Podcast: Impact of COVID-19 on Pharmacist Scope of Practice: Before and After the PREP Act - Diagnosing Health Care
As detailed in our February 24, 2025 update, House Bill 123 continues the operations of the Alabama Board of Pharmacy (“the Board”) until October 1, 2026, with changes to the Board’s structure, operations, and practices....more
Beginning January 1, 2026, the Illinois Board of Pharmacy will require “out-of-state” (non-resident) pharmacies licensed or seeking licensure in Illinois to have a pharmacist-in-charge (PIC) who is licensed in Illinois....more
Following the release of a memo last month detailing upcoming regulations, the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Pharmacy released its long-awaited regulatory changes for non-resident pharmacy licensure last week by...more
After almost a decade of waiting, Massachusetts has announced that it will open its licensing process for non-resident pharmacies. Yesterday, the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Pharmacy published a memo announcing...more
On November 19, 2024, the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Pharmacy (the “Board”) published several memoranda that described the impending non-resident pharmacy licensure requirements and the anticipated timeline for...more
In a significant move to enhance public health and expand HIV prevention measures, Florida has recently enacted the “John W. Rheay Act” (Fla. Stat. § 465.1861), effective as of July 1, 2024. This legislation aims to enhance...more
In a move that could reshape the regulatory landscape for pharmacies servicing Massachusetts residents, the Massachusetts Board of Pharmacy has announced that it will soon begin licensing nonresident pharmacies and requiring...more
Pharmacies, wholesalers, third-party logistics providers, outsourcing facilities, clinics, and pharmacists must obtain the California State Board of Pharmacy’s (the “Board”) approval or otherwise notify the Board about...more
700 Pharmacy v. Bureau of Workers’ Compensation Fee Review Hearing Office & SWIF; No. 660 C.D. 2020; No. 617 C.D. 2020; filed May 16, 2024; President Judge Cohn-Jubelirer - In this case, 700 Pharmacy filed five Fee Review...more
Last week, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that Rite Aid, ten subsidiaries, and affiliate pharmacies agreed to settle allegations that Rite Aid violated the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) and the False Claims Act...more
On July 10, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a nearly $410 million settlement with Rite Aid Corporation to resolve allegations that Rite Aid and its affiliates ignored red flags and knowingly dispensed unlawful...more
On April 15, 2024, the Kentucky Board of Pharmacy (“Board”) posted a suite of proposed non-resident pharmacist rules that will require any pharmacist working in another state and who provides services on a Kentucky citizen’s...more
On January 19, the Alaska Board of Pharmacy (Board) announced statutory and regulatory changes that significantly impact “Out-of-State” (non-resident) Pharmacy registration requirements, impose additional licensure...more
Earlier this month, the American Society of Pharmacy Law hosted its annual conference in San Antonio, TX. This gathering of industry leaders provided a unique opportunity to delve into the ever-evolving landscape of pharmacy...more
Introduction - Pharmacy employees at some CVS and Walgreens stores, including pharmacists, technicians, and support staff, recently walked off of their jobs to protest insufficient staffing and dangerous workloads that they...more
On October 8, 2023, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1286 into law. The new law, sponsored by Assemblymember Matt Haney and the California Board of Pharmacy, aims to reduce medication errors and...more
New York State Attorney General Letitia James recently announced that the owner and manager of Santiago Pharmacy in Flushing, Queens, were indicted for paying kickbacks to Medicaid recipients in exchange for filling their HIV...more
Recent Filings Shed Light on DOJ’s View of Supreme Court’s Recent FCA Ruling - On June 1, 2023, the US Supreme Court explained that an assessment of a defendant’s subjective beliefs — rather than what an objectively...more
For the last three years, the federal government has taken considerable steps to aid providers in the fight against COVID-19. Although many of the waivers and flexibilities initiated in response to the pandemic have since...more
Prescription errors, unfortunately, are common. Every year, 7,000 to 9,000 people die as a result of medication errors in the United States, making it the third most common cause of death in the country after heart disease...more
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently issued initial guidance on how the agency expects the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program (the “Negotiation Program”) to operate. The Negotiation Program was...more
The Arkansas House of Representatives proposed a bill that would amend the Pharmacy Practice Act to restrict pharmacy ownership to certain individuals and entities. The bill would require an applicant for a pharmacy permit to...more
On February 17, Daniel Russo, a Long Island resident, pleaded guilty in federal court in Brooklyn to multiple charges in connection with illegally distributing oxycodone. Russo faces decades in federal prison when he is...more
Health Care fraud is a growing national issue. The National Heath Care Anti-Fraud Association estimates that health care fraud costs the nation about $68 billion annually — about 3 percent of the nation's $2.26 trillion in...more
The state of New Jersey recently passed a law that will allow pharmacists to provide self-administered hormonal contraceptives to patients without a prescription. The law, which was signed by Governor Philip Murphy on January...more