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Archive February 2024

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Drug Supply Chain Security Act: Join APhA's letter to the FDA

APhA’s Government Affairs team needs your feedback on their survey about the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) implementation at your pharmacy. FDA is interested in better understanding the status of the supply chain’s progress in implementing the DSCSA requirements that went into effect on November 27, 2023.

 

 

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FDA Revises Letter of Authorization for Paxlovid EUA

FDA Revises Letter of Authorization for Paxlovid EUA

On January 29, 2024, the FDA revised the Paxlovid EUA, stating that the EUA-labeled Paxlovid distributed by the US government will only remain authorized through March 8, 2024.  On January 31, 2024, HHS-ASPR issued a COVID-19 Therapeutics Stakeholder letter via email to all Paxlovid providers with instructions for return of product. Highlights of both letters can be found below.  

 

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Updates to the Board-Authorized Protocols

 

Updates to the Board-Authorized Protocols

On January 24, 2024, the Board of Pharmacy approved revisions for the following board-authorized protocols:
Acute Group A Streptococcal Pharyngitis
Acute Influenza Infection Antiviral Therapy Protocol

For the past several months, the Protocol Review Committee has been working diligently to review and update these protocols to ensure they are aligned with 201 KAR 2:380 and with current clinical guidelines. Any pharmacy that has been utilizing a previously approved version is expected to use the latest version of a board-authorized protocol to ensure compliance with 201 KAR 2:380(2)(1)(b).

As a reminder, you must submit any fully executed protocol to the Board’s registry at pharmacy.board@ky.gov.

Join Us for Our First Monthly Medical Billing Workshop

 

 

 

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PBM Reform Legislation Filed in the State Senate

 

 

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Board of Pharmacy Requests KPhA Member Feedback

The Kentucky Board of Pharmacy has requested that KPhA collect feedback regarding the potential impacts of proposed changes to 201 KAR 2:070. 201 KAR 2:070 regulates prescription intermediary services and recently went through the regulation review process as it was due to sunset this year. Please take a moment to review the changes and share any feedback on how the proposed changes would affect your pharmacy operations. Just to remind you, the proposed changes are in bold and underlined text. The remaining text has been in effect previously. If you have feedback, please email those comments directly to KPhA's Executive Director, Ben Mudd.

The Winter Journal has Arrived: Your Voice is Vital

It's not like we needed Punxsutawney Phil's prediction for 2024. Take a look outside your Kentucky window and you can see spring is on her way. But we also live in a state where we can experience all four seasons in a day, so even though America's favorite groundhog did not see his shadow Friday morning, I wouldn't take the bait just yet.

Instead, let's move intentionally through the warmer-than-normal February forecast with the WINTER issue of The Kentucky Pharmacist close to our chest and heed the call to advocate for our profession at Pharmacy Day at the Capitol.


 

 

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Law Enforcement Access to Protected Health Information – What’s Your Policy?

Understanding and adhering to the HIPAA Privacy Rule is required for covered entities who handle protected health information (PHI), but because the Privacy Rule was designed to be flexible, implementation of policies and procedures to meet the Privacy Rules can vary from covered entity to covered entity. Look no further than the December 12, 2023 letter from the United States Senate Committee on Finance (herein, “The Committee”) for evidence of this variation and how it can seriously impact the privacy of sensitive patient data.

 

 

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Dose of Democracy: Weekly Legislative Update

HB 274 passes the House Health Services Committee unanimously
Representative Danny Bentley (R-Russell) and KPhA President Brooke Hudspeth testified yesterday during the House Standing Committee on Health Services discussion of HB 274.

The Committee voted unanimously in support of the bill to, after being amended in the Committee meeting, allow pharmacists to immunize patients ages 5 and older under protocol. The bill proceeded to the House floor for its first reading yesterday afternoon and will receive a vote upon its third reading in the Chamber. 

Click here to read HB 274 and its Committee Substitute language 
Click here to ask your Representative to vote in support of HB 274 
Click here to watch Representative Bentley and President Hudspeth’s testimony in the KET Archives 


 

 

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KPhA President Dr. Brooke Hudspeth to Testify in Support of HB 274

KPhA President Dr. Brooke Hudspeth will testify today, February 1, at noon during the Health Services Committee, chaired by Representative Kimberly Moser (R-Kenton), in favor of HB 274: legislation that would allow pharmacists to vaccinate individuals down to age 3 under a prescriber-approved protocol.  

Representative Danny Bentley (R-Russell) filed HB 274, which would amend KRS 315 to grant pharmacists immunization authority for patients ages 3. The KPhA Government Affairs Team's hard work at the Capitol and effective coalition building resulted in a swath of bi-partisan support as HB 274 now has 19 co-sponsors. The bill is expected to be amended in committee today to reflect a compromise with other stakeholders and healthcare providers. The committee substitute will bring the immunization age in the bill from age 3 up to 5 years old.  


 

 

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