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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
For years, pharmacy advocates have urged policymakers to make changes to state scope of practice laws that would permit pharmacists to prescribe and administer certain tests and vaccines at the pharmacy. How has COVID-19...more
On July 28, 2022, the Attorney General of the State of New York (NYOAG) flexed its antitrust muscle and brought suit against CVS Health in Manhattan state court. The NYOAG accuses CVS of violating the Donnelly Act, New York's...more
On June 7, 2022, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) unanimously voted to initiate a study into how business practices employed by some pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) may impact prescription drug pricing and patient access...more
Learning Objectives - Describe the basic structure of a 340B program implementation at a hospital or grant-funded clinic - Illustrate the permissible and impermissible uses of 340B-priced drugs - Explain the roles of...more
In a move signaling the increasing importance of pharmacists in the overall continuum of patient care, Rhode Island (RI) recently enacted new statutory language that expands pharmacists’ ability to administer medications...more
Food - FDA Released Retail Food Employee Health Handbook – The FDA published the Employee Health and Personal Hygiene Handbook to help food employees avoid spreading viruses and bacteria to food....more
Florida has been contemplating ways to increase patient access to care, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the anticipated increase in cases. Recognizing the accessibility of pharmacies, Florida is now...more
Pharmacies nationwide are struggling to keep up with the demand for new prescriptions of hydroxychloroquine, chloroquine and mefloquine, the decades-old immunosuppressant and/or anti-inflammatory agents used for treating...more
State Boards of Pharmacy are responsible for protecting the health, safety and welfare of the public by regulating the legal distribution of prescription drugs in their respective states, and ensuring the quality of all drugs...more