The Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission met on May 22. The meeting materials are available online. There was a discussion on the Commission waiving certain staffing rules allowing out-of-state pharmacists and technicians to remotely aid in the transfer of Rite Aid and Bartell’s prescriptions. The next meeting is scheduled for June 26.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
NACDS sent Gov. Bob Ferguson (D) a letter asking him to veto a surcharge on prescription medications in Section 201 of HB 2081 due to its detrimental impact on pharmacy operations and patient care. This new proposed tax does not apply to retail sales of prescription drugs exempted in current law.
Also in Washington, the State Department of Health held a Sunrise Review public hearing on May 14 on pharmacist prescriptive authority. The Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee had requested a review of a proposal to increase the pharmacist scope of practice to assess whether it meets the sunrise criteria in RCW 18.120.010. The request would grant the Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission the authority to regulate licensed pharmacist prescribing outside of a collaborative agreement. NACDS and many other groups submitted written comments for the record in advance of the hearing.
Finally in Washington, the Washington Health Care Privacy Toolkit has been updated with new information, including 2024 updates to reproductive health privacy.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
NACDS submitted comments for the Sunrise Review process of pharmacy practice regulations to the Department of Health, recommending adopting a standard of care model that would better utilize pharmacists’ clinical expertise in promoting healthcare access for its residents through community pharmacies.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
The Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission is meeting on March 27. The agenda, meeting materials and Zoom information was posted on their website. The rules workshop will review the draft Proposed Utilization of Pharmacy Ancillary Personnel Rule Language, which amends WAC 246-945-001, 246-945-315, 246-945-317, 246-945-320, to clarify the utilization of pharmacy ancillary personnel and technology within the pharmacy.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
HB 1520 and SB 5513, identical pharmacists’ scope expansion of practice bills, failed to get scheduled for a public hearing this session. To advance the independent authority legislation next session, pharmacies need to engage in the Sunrise Review process and submit support letters by April 1.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Key legislative deadlines for legislation to advance this session: On or before February 21st, all bills filed in the house of origin must be passed by the Policy committee. Next Friday, February 28th is the deadline for all bills filed in the house of origin with a fiscal note to be approved by the fiscal committee.
Also in Washington, HB 1502 and its companion SB 5513, legislation expanding pharmacists’ scope of practice to improve access to health care and the management of chronic diseases, was not heard by the Policy committee because lawmakers wanted to the Sunrise Review process to proceed. A public hearing will be held on May 14, 2025.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
The Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission’s February 6, 2025, agenda and meeting materials are available.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
The Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission (PQAC) will meet on December 12. The agenda and meeting materials have been posted.
Also in Washington, the Health Care Cost Transparency Board (Cost Board) is holding its first Public Hearing on December 12. The full meeting packet is available on the meetings and materials page.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Democrats won all nine executive offices and gained additional seats within the state Legislature. Bob Ferguson (D) will serve as the next governor of Washington state, replacing termed-out Gov. Jay Inslee (D). A friend of pharmacy State Senator Patty Kuderer (D) was elected to become the next state Insurance Commissioner.
Also in Washington, the Department of Health (DOH) Office of Immunizations is hosting a webinar on November 21, 2024, featuring Dr. Eva Meekins, a nurse educator with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to discuss the current vaccine recommendations and strategies to prevent common vaccine administration errors.
Finally in Washington, in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday, state offices will be closed on November 28 and 29, 2024. Provider payments for the week of November 25, 2024, will be made on November 27, 2024. Claim submission deadlines have been moved up to ensure that providers can receive payment and Remittance Advice (RA) documents on November 27, 2024. The deadline for submission of claims to ProviderOne for payment during the week of Thanksgiving will be November 24, 2024, by 5:00 pm. The deadline for submission of pharmacy claims to the Point of Sale (POS) during the week of Thanksgiving will be November 23, 2024, by 5:00 pm.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
