The Board of Pharmacy announced its next meeting on May 24; agenda is pending.

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

On March 23, Gov. Spencer Cox (R) signed HB 80, allowing for Medicaid reimbursement for diabetes prevention services including an additional appropriation for the Department of Health and Human Services in Fiscal Year 2022-2023. Beginning July 1, 2022, Medicaid will reimburse a provider for an enrollee’s participation in the CDC’s National Diabetes Prevention Program under certain conditions.

Also in Utah, On March 24, Gov. Spencer Cox (R) also signed SB 3, that includes a block grant in the amount of $500,000 for alcohol, tobacco and other drug prevention, reduction, cessation, and control programs or for emergent disease control and prevention needs for the Department of Health’s Disease Control and Prevention.

Finally in Utah, on March 24, Gov. Cox signed SB 236, allows a therapeutic equivalent to be dispensed for needles or other supplies for treating diabetes and allows a pharmacist to dispense up to a 100-day supply of insulin with a valid prescription among its various provisions.

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

The Board of Pharmacy has issued public notices for its next two meetings to be held on March 22 and April 26. Agendas have not been posted on the website.

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

The Board of Pharmacy published its February 2022 newsletter. Highlights include the impact of HB 178 on pharmacy practice, pharmacy staff supervision, insulin refills, Controlled Substance Database (CDS) updates when returning controlled substances to stock, CDS and the DSP12 Transmission Form of Rx Origin Code and SafeUT Frontline app.

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

The Department of Commerce Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing temporarily suspended enforcement of the e-prescribing requirement effective January 1, 2022. 

Also in Utah, the Department of Commerce Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing issued an emergency rule amending regulations R156-37f to require pharmacists to report the prescription origin code (DSP12) to the state’s-controlled substance database. The emergency rule was effective January 1, 2022, and expires May 1, 2022.

Also in Utah, the Department of Commerce Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing published a final rule amending regulations under R156-17b to update pharmacy practice standards and requirements for transfer of a legend prescription and dispensing of emergency prescriptions. Among its various changes, the rule also defines “consulting pharmacist,” “designated representative,” and “responsible individual,” and updates standards for compounding relating to flavoring agents. It was published on February 1 in the “Utah State Bulletin” Vol. 2022, No. 3, p. 367. The revised “Pharmacy Practice Act Rule” has been posted to the website.

Finally in Utah, the Board of Pharmacy will meet on February 22 and has posted an agenda. The Board also announced a meeting for March 22; agenda is pending. 

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

The Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing published a proposed rule to implement SB 177 and HB 178 enacted earlier this year, to amend the rule in accordance with Executive Order 2021-12 and to make changes consistent with Office of Administrative Rule’s current Rule Writing Manual. The deadline for written comments is January 14, 2022. Below is an outline of the various proposed amendments: 

• Section R156-17b-102: to add definitions for “consulting pharmacist,” “designated representative,” and “responsible individual,” and clarify that compounding as defined in Section 58-17b-102(18) does not include adding flavoring agents to conventionally manufactured and commercially available liquid medication if the flavoring agents are therapeutically inert and do not exceed five percent of a preparation’s total volume. 
• Sections R156-17b-601 and R156-17b-612: permits a pharmacy technician or pharmacy intern to transfer a legend prescription and permit dispensing of emergency prescriptions. 
• Section R156-17b-603: to require a consulting pharmacist, PIG, RDPIC, or DMPIC to complete a self-audit after certain changes and prior to the end of a renewal cycle. 
• Section R156-17b-614a: to clarity that the pharmacy department shall be equipped with a lock where drugs are stored. 
• Section R156-17b-621a: to delete the continuing education requirement for pharmacists engaging in the administration of long-acting injectable drugs. 

 Also, the addition of Section R156-17b-627 defines operating standards for a pharmacist prescribing prescription drugs or devices.  

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

The Department of Commerce issued a final rule to amend regulations under R156-17b to conform the rule to statutory changes made by S.B. 145, S.B.157, H.B. 24, and H.B. 207 passed during the 2020 General Session. These bills amended the Pharmacy Practice Act regarding dispensing scope of practice for pharmacist and pharmacy interns and changed the requirements for the charitable prescription drug recycling program. Additionally, the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing in collaboration with the Board of Pharmacy recommends certain amendments to the preceptor language to reflect the current practice in the profession. The rule was effective March 11.

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

Gov. Gary Hebert (R) signed into law several bills of interest to chain pharmacy.  HB 177 provides exemptions and rules for electronic prescribing and outlines emergency fills by prescribers taking effect January 1, 2022; HB 272 places provisions on pharmacy benefit management companies which includes prohibiting claw backs and disclosure of rebates; HB 423 provides for expanded access to the prescription drug data base by interns and technicians; SB 138 impacts pharmacy benefit management companies; and SB 145 addresses pharmacy scope of practice to allow a pharmacist or pharmacy intern to dispense a prescription (1) in a quantity different than prescribed in the prescribed quantity is not commercially available and (2) in a different dosage form than prescribed if the pharmacist or pharmacy intern determines that a different dosage form is in the best interest of the patient.

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

The Utah Pharmacy Association will host its 2019 Mid-Year Meeting on Saturday, September 14 at the Mountain America Expo Center in Sandy, UT. Details are available on the association’s website.

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