A record 9.7% of kindergartners claimed nonmedical exemptions from the state's school vaccination requirements for the 2024-2025 school year, the highest rate ever recorded, Oregon Health Authority announced. The increase continues an upward trend from 8.8% in 2024, when Oregon had the fourth-highest nonmedical exemption rate in the United States, behind Idaho, Alaska and Utah, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). National data for the current school year are not yet available. 

Also in Oregon, effective May 21, the Oregon Health Authority amended prior authorization (PA) criteria implementing recommendations from Drug Utilization Review (DUR) / Pharmacy & Therapeutics (P&T) Action. The Authority needed to implement changes to the Preferred Drug List and Prior Authorization Criteria to ensure the safe and appropriate use of cost-effective prescription drugs for the Oregon Health Plan's fee-for-service recipients, based on the P&T Committee recommendations. 

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

The Immunization Policy Advisory Team (IPAT) meets June 5 from 12:00 noon -2:00 pm Pacific via Zoom and requires registering in advance using this link. 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. The Immunization Program works to reduce the incidence of vaccine-preventable disease in the state. Staff members identify and promote evidence-informed public health best practices to both the public and healthcare professionals throughout the state. For more information, visit the program's website. 

Also in Oregon, the Oregon Healthcare Authority (OHA) seeks help to make healthcare more affordable. Oregonians are invited to submit applications to serve on two new committees focused on healthcare affordability. May 16 is the extended deadline to apply for both committees. Applications and more information are available on the Committee on Health Care Affordability and Industry Advisory Committee webpages. Once their members are chosen, the committees plan to meet beginning this summer.  

The Committee on Health Care Affordability, also simply called the Affordability Committee, is seeking diverse voices. Its members may include people who receive health care, employers that purchase insurance, health economists and health policy experts. 

The Affordability Committee will be supported by the Industry Advisory Committee, which also aims to include a variety of perspectives, ranging from health insurers to providers, hospitals and health industry leaders. Health care professionals in small or independent practices, and those who specialize in primary care, behavioral health, oral health or pediatrics are particularly encouraged to apply to the industry committee. 

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

The Board of Pharmacy announced the agency’s new director, Dr. Gary Runyon, PharmD, a graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy. Gary brings over 22 years of diverse pharmacy experience to Oregon, where he relocated in late 2020. Gary joined the Board of Pharmacy as a Compliance Officer, then transitioned to the Pharmacist Consultant position before becoming Executive Director effective April 14.

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

The Board of Pharmacy posted the April 9-11 Board Meeting agenda and meeting materials. Please note that on April 9, the board will meet in Executive Session immediately after recusal announcements and anticipates resuming Open Session around 4:30 pm. Also, note that on April 10, the board will meet in Executive Session after roll call and anticipates resuming Open Session between 1:00 pm-2:00 pm. Finally, the board will meet in Open Session on April 11. Please see the meeting agenda for additional information.  

Also in Oregon, State Plan Amendment (SPA) 24-0019 to increase professional dispensing fees for fee-for-service pharmacies, with fees ranging from $9.99 to $16.87 per prescription, depending on volume, and $20.86 for 340B covered entities is pending with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid. As submitted by the Oregon Health Authority, this SPA proposes to update Oregon's professional dispensing fees (PDF) to $16.87 for pharmacies with a prescription volume of less than 40,000 claims per year, $11.93 for pharmacies with a prescription volume of 40,000 to 79,999 claims per year, and $9.99 for pharmacies with a prescription volume of 80,000 or more. 

The Prescription Drug Affordability Board posted its April 2025 issue of The Quarterly. Highlights of this issue include the following. Past issues are available online. 

• PDAB would love to hear from Oregonians, Page 1 

• PDAB selects subset list for affordability reviews, Page 2 

• PDAB member profile: Dan Kennedy, Page 5 

• News you can use, Page 6 

• Senate Health Care Committee advances Senate Bill 289, Page 7 

• 2025 board meeting calendar, Page 8 

Also in Oregon, the Prescription Drug Affordability Board posted it is agenda for the April 16 meeting. Register here in advance. 

Also in Oregon, the Oregon Health Authority Health Systems Division: Medical Assistance Programs adopted this temporary rule, OAR 410-122-0186, to amend Medicaid fee-for-service durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies to comply with the recently approved state plan amendment (SPA), effective October 1, 2024. 

Finally in Oregon, the Division of Financial Regulation recently announced the following permanent rulemaking: ID 2-2025: Prescription Drug Price Transparency program updates 

Rules: 836-200-0500, 836-200-0505, 836-200-0510, 836-200-0515, 836-200-0520, 836-200-0525, 836-200-0530, 836-200-0531, 836-200-0532, 836-200-0535, 836-200-0540, 836-200-0545, 836-200-0550, 836-200-0555, 836-200-0560. 

Rules Summary: Adds a definition for "dosage;" combines the definitions for "inaccurate information" and "incomplete information;" adds clarification about what is not included in the definition of "new prescription drug;" removes dosage guidance from the definition of "one-month supply;" adds clarification to the definition of "reporting manufacturer; removes outdated timelines; sets timeline for reporting manufacturers to create an online account with the department; requires reporting manufacturers to provide the department with at least one contact person, with valid contact information, that is an employee who manages access to the account and receipt of trade secret determinations; updates the threshold for reporting new prescription drugs to reflect current specifications in Medicare Part D; provides a definition for the "date of introduction;" clarifies "good faith" language; clarifies requirements of manufacturer reporting including: drug strength, package size, and the date the drug was first approved; the description of the marketing used in the drug's introduction; and potential factors used to establish the price of the new drug; and more.  

Filed: March 26, 2025 

Effective: April 1, 2025 

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

The Prescription Drug Affordability Board posted it is agenda for the February 19 meeting. Register here in advance.

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

NACDS prepared and delivered verbal and written testimony before the House of Representatives Behavioral Health and Health Care Committee in full support of HB 3212. Additionally, the testimony included how this crucial bill aims to reform PBMs and address their dangerous tactics that threaten the vitality of neighborhood pharmacies and patient access. Specifically, HB 3212 would prohibit spread pricing and patient steering, restrict PBMs from mandating pharmacies to provide a health care service at a loss, prohibit PBMs from requiring further accreditation standards beyond those currently required by the Oregon Board of Pharmacy, help to ensure network adequacy, and most importantly, help to ensure reasonable and relevant reimbursement to community pharmacies that covers the true costs for pharmacies to purchase and dispense prescription drugs. NACDS urged lawmakers to advance HB 3212 to help ensure reasonable pharmacy reimbursement and protect patients’ access to trusted pharmaceutical care across the state.

Also in Oregon, the Prescription Drug Affordability Board held a meeting on February 19. Generally, the agenda and materials for this meeting was focused on policies, processes, and administrative matters, plus a legislative update. Register here in advance.

Also in Oregon, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) published proposed rules establishing guidelines for enhanced payment to qualified providers under the Culturally and Linguistic Specific Services program. A 22 percent and 27 percent increase in fee-for-service payments for traditional health worker providers, programs, and organizations in urban and rural areas, respectively, will enable OHA to continue investments to improve access to care, incentivize culturally and linguistically specific services, invest in workforce diversity and support staff recruitment.

Also in Oregon, the Board of Pharmacy posted the agenda for the February 24 Executive Director Recruitment Subcommittee Meeting.

Also in Oregon, the Immunization Policy Advisory Team will meet on March 6. Draft agenda items include welcome, introductions of new members; public comment; respiratory season wrap-up—COVID-19, influenza, pertussis, RSV; data dashboards; legislation update; Project Horizon—program resize; ALERT IIS Replacement Project update; school requirements—new administrative rules; wrap-up. The final agenda will be available at the meeting or via email request three days before the meeting date.

Finally in Oregon, on February 6, the Board of Pharmacy adopted a statement on semaglutide.

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

The Prescription Drug Affordability Board posted it’sits agenda for the February 19 meeting. Register here in advance. 

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

The February 5-7 Board of Pharmacy Meeting agenda and meeting materials are now available. Please note that on February 5, the board will meet in Executive Session immediately after recusal announcements and anticipates resuming Open Session between 4:00-5:00 pm. Also on February 6, the board will meet in Executive Session after roll call and anticipates resuming Open Session between 10:00 am – 12:00 noon.  The board will meet in Open Session on February 7. Additional meeting materials may be added to the agenda prior to the board meeting. Visit the board website for current meeting materials.

Also in Oregon, the Board of Pharmacy announced the following board member opportunity: Pharmacist – Board Member. Board members are appointed by Gov. Tina Kotek (D) and each Board member serves at the pleasure of the Governor. Interesting persons my apply to serve on the Board; please visit the Board Member Opportunities page, review ORS 689.115 and apply via Workday. For more information visit the State of Oregon Boards and Commissions website.

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

The Division of Financial Regulation recently announced  permanent rulemaking repealing 836-053-0025, the regulation of the insulin co-pay amount for health benefit plans for the state, as a result of SB 1508 (2024) effective January 1, 2025.

Also in Oregon, the Division of Financial Regulation recently announced permanent rulemaking amending 836-052-1000, establishing and updating the list of prosthetic and orthotic devices; prohibiting internal or separate limits or caps on prosthetic and orthotic devices, other than the lifetime policy maximum, when permitted by law; and defining when coverage for prosthetic and orthotic device is provided through a managed care organization effective January 1, 2025.

Also in Oregon, the Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) posted an agenda and meeting materials for its December 18 meeting. You must register in advance to participate.

Finally in Oregon, the Oregon Prescription Drug Affordability Board has posted to the website the UPL report for the Oregon Legislature pursuant to ORS 646A.685.

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