NACDS submitted comments to Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) urging it to consider NACDS reimbursement principles in any upper payment limits (UPL) methodology established by the PDAB. The letter urged the Board to ensure that pharmacies be paid no less than the UPL in addition to a professional dispensing fee. The Board has circulated a survey to pharmacies in the state requesting feedback on the UPL methodology and will be conducting a series of meetings in the coming weeks to discuss the feedback from the surveys. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

The Prescription Drug Affordability Board posted the draft agenda and meeting materials for its next meeting on May 15. Please register in advance of the meeting. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

Gov. Tina Kotek (D) signed HB 4149, PBM legislation that requires pharmacy benefit managers to be licensed by the Department of Consumer and Business Services beginning January 1, 2025; modifies the definition of “pharmacy benefit manager” and imposes new requirements on PBMs (Pharmacy Benefit Managers); restricts audits of pharmacy claims for reimbursement; requires PBMs to report specified information to the department on an annual basis; and imposes new requirements with respect to the insurance coverage of 340B drugs. 

Also in Oregon, Gov. Tina Kotek (D) signed HB 4002, legislation permitting pharmacist dispensing of opioid use disorder medication refills and requires health insurers and community care organizations (CCOs) to reimburse the cost of refills of substance use disorder medications. 

Finally in Oregon, the Prescription Drug Affordability Board posted the draft agenda and meeting materials for its next meeting on April 17. Please register in advance of the meeting. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

On March 4, the Board of Pharmacy issued this temporary rule notice: 

• OAR 855-115-0345 Pharmacist- Services: Prescribing – Protocol Compendium – Vaccines – Coronavirus 19 (Effective March 4, 2024)  
• Coronavirus 19 protocol 

This revised protocol permits pharmacists to provide an additional updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine dose to adults ages 65 years and older in alignment with the recent recommendation of the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP). 

Also on Oregon, the Board of Pharmacy issued the following temporary rule notice:  

• OAR 855-115-0345 Pharmacist- Services: Prescribing – Protocol Compendium Vaccines (Effective March 1, 2024)  
• Standard Protocol for All Vaccines: Cover Page & Assessment and Treatment Care Pathway  
• Standard Protocol for All Vaccines: Managing Adverse Reactions  
• Cholera  
• Coronavirus 19  
• Haemophilus Influenzae type b  
• Hepatitis A containing vaccines  
• Hepatitis B containing vaccines 
• Human Papillomavirus  
• Influenza Inactivated Influenza Vaccines and Recombinant Influenza Vaccines 2023-2024 
• Influenza Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine 2023-2024  
• Japanese Encephalitis  
• Measles, Mumps & Rubella containing vaccines  
• Meningococcal containing vaccines  
• Pneumococcal 
• Polio  
• Rabies  
• Respiratory Syncytial Virus  
• Tetanus, Diphtheria containing vaccines  
• Typhoid  
• Varicella containing vaccines 
• Yellow Fever  
• Zoster   

Also in Oregon, the Board of Pharmacy permanently repealed the following rules at the Special February 23, 2024, Board Meeting: OAR 855-019-0270, OAR 855-019-0280, OAR 855-019-0290 and OAR 855-025-0024 related to Pharmacist/COPT/PT Administration of Vaccines (Effective February 29, 2024)  

Also in Oregon, the Board of Pharmacy permanently adopted the following rule at the February 2024 Board Meeting: OAR 855-115-0150 Pharmacist- Prohibited Practices (Effective March 1, 2024). Please note this rulemaking removes “Diagnosis” from the list of prohibited practices. 

Finally in Oregon, the Prescription Drug Affordability Board posted the draft agenda for its next meeting on March 20. Please register in advance of the meeting.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

SB 1506 (Enrolled) passed the House and will be sent to Gov. Tina Kotek (D). This bill would allow a pharmacist to test and prescribe, dispense, and administer treatment for SAVS-CoV-2 consistent with protocols adopted by the State Board of Pharmacy by rule. It would also permit a pharmacist to delegate to a pharmacy technician or an intern under the pharmacist’s supervision the administrative and technical tasks of performing a SARS-CoV-2 CLIA-waived test. Finally, the bill would require payment for these services effective October 1, 2024, with a sunset date of June 30, 2026. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

HB 4149 (A-Engrossed), legislation related to PBM Reforms, was amended and passed the House Behavioral Health & Health Care this week. Given the amendments, Chair Rob Nosse (R) stated he will be convening a workgroup after this year’s regular session and outlined issues to be addressed to advance additional PBM reforms in the state. 

Also in Oregon, SB 1506 (A-Engrossed) passed the Senate and was assigned to the House Behavioral Health & Health Care Committee. It is scheduled for a Work Session on February 28. This bill would allow a pharmacist to test and prescribe, dispense and administer treatment for SAVS-CoV-2 consistent with protocols adopted by the State Board of Pharmacy by rule. It would also permit a pharmacist to delegate to a pharmacy technician or an intern under the pharmacist’s supervision the administrative and technical tasks of performing a SARS-CoV-2 CLIA-waived test. Finally, the bill would require payment for these services effective October 1, 2024, with a sunset date of June 30, 2026. 

Also in Oregon, HB 4113 (A-Engrossed), legislation requiring all amounts paid by an enrollee or paid by another person on behalf of the enrollee toward the cost of a covered prescription drug be included when calculating the enrollee’s contribution to an out-of-pocket maximum, deductible, copayment, coinsurance or other cost-sharing requirements, passed the House Behavioral Health & Health Care Committee.  

Also in Oregon, HB 4010 (A-Engrossed), legislation that includes language specifying that the flavoring of a prescription drug is not compounding, passed the House Behavioral Health & Health Care Committee. 

Finally in Oregon, the Oregon Health Authority’s Immunization Policy Advisory Team will meet on March 7 via Zoom. The final agenda will be available at the meeting or via email request three days before the meeting date by contacting imm.info@odhsoha.oregon.gov. Participation via Zoom requires advance registration using this link. Those who register will receive a confirmation email with additional information. Note: this information is necessary to join the meeting.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

The Board of Pharmacy posted a revised February 21 Public Health & Pharmacy Formulary Advisory Committee (PHPFAC) meeting agenda. 

Also in Oregon, in advance of its February 21 meeting to review a pre-selected list of prescription drugs deemed eligible for affordability review, NACDS submitted comments to the Prescription Drug Affordability Board to express concern with the inclusion of vaccines. Additionally, NACDS expressed concern that there may be a significant impact on the availability and accessibility of certain prescription drugs at a patient’s neighborhood pharmacy through the unintended consequences of inadequate and unfair pharmacy reimbursement by some payers resulting from the establishment of Upper Payment Limit (UPL) policies. 

Also in Oregon, the Prescription Drug Affordability Board posted the agenda for its next meeting on February 21. Ozempic, Trulicity and Shingrix are listed on the agenda for affordability review. Please register in advance of the meeting. 

Finally in Oregon, the Prescription Drug Affordability Board is seeking applicants with a background in clinical medicine or healthcare economics to fill vacancies. The board consists of eight members appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate. Members participate in monthly board meetings held virtually via Zoom. The purpose of the board is to protect Oregonians from the high cost of prescription drugs. Submit applications in Workday. Learn more in this information letter.  

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

The Prescription Drug Affordability Board posted the agenda for its next meeting on February 21. Ozempic, Trulicity and Shingrix are listed on the agenda for affordability review. Please register in advance of the meeting.

Also in Oregon, the Board of Pharmacy posted the agenda and meeting materials for its special board meeting on February 23. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

The Board of Pharmacy posted the agenda and meeting materials for its February 7-9 meeting. Please note the board will meet in Executive Session immediately after roll call for most of the day on February 7 and February 8 and anticipates resuming “Open Session” between 4:30 pm and 5:00 pm on both days.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.