This week, Gov. Mark Gordon (R) signed HB 25, legislation requiring health insurers to respond to state inquiries within 60 days and prohibiting health insurers, including PBMs, from denying Medicaid payments, including a failure to obtain required prior authorization. 

Also in Wyoming, Gov. Mark Gordon (R) signed an Executive Order creating the Wyoming Healthcare Workforce Task Force, a continuation of efforts to address the shortage of healthcare professionals in Wyoming and to look to the future needs of the state. Among its duties, the Task Force will develop recommendations to streamline the healthcare licensing process and develop strategies to better support Wyoming students pursuing healthcare certification and degree programs. The Wyoming Healthcare Task Force will include representatives from Wyoming healthcare licensing boards, including the Board of Pharmacy; the University of Wyoming and Wyoming community colleges; Wyoming health insurance payors; state agency leadership; the Governor’s office and other non-governmental and industry organizations.  

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

SF 0100 (Engrossed), legislation related to prompt payment of clean pharmacy claims, passed the Senate, and was introduced in the House and referred to the Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions Committee.  

 Also in Wyoming, Gov. Mark Gordon (R) sent the Senate his list of nominees for numerous state offices, boards, and commissions. These nominees are subject to confirmation by the Senate. Among the nominees are Summer Hanson, DVM. 

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

HB 173, legislation related to the inclusion of retail pharmacies as in-network providers, failed a vote to be introduced. In an even-numbered year, bills in Wyoming must pass a vote in order to be formally introduced.  

Also in Wyoming, SF 0100, legislation related to prompt payment of clean pharmacy claims, passed the Senate Committee of the Whole (COW) on February 21. 

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

Gov. Mark Gordon (R) announced the launch of an initiative to address the state’s ongoing mental health crisis. The Governor’s “Mental Health Roadmap” takes steps to advance systemic behavioral health reform. As part of the initiative, the five pillars identified as critical to improving outcomes for those who are battling mental health issues are access to care, affordability of care, quality of care, innovation and suicide prevention and anti-stigma efforts. 

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

The Board of Pharmacy adopted the following emergency rules effective April 14, 2023. 

• Chapter 3: Pharmacy Internship Regulations 
• Chapter 16: Immunization Regulations 

Also in Wyoming, the Board of Pharmacy announced a Notice of Intent to Adopt Rules impacting the following chapters. Comments may be submitted to bop@wyo.gov by June 21, 2023. 

• Chapter 3: Pharmacy Internship Regulations 
• Chapter 6: Continuing Professional Education Regulations 
• Chapter 16: Immunization Regulations  
• Chapter 18: Prescribing by Pharmacists  

Finally in Wyoming, the Board of Pharmacy adopted the following rules effective May 24, 2023: 

• Chapter 2: General Practice of Pharmacy Regulations 
• Chapter 8: Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Regulations 
• Chapter 10: Issuing and Dispensing Prescriptions for Controlled Substances Regulations 
• Chapter 21: Fees Regulations 

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

The Wyoming Attorney General (Commissioner of Drugs and Substances Control) issued a proposed rules to additional substances to Schedule I and Schedule IV in the Wyoming Controlled Substances Act of 1971. Comments may be emailed to melissa.rexius@wyo.gov; the comment period ends on June 1, 2023.  

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

Stating cost shifting to consumers among his concerns and exercising his line-item veto authority, Gov. Mark Gordon (R) signed SF 151, legislation amending the Insurance Code to further regulate PBMs. The new law includes language that prohibits certain fees and claw backs, prohibits PBMs from restricting or limiting disclosure of information to the insurance commissioner for investigations or review of PBMs, requires contracts between PBMs and pharmacies to include a dispute resolution process, amends MAC and MAC appeals, permits refusal to fill below-cost prescriptions and provides for one-time resources for implementation and administration of this act. The Governor’s veto message and the bill with the Governor’s vetoes are available online.

Also in Wyoming, the Office of the Attorney General published two final rules amending the lists of Schedule I and Schedule II controlled substances in the Wyoming Controlled Substances Act of 1971, effective March 22, 2023.  

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

The 2023 General Session of the 67th Wyoming Legislature adjourned on March 3.  

The following bills were signed into law by Gov. Mark Gordon (R): 

• SF 7 (Enrolled Act No. 36), legislation amending the definition of “opiate antagonist” to mean any device or medication approved by the U.S. FDA for the treatment of an opiate drug related overdose effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law. 

• SF 9 (Enrolled Act No. 53), legislation authorizing payment for services rendered by a licensed pharmacist under the Medical Assistance and Services Act effective July 1, 2023. 

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

This week, a call for topics for the 2023 joint interim committee was announced with a deadline of February 24 at 4:00 p.m. Requested topics may originate from any source but should be submitted or sponsored by a legislator and presented to the committee by a legislator. Submissions must be made using the online form. Questions regarding the submittal of the interim topic request form may be directed to Kelly Lower.

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