Federal Issues
HHS authorizes pharmacists and interns to administer COVID-19 vaccines
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced today that pharmacists and pharmacy interns would be authorized to administer COVID-19 vaccines when they become available. The new guidance issued under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREP Act) allows state-licensed pharmacists to order FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccinations and administer them to any individual ages…
Read More$310 Billion Added to Paycheck Protection Program
President Trump signed legislation today that adds an additional $310 billion in funding to the depleted Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) for small businesses. The PPP – established by the CARES Act that was signed into law on March 27 – is designed to help small businesses hurt by the coronavirus. However, the initial $349 billion…
Read MoreHow the HEROES Act Would Impact Pharmacists and Techs
Legislation has been introduced in Washington, D.C. that could affect pharmacists and pharmacy technicians as the COVID-19 battle continues. The Helping Emergency Responders Overcome Emergency Situations (HEROES) Act of 2020, introduced by Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-Mich.), would create a tax holiday for health professionals and first responders who continue to serve during the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes…
Read MoreExecutive Order Issued Increasing Price Transparency for Healthcare Services; Drug Costs Next
On Monday, President Trump signed an executive order aimed to bring more transparency to healthcare pricing. The president has directed The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to begin issuing rules requiring hospitals and doctors’ offices to reveal what patients really pay for services. The rules will require healthcare providers and insurers to inform…
Read MoreNo DIR Reform in CMS’ 2020 Final Drug Pricing Rule
Despite over 4,000 comments from pharmacists and organizations like Currus, NCPA, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS), and others across the country encouraging change, CMS elected not to address DIR reform in their final 2020 drug pricing rule released on Thursday. CMS said in a statement that they “will continue to carefully review…
Read MoreThousands Sign on in Support of DIR Proposal
According to NCPA, nearly 3,500 pharmacists and over 150 pharmacy stakeholder organizations have supported a potential change in DIR fees in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) proposed pricing rule for 2020. The proposed change would eliminate retroactive DIR fees and issue them at the point of sale. This move would save patients…
Read MorePresident Trump Legalizes Hemp with Farm Bill Signing
On Thursday, Dec. 20, President Trump signed the 2018 Farm Bill into law. The bill passed out of the House last week with a vote of 369-47 and passed the Senate on Tuesday with an 87-13 vote. Among its many agricultural measures, the bill removes hemp from the Controlled Substances Act – effectively legalizing hemp…
Read MoreChanges to DIR Fees Featured in CMS’ Proposed Rule for 2020
On Monday, Nov. 26, 2018, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released their proposed rule for 2020 titled Modernizing Part D and Medicare Advantage to Lower Drug Prices and Reduce Out-of-Pocket Expenses. The proposed rule supplements President Trump’s Blueprint to Lower Drug Prices and Reduce Out-of-Pocket Costs that was released in May 2018…
Read MoreKansas General Election Results
After several months of hard campaigning in state and national elections, the suspense is finally over. Laura Kelly will be the next governor of Kansas, the third person to serve as Governor in a ten-month span. The Kansas House will have many new faces next session, along with a handful of changes in the Senate,…
Read MorePresident Signs Opioid Legislation into Law
Today, President Trump signed the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act into law to further address the nation’s ongoing opioid crisis. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 49,000 people died from opioid overdose in 2017. The bill, which passed out of Congress with bipartisan support, is aimed to help…
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