Innovations-Magazine-May-2023 - 14

STATE BOARD NEWS
Massachusetts' SPCI
Program Continues to Address
Workplace Concerns
In October 2021, the Massachusetts Board
of Registration in Pharmacy introduced a
program called the Standards of Pharmacy
Patient Care Initiative (SPCI) in response
to a substantial increase in concerns
involving community pharmacies. The
concerns focused primarily on poor service,
seemingly caused by coronavirus disease
2019 (COVID-19)-related staffing issues.
These issues often resulted in difficult
working conditions as well as sudden and
unexpected pharmacy closures. As closures
became a regular event, patients became
frustrated by the inconveniences while being
worried about access to their medications.
The Board responded to these concerns by
implementing temporary measures, such
as requiring less frequent perpetual counts,
allowing increased staffing ratios for stores
providing immunizations, adding flexibility
in pharmacy management oversight, and
providing quick turnaround for pharmacy
staff licensing. Additionally, pharmacy
investigators were deployed specifically to
track and monitor pharmacies' abilities to
uphold safe and effective standards and to
provide timely information to leadership
when there is need for quick intervention
in certain stores. More information about
the SPCI program is available in the Board's
February 2023 Newsletter.
Ohio Amends Rule Addressing
Overutilization of Gabapentin
Effective November 15, 2022, Ohio
Administrative Code 4729:5-5-08 was
amended to require pharmacists to check
a patient's Ohio Automated Rx Reporting
System (OARRS) report prior to dispensing
medications containing gabapentin.
This rule is intended to address an increase
in the overutilization of gabapentin as
reported by OARRS and the State of Ohio
Board of Pharmacy. For example, 24.9%
(159,163) of Ohio patients in 2020 received
gabapentin from multiple prescribers. The
total days of overlap were 7,122,238,
meaning, on average, those receiving
overlapping gabapentin got an additional
20.8 days' worth of medication.
12 | MAY 2023
To view the amendments to the rule, visit
www.pharmacy.ohio.gov/gaba. Additional
details are available in the Board's February
2023 Newsletter.
Oregon Adopts Permanent
Rules Related to Pharmacy
Prescriptive Authority
During the December 2022 Oregon Board of
Pharmacy meeting, the Board adopted several
permanent rules pertaining to pharmacy
prescriptive authority, pharmacy prescription
kiosks (PPKs), and prescription labeling. The
Board updated the post-exposure prophylaxis,
pre-exposure prophylaxis, and travel
medication protocols; added COVID-19
antiviral (Paxlovid™) and contraception to the
protocol compendium; and transferred the
rule related to the committee requirements for
the Public Health and Pharmacy Formulary
Advisory Committee from Division 020 to
Division 010. The Board also established a
new registration type for PPK and added
requirements for the operation of a PPK by
a PPK-affiliated pharmacy. Furthermore,
amendments were added to allow prescription
drugs dispensed in a manufacturer's container
to be labeled with the expiration date on
the container and not limited to one year.
Read more about these legislative rules in the
Board's February 2023 Newsletter.
South Carolina Finalizes Joint
Protocol for the Pharmacy Access Act
On May 23, 2022, Governor Henry
McMaster signed into law Act 210. This
act, in part, allows pharmacists to dispense
a self-administered hormonal contraceptive
or administer an injectable hormonal
contraceptive to certain patients pursuant
to a standing order by a prescriber. This
act required the South Carolina Board of
Medical Examiners and the South Carolina
Department of Labor, Licensing, &
Regulation - Board of Pharmacy to issue a
written joint protocol. The finalized joint
protocol for the Pharmacy Access Act can
now be found on the Board website, along
with some frequently asked questions. The
protocol includes information on the initial
training requirements that pharmacists
need to complete to provide the service, the
conditions that pharmacies need to meet
to be eligible to issue a standing order, and
more. Read more in the Board's February
2023 Newsletter.
Utah Revises Operating Standards
for Pharmacy Technicians,
Pharmacy Technician Trainees,
and Pharmacist Preceptors
The Utah Board of Pharmacy revised several
sections of the state's Pharmacy Practice
Act Rule. The changes added a supervision
ratio limitation for a pharmacist working
with technician trainees while a pharmacy
technician or intern is working on the
same shift. Also, requirements were added
for preceptors to comply with the Vaccine
Administration Protocol, including on-site
and general supervision. Revisions to R15617b-608
Delivery Via United States Postal
Service, Licensed Common Carrier, or
Supportive Personnel clarified standards and
requirements with the use of prescription
delivery options, including the United
States Postal Service, common carriers, or
supportive personnel. Additional changes
to the rules allow for dispensing therapeutic
equivalent supplies for treating diabetes and
refers to a list maintained on the Division of
Professional Licensing's website. Read more
in the Board's February 2023 Newsletter.
Most articles published in State Board News are selected
from the newsletters of state boards that participate in
the NABP State Newsletter Program. Issues are posted on
the NABP website on each participating state's page.

http://www.pharmacy.ohio.gov/gaba https://nabp.pharmacy/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/February-2023-Ohio-State-News-Letter.pdf https://nabp.pharmacy/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/February-2023-South-Carolina-State-News-Letter.pdf https://nabp.pharmacy/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/February-2023-Massachusetts-State-News-Letter.pdf https://nabp.pharmacy/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/February-2023-Oregon-State-Newsletter.pdf https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess124_2021-2022/bills/628.htm https://nabp.pharmacy/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/February-2023-Utah-State-Newsletter.pdf

Innovations-Magazine-May-2023

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