lawmakers overrode 13 bills that Gov. Kevin Stitt's (R) vetoed, including HB 1843, legislation that moves the enforcement authority over PBMs from the Insurance Commissioner to the Attorney General, effective November 1, 2023. 

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

Insurance Commissioner Glen Mulready (R) recently filed an administrative action against CVS citing a violation of state law prohibiting patient steering. The administrative hearing is scheduled on May 25, 2023. 

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

Beginning April 1, 2023, the Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) will begin disenrollment of certain individuals that have been continuously enrolled in SoonerCare (Oklahoma Medicaid program) that no longer meet eligibility requirements. For more information, see Bulletin No. 2-2023.

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

SB 827, legislation by pharmacist Sen. Standridge(R) authorizes pharmacists to prescribe nonprescription drugs for the purposes of extemporaneous compounding     passed the Senate by 44-0 and was referred to the House or Representatives.

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

SB 913, legislation allowing pharmacies administer medications to treat for certain conditions on the result of a positive screening test was heard in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee on February 9.  

Also in Oklahoma, Insurance Commissioner Glen Mulready appointed Ashley Scott the new Director for the Oklahoma Insurance Department's (OID) Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) Compliance and Enforcement Division, and Molly Clinkscales as the lead attorney for the program. 

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

The Board of Pharmacy is considering adopting proposed rules on temperature at its upcoming February Board meeting.

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

The Board of Pharmacy alerted licenses that the Oklahoma Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision (OMLS) has interpreted the laws and rules for Physician Assistants (PAs) prescribing Schedule II prescriptions. OMLS interpretation is that PA's can only prescribe Schedule II drug orders for immediate or on-going administration on-stie, which they define as a hospital, emergency room, ambulatory surgery center, medical clinic, or office in cases of emergency, or state-owned VA long term care facilities with an in-house pharmacy. PAs cannot prescribe Schedule II prescriptions in an outpatient setting for dispensing by a retail pharmacy.  

Also in Oklahoma, the Board of Pharmacy will be closed November 30-December 2 so that they can move back to their newly renovated offices at 2920 N. Lincoln Blvd. Ste. A, Oklahoma City, OK 73105. 

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

Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) appointed pharmacists Randy Curry D.Ph., and Shonda Lassiter, D.Ph, to the Board of Pharmacy.

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

The State Board of Pharmacy (OSBP) is requesting that pharmacies email the following information within 24 hours of pharmacy closure during normal business hours, during the time when patients would expect the pharmacy to be open.  

• License number of the pharmacy 
• Name of the pharmacy 
• Address of the pharmacy 
• Name of the Pharmacist in charge (PIC)
• Dates that the pharmacy will be closed 
• Hours the pharmacy will be closed 
• Detailed explanation for closing 

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