HHS Authorizes All Pharmacists
to Administer Childhood Vaccines

This week, HHS authorized all state-licensed pharmacists and pharmacy interns to order and administer vaccines for patients aged 3 through 18 years during the COVID-19 public health emergency. This authorization is subject to several requirements, which are summarized here. Note that this authorization preempts any state restrictions on pharmacists from ordering or administering childhood vaccines.

PLEASE REPLY TO BRIEF SURVEY! What Role do
COVID-19 Immunizations and Tests Play in Your Pharmacy?

NCPA is currently working with federal and state public health officials, members of Congress, state legislators and boards of pharmacy to ensure that pharmacists can administer COVID-19 vaccinations when they are approved. In order to educate policymakers and the public about the critical role of pharmacists as front-line health care providers, we need as much information as possible. Please complete this survey. It will take only a few minutes, and your answers will inform our advocacy and education efforts. Survey deadline is midnight ET Monday, Aug. 24.

Hoey Voices to Media the Community Pharmacy Perspective
on Mail Order Meds

A big issue in the news this week has been recently-announced United States Postal Service policy changes and to what extent those changes (which have since been postponed) may have been leading to delayed mail order medications. NCPA CEO Douglas Hoey has been quoted in several media outlets providing his take and discussing broader issues with mandatory mail order, with publications like the Washington Post, The Hill, and ModernHealthcare specifically seeking out community pharmacy’s perspective. Additional stories quoting Hoey on this subject are expected.

Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals Denies
PCMA Request for Injunction

This week, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, which is hearing one of several important federal PBM cases, this one originating from Oklahoma, rejected a motion by the PBM trade group PCMA that asked the Court to block the state from enforcing its PBM regulation while the matter is under appeal. 
In an op-ed published this week in The Oklahoman, NCPA CEO Douglas Hoey and Oklahoma Pharmacist Association Executive Director Debra Billingsley explain how PBMs drive up prescription drug prices and how this case, PCMA v. Mulready, could lead to changes in ERISA exemptions.

NCPA Leading the Charge to Support
NAIC’s Model PBM Legislation

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) is crafting model PBM legislation, and NCPA is leading the effort to advocate for community pharmacy by meeting with NAIC members, offering virtual testimony, and drafting written comments. NCPA has taken the lead in organizing with other pharmacy stakeholders nationwide to ensure community pharmacy speaks with a strong, united voice.

NCPA Responds to NGA Recommendations
to Governors on COVID-19 Vaccine Efforts

This week, NCPA along with APhA and NASPA submitted a response letter to the National Governors Association (NGA) highlighting the value pharmacists across the profession have displayed in vaccine efforts and urging their support as recommended strategies for COVID-19 vaccine distribution are being communicated to Governors’ offices. The organizations urge Governors and health departments to adopt the following recommendations:

• Grant pharmacists immunization authority for all FDA approved or authorized, or ACIP recommended, COVID-19 vaccine to patients 3 years and older;
• Provide liability protections, as is provided to other providers, to pharmacists; and
• Add pharmacists as other licensed providers or non-physician providers in Medicaid to ensure pharmacists can provide vaccines for this vulnerable population.

Senate Republicans Offer Scaled Back COVID Relief Proposal

This week, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Senate Republicans released a “skinny” version of their $1 trillion COVID relief bill as negotiations with Democrats continue to be at an impasse. The latest proposal includes $300 in boosted weekly federal unemployment benefits until December 27, another round of money for the Paycheck Protection Program and an additional $10 billion for the U.S. Postal Service and liability protections. It is unlikely that the bill will receive a vote as negotiations are expected to stretch into September and possibly be combined with appropriations given the September 30 deadline to fund the government. While these discussions continue, contact your legislators and urge them to support inclusion of NCPA’s Essential Priorities in any package that emerges.

House Democrats to Probe Impact of Postal Changes
on Mail Order Medications

This week, Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-N.J.), Health Subcommittee Chairwoman Anna G. Eshoo (D-Calif.) and Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chair Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) announced their plan to investigate the impacts the U.S. Postal Service’s organizational and operational changes are having on the safe and timely delivery of prescription drugs, especially during COVID-19. In the next few days, the Committee will seek information from “online pharmacies, pharmacy benefit managers and the relevant trade associations about the impacts the Postal Service’s delays are having on getting lifesaving drugs to beneficiaries in a timely fashion.”

2020 NCPA Annual Convention Going Online

The 2020 NCPA Annual Convention is being converted to a virtual meeting, Oct. 18-19. All the innovative, business-focused programs you have come to expect from NCPA will be available exclusively online in a live and virtual format, including programs focused on answering your hard-hitting questions on getting paid for the care you provide. NCPA will employ a state-of-the-art virtual exhibitor platform to help you find new business tools and opportunities for your pharmacy. 
Registration for the online event opens Aug. 28. Stay tuned for updates.

HHS OIG Publishes Report on Reduced Opioid Use
in Medicare Part D

This week, the HHS OIG released a report showing the decline of the number of opioid prescriptions. It found 1 in 4 Medicare Part D patients received opioids, a decline from previous years, and spending also dropped to the lowest amount in ten years - $2.8B. However, the OIG notes 267,000 patients still received high amounts of opioids through the Part D program and warned of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on this population. The OIG concluded that CMS should continue to monitor the status of both patients and prescribers.

NCPA State Legislative Activity Update

NCPA tracks state legislation related to our top three state priorities: Medicaid reform, scope of practice and compensation for services, and PBM reform and regulation. Click each issue for a report of bills that have been introduced so far this session specifically dealing with these three issue areas. You can access the individual bill language and basic information on the bill by clicking on the bill numbers in the attached report. Bills that have moved this week are listed at the top in the “Recently Updated” section.

NCPA’s Advocacy Center Update provides a weekly detailed summary of recent and breaking legislative, regulatory, and state developments impacting independent community pharmacy and NCPA’s efforts to affect policies benefitting its membership and the industry. The weekly update is distributed to NCPA leadership, steering committees, allied organizations/stakeholders and major contributors to the NCPA LDF and PAC.