Gov. Jim Justice (R) recently signed the following bills:

• SB 182, legislation making permanent the Board of Pharmacy’s emergency rule related to the pharmacist and pharmacy intern’s authority to immunize adults according to the CDC’s Recommended Adult Immunization Schedule as well as individuals ages 11-17 years of age following the CDC’s Recommended Child and Adolescent Schedule according to a prescription and parental consent, if there are no contraindications to the vaccine, was signed on March 31 and became effective on the date of passage on March 23, 2021.
• HB 2263, legislation relating to the regulation of PBMs including establishing a reimbursement rate floor of NADAC (or WAC, if NADAC is not available) plus a $10.64 professional dispensing fee, was signed into law on April 9, 2021, and effective 90 days from passage on June 28, 2021.

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

Gov. Jim Justice (R) signed HB 2262, removing the requirement that a veterinarian monitor the controlled substance monitoring database and adding the requirement that a pharmacist licensed by the West Virginia Board of Pharmacy shall access the West Virginia Controlled Substances Monitoring Program Database for information regarding specific patients upon initially dispensing any Schedule II controlled substance, any opioid or any benzodiazepine to a patient who is not suffering from a terminal illness, and at least annually thereafter should the practitioner or dispenser continue to treat the patient with a controlled substance.  The effective date is May 31, 2021.

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

HB 2263, relating to the regulation of PBMs, advances to the desk of Gov. Jim Justice (R) for signature. Both the House of Representatives and the Senate adopted the Joint House and Senate Conference Committee Report and passed the bill. Among the various provisions is language establishing a reimbursement rate floor of NADAC (or WAC, if NADAC is not available) plus a $10.49 professional dispensing fee.

Also in West Virginia, SB 182, legislation enacting the Board of Pharmacy’s emergency rule related to the pharmacist and pharmacy intern authority to immunize, was approved by Gov. Jim Justice (R) on April 1.  The emergency rule permits pharmacists and pharmacy interns to administer vaccines to adults listed in the CDC’s Recommended Adult Immunization Schedule as well as to individuals ages 11-17 years of age listed in the CDC’s Recommended Child and Adolescent Schedule according to a prescription and parental consent if there are no contraindications to the vaccine.

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

The Board of Pharmacy adopted two emergency rules codifying the DEA’s exceptions to Schedule II prescribing requirements, including allowing pharmacies 15 days to confirm in writing an oral prescription for emergency refills.

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

A bill that will require health plans to provide payment for pharmacists’ services was signed by West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice.  SB 787, sponsored by Sen. Eric Tarr, requires any health plan issued, amended or renewed on or after Jan. 1, 2021 to cover any service provided by pharmacists’ within their scope of practice and requires health plans to have an adequate number of pharmacists in network for services beyond the plans’ drug benefit.

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

With NACDS support, legislation that will require health plans to provide payment for pharmacists’ services has passed both chambers in West Virginia and is on its way to Gov. Jim Justice (R) for signature. SB 787, sponsored by Sen. Erik Tarr (R), requires that any health plan issued, amended, or renewed on or after Jan. 1, 2021 cover any service provided by pharmacists’ within their scope of practice and requires health plans to have an adequate number of pharmacists in network for services beyond the plans’ drug benefit.

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

SB 544, legislation that amends the West Virginia Code to allow the Board of Pharmacy to promulgate regulations to expand pharmacists and pharmacy interns authority to administer vaccine, has passed the Senate and is scheduled for a hearing this week in the House Health and Human Resources Committee. Specifically, it allows pharmacists and pharmacist interns to administer immunizations in accordance with CDC guidelines to adults and children between 11-17 years of age by prescription.

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

Legislation requiring prescriptions to be prescribed electronically has been introduced by Del. Geoffrey Foster (R) and referred to the House Committee on Judiciary.  NACDS will work with members and in-state partners to advance the legislation.

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