The Board of Pharmacy (OSBP) is transitioning to a system where all new licenses and license renewals must be paid for through our online store on the OSBP website. Beginning July 1, 2021, the OSBP will only accept credit card payments (Mastercard or Visa) or Electronic Fund Transfers (EFT). Payments can be made at the following website. https://pay.apps.ok.gov/OSBP/payments/

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

The Health Authority promulgated three new rules, all effective on September 14.

• Final rule requiring the Drug Utilization Review (DUR) program comply with federal standards to monitor opioid prescribing and dispensing patterns, adding an automated claims review process to monitor concurrent use of opioids with benzodiazepines and/or antipsychotics, a program to monitor the use of antipsychotics by members aged 18 and younger, and a process to identify potential fraud and abuse of controlled substances.
• Final rule revising step therapy protocols for medications approved by the Drug Utilization Review Board and establish exceptions for such protocols, and establishing an appeals process for step therapy exception requests which have been denied.
• Final rule removing prescription limits for certain frequently monitored prescription and medication-assisted treatment (MAT) drugs for opioid use disorder. The rule also removes co-payments for MAT drugs, revises prescription quantity limits for products on the maintenance drug list and allows certain products to be dispensed in quantities up to a 90-day supply.

Also in Oklahoma. The Board of Pharmacy adopted two new rules effective September 11.

• Final rule correcting a statutory citation regarding requirements for pharmacists prescribing naloxone.
• Final rule updating standards for pharmacy operations, including prohibiting pharmacists from serving as a pharmacist-in-charge at more than one pharmacy at a time, adding refrigerator and freezer temperature requirements, and clarifying requirements for shipments of pharmaceuticals.

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

Two rules recently approved by the state Board of Pharmacy go into effect on September 11, 2020.

1. Final rule correcting a statutory citation regarding requirements for pharmacists prescribing naloxone.
2. Final rule updating standards for pharmacy operations. The rule prohibits pharmacists from serving as a pharmacist in charge at more than one pharmacy at a time, adds refrigerator and freezer temperature requirements, clarifies requirements for shipments of pharmaceuticals, and revises hospital pharmacy provisions.

Also in Oklahoma. The Office of the Bureau of Narcotics (OBN) recently approved five rules of interest to pharmacies.

1. Final rule of the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control adopts regulations under OAC 475:25-1 to establish reporting requirements for manufacturers and distributors of controlled dangerous substances. The rule also differentiates between the reporting requirements for pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors and Schedule I medical marijuana manufacturers and distributors. The rule is effective Sept. 11, 2020.
2. Final rule of the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control amends regulations under OAC 475:30-1 to update requirements for the transmission of prescriptions to pharmacies. The rule also clarifies when a pharmacy is authorized to fill a Schedule II-IV prescription and when identification is required for purchasers of controlled dangerous substances. The rule is effective Sept. 11, 2020.
3. Final rule of the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control amends regulations under OAC 475:45-1 to clarify the information required to be submitted to the central repository for dispensation of Schedule II-V drugs. The rule is effective Sept. 11, 2020.
4. Emergency rule of the State Department of Health amends regulations under OAC 310:535-1 to remove the requirement that those seeking a religious or personal exemption from immunization requirements must first view an instructional presentation by a local county health department on the benefits and risks of immunizations. The rule is effective Sept. 12, 2020 and expires Sept. 14, 2021.
5. Final rule of the State Department of Health amends regulations under OAC 310:535-1 to establish an expiration date for vaccine exemptions submitted before the student enters the seventh grade and requires the submission of a new exemption form. The rule also requires those seeking a religious or personal exemption from immunization requirements to first view an instructional presentation by a local county health department on the benefits and risks of immunizations. The rule is effective Sept. 11, 2020.

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