The Oregon Legislature will convene in Special Session next week for the purpose of discussing police and justice reforms. At this time, additional issues are not anticipated to be addressed.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
This week, Oregon joined California and Washington in a Western States Pact to coordinate the regional reopening of the economy as the COVID-19 pandemic progresses.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
NACDS submitted a formal request to the Oregon Board of Pharmacy asking them to delay enforcement of Senate Bill 698 – Translation labelling – Until July 2022. The Board has not developed rules for implementation, delaying members’ ability to work with IT for changes that will be needed to label prescriptions in English and the patient’s preferred language.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
NACDS met with Joe Schnabel, Executive Director of the Oregon Board of Pharmacy to discuss upcoming rulemaking to implement legislation requiring: 1) prescription labels in English AND the patient’s native language beginning January 1, 2021; and 2) a requirement that all pharmacies provide label readers to those patients indicating they are visually impaired.
The Board does not feel it has much flexibility with regard to the labeling issue. In addition, NACDS’s lobbyist has met with two key Senators who have indicated the translation issue will not be considered in the 2020 Legislative Session. NACDS members have expressed serious concerns with costs and timelines associated with implementing the translation labeling.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Gov. Kate Brown (D) signed into law HB 3273, directing each covered manufacturer of covered drugs sold within the state to develop and implement a drug take-back program. Similar to Washington State’s law, the program is to be funded by drug manufacturers operating in the state, is voluntary for pharmacies to participate and provides for local pre-emption. The Environmental Quality Commission may adopt rules, as necessary, with assistance from the State Board of Pharmacy. Each drug take-back program must be operational by July 1, 2021.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Gov. Kate Brown (D) recently signed HB 2185, relating to pharmacy benefit managers, into law. Among the various provisions is language that eliminates retroactive fees, clawed back after payments from PBMs to pharmacies have already been made.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
HB 3273 awaits signature by Gov. Kate Brown (D), establishing a state-wide drug take-back program funded and designed by drug manufacturers. The bill contains local pre-emption, places enforcement and rulemaking in the hands of the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and allows for both stationary receptacles and mail back programs. The program is scheduled to be operational by Thursday, July 1, 2021.
Also in Oregon… HB 2935 (Chapter 438) was signed into law by Gov. Kate Brown (D) requiring retail pharmacies to provide prescription readers, upon request, to their patients who are visually impaired. The prescription labels will have to be compatible with the prescription readers and be available to the patient for the duration of the prescription. The Board of Pharmacy has rulemaking authority on this law which took effect upon its passage.
Also in Oregon… Gov. Brown has signed into law SB 698 (Chapter 465), requiring all retail pharmacies to provide to patients with limited English proficiency their prescription labels in both English and the language requested. If authorized by the Board of Pharmacy by rule, the informational insert may also be included in the requested language. The state has identified at least 14 languages other than English in which prescription labels will be required to be translated. This law takes effect 91 days after the end of session that occurred on June 30. The Board will meet Wednesday-Friday, August 7-9 in Portland.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Joe Schnabel, PharmD, RPh, BCPS, a former Board of Pharmacy member, has been named as the new executive director of the Board of Pharmacy. Dr. Schnabel comes from Salem Hospital where he has worked for over 30 years, most recently serving as the director of pharmacy.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
The Oregon Board of Pharmacy held its first Rules Advisory Committee meeting to consider revisions to proposed rules that would require all supervisors of Oregon pharmacists-in-charge (PICs) to be Oregon-licensed pharmacists and would give PICs carte blanch over the pharmacy operations without regard to company policy. Initial comments will be sent out by the Board staff, with an additional meeting to be scheduled in late July/early August.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.