The Department of Health (DOH) issued new guidance expanding the list of organizations patients and providers should consult for vaccine recommendations to include the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.

In the wake of the massive pharmacy closures across the Commonwealth, the Senate Pharmacy Caucus held a briefing this week to discuss the crisis and examine models to reform Medicaid Managed Care pharmacy reimbursement that received widespread press coverage. NACDS and PACDS were heavily involved in preparation for the briefing, including drafting questions, providing supporting materials and meeting directly with the Senators and senior staff. Following the Department of Human Services' (DHS') testimony, the Senators, led by Caucus Chairs Judy Ward (R), Lisa Boscola (D) and Tina Tartaglione (D), aggressively grilled Secretary Val Arkoosh. They expressed strong exception to the Secretary's testimony that downplayed the role of Medicaid rates on pharmacy closures; their lack of awareness that chains operating in the greater Philadelphia metro area are receiving a $1.00 professional dispensing fee after the health plan raised it to $3.00 for independents; the fact that they are approving rates that don't comply with their MCO contract terms that require both the ingredient cost and professional dispensing fee to reflect pharmacies' actual costs. NACDS participated in the Pennsylvania Pharmacy Coalition panel that testified next, dismissing DHS' points and emphasizing that immediate pharmacy reimbursement is critical to protect patients' access to medications and healthcare services. Senators Ward and Boscola will soon introduce legislation backed by the Pennsylvania Pharmacy Caucus and drafted by NACDS, to require cost-based reimbursement under a non-conflicted, transparent single PBM model. 

Also in Pennsylvania, a group of House Democratic health professionals announced that they introduced legislation that would protect Pennsylvanians' access to recommended vaccines. HB 1828 would require private insurers to cover vaccines that have been recommended by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, based on the vaccine guidelines of professional medical societies, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American College of Physicians, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the Infectious Diseases Society of America and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.

In the wake of Rite Aid closures, the Department of Insurance (PID) issued Notice 2025-07 urging to insurers and PBMs to take immediate steps to protect patients' access to prescription medication as many Pennsylvanians look for a new pharmacy. Specifically, PID asked them to:   

• Help patients quickly find a new pharmacy if their local Rite Aid has closed;  

• Allow a patient to use out-of-network pharmacies when in-network pharmacies are not available and, make sure patients do not pay more than in-network prices in such cases;  

• Transfer any existing approvals or prior authorizations to the new pharmacy automatically; 

• Set up hotlines, websites or other support tools to make prescription transfers easy;  

• Fast-track urgent requests, like specialty medications and controlled substances; and  

• Pause or reschedule pharmacy audits.  

 Additionally, the notice encouraged consumers experiencing issues accessing their prescriptions to file a complaint or call 1-866-PA-COMPLAINT.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.

The Board of Pharmacy has posted the application for pharmacists seeking temporary provisional licenses. The process was required by Act 34 of 2025, the recently enacted bill intended to provide relief to pharmacies experiencing increased workloads due to pharmacy closures.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.

Members can now bring out-of-state pharmacists into their Pennsylvania stores to help with the high demand for new prescriptions due to pharmacy closures. On July 7, Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) signed Act No. 34 of 2025, which allows the Board of Pharmacy to issue a temporary provisional endorsement license to pharmacists licensed and in good standing in another state. An applicant seeking licensure under the act will not be required to demonstrate substantial equivalency or work experience. The act will expire 180 days from July 7. Further details and the provisional license application have been posted on the board’s website.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.

Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) signed SB 95 into law on July 7. It was effective upon his signature. The law allows for pharmacist licensure by endorsement for 180 days to assist with the increased number of new prescriptions coming into stores due to pharmacy closures in the state. A provisional license application will be posted on the Board of Pharmacy's website soon. NACDS thanks the Pennsylvania Association of Chain Drug Stores (PACDS) for working with members to get this bill across the finish line remarkably quickly during a very challenging budget season. 

Also in Pennsylvania, the long-awaited Pharmacy Technician Registration Regulations were finalized and effective on June 27. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.

The Department of Aging’s PACE pharmacy program released a bulletin updating its non-participating manufacturer list and another related to 340B billing.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.

It is our understanding that the Governor’s office is close to completing its review of the Pharmacy Technician Registration Final Regulation #16A-5433. We anticipate that if the Governor’s office sends the regulations back to IRRC (Independent Regulatory Review Commission) by April 14, IRRC can finalize them at its May 15 meeting. Following that, it would be published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin as final.

Also in Pennsylvania, the PACE Program issued a update regarding manufacturers who, effective April 14, will no longer have their products reimbursed by PACE (Pharmaceutical Assistance Contract for the Elderly).

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.

The House Health Committee unanimously advanced HB 60, legislation that will bring the Commonwealth into compliance with federal law, allowing pharmacies to transfer Schedule II prescriptions electronically. The full House intends to pass it when they return to session the week of March 17. It will then go to the Senate for consideration. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.