Gov. Mark Gordon (R) announced the appointment of Ryan Schelhaas as interim Attorney General beginning May 28. Schelhaas’ appointment follows the departure of Attorney General Bridget Hill, who will join the Wyoming Supreme Court as its newest justice. Schelhaas joined the Wyoming Attorney General’s office in 2003, and he has served as Chief Deputy Attorney General since 2019. He previously spent more than a decade in the Civil Division of the Attorney General’s office including as both Deputy and Section Supervisor. Before joining the Attorney General’s Office, Schelhaas worked as a civil litigator at Hirst Applegate in Cheyenne. Schelhaas earned his Bachelors and Juris Doctorate degrees from the University of Wyoming. 

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

Gov. Mark Gordon (R) signed HB 82 (Chapter Number 39), legislation that requires health insurance carriers to follow specific timelines regarding healthcare provider applications for credentialing and to reimbursement healthcare providers for services rendered and requires the Department of Insurance to promulgate rules providing for a uniform credentialing application for use throughout the state.

Also in Wyoming, Department of Health officials confirmed 30 pertussis cases in the state so far this year. This is an increase over 19 reported Wyoming cases in 2024, zero in 2023, and two in 2022. The increase started in late 2024 and continued into the current year.

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

On February 28, Gov. Mark Gordon (R) signed SF 119, legislation to streamline and simplify professional and occupational licensure requirements for miliary service members or miliary spouses.

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

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.