NACDS submitted comments to the Board of Pharmacy expressing concerns with the current proposals in Divisions 019 and 041 related to safe pharmacy practice conditions. As currently drafted, these proposals give a pharmacist unrestricted authority to close a pharmacy if that pharmacist feels, in their opinion, that staffing is insufficient to fill prescriptions or provide other services to patients; this may result in pharmacy closures across the state. In our letter, we stated current regulations are sufficient to provide the Board with authority to act against pharmacies that are not providing a safe work environment. 

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

The Board of Pharmacy posted the agenda and meeting materials for its meeting being held December 14-16.

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

The Board of Pharmacy is proposing to adopt the following rules. A hearing will be held on November 22 at 9:30 a.m. PT. Written comments may be filed before 4:30 p.m. PT on November 22 via email to pharmacy.rulemaking@bop.oregon.gov. 

• Division 019 – related to 2022 HB (House Bill) 4034 Duties of a Pharmacist 
• Division 139 – related to 2022 HB 4034 Prohibited Practices 
• Division 019 – related to 2022 HB 4096 Out-of-state Volunteer Pharmacist 
• Division 062 – related to Drug Distribution Agent 
• Divisions 010/019/020 – related to Pharmacist Prescriptive Authority 

• • COVID-19 Antiviral (Paxlovid) 
  • Travel Medications 
  • PEP (Post Exposure Prophylaxis) 
  • PrEP (Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness) 
  • Contraception 

• Divisions 021/135 – related to Continuing Pharmacy Education 
• Divisions 019/141 – related to Pharmacy Prescription Kiosk (PPK) 
• Divisions 006/019/031 – related to Definitions 
• Division 041 – related to Prescription Labeling Expiration Date 
• Divisions 001/102 – related to Procedural & Universal Rules *The board does not intend to adopt these rules in December 2022 – seeking public comment only 
• Divisions 025/125 – related to Pharmacy Technicians *The board does not intend to adopt these rules in December 2022 – seeking public comment only 
• Divisions 019/020/031/041/115 – related to Pharmacists *The board does not intend to adopt these rules in December 2022 – seeking public comment only 

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

The Board of Pharmacy is seeking applications from persons interested in serving on a workgroup concerning pharmacy interns. For more information, including the online application, visit the “Rules Advisory Committee (RAC) & Workgroup Information” webpage.

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

The Oregon State Pharmacy Association announced the results of its PBM study conducted by 3 Axis Advisors to review reimbursement trends between payers and retail pharmacies between 2019 and 2021.

Also in Oregon, the Board of Pharmacy posted its agenda for its Strategic Planning Meeting scheduled to be held on November 10.

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

The Board of Pharmacy posted the agenda and meeting materials for its October 12-14 meeting.

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

The Oregon Health Authority announced Nevada has jointed Oregon and Washington to offer the ArrayRx Card, a prescription discount card, formerly referred to as the Oregon/Washington Prescription Discount Card.

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

The Board of Pharmacy posted the agenda for the Public Health & Pharmacy Formulary Advisory Committee to be held on September 21. Please note agenda items related to protocol development and proposed protocol revisions.

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

The Oregon Health Authority’s Immunization Policy Advisory Team (IPACT) will meet September 1 via Zoom. To register in advance for this meeting, use this link.  

Also in Oregon, the Oregon Health Authority released its 2021 Coordinated Care Organization (COO) Metrics Report. Although statewide performance showed improvement on most of the 14 incentive measures, the exceptions were two immunization measures related to youth immunizations which were down 7.7% for adolescents and 8.3% for immunizations received by the child’s second birthday. These continue to be affected by the disruptions in preventive care that occurred during the pandemic. 

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