July Regulatory Update

Here is our monthly regulatory update. See below for changes from several states introducing legislation. A big thanks to our compliance team, who monitors state, federal, and international updates. 

Alabama:

Legislation has been passed as of April 20, 2023 amending section 34-23-30 of the Code of Alabama 1975. It provides that an entity, rather than an individual, can be issued a permit to provide pharmacy services by the Alabama Board of Pharmacy.

AL SB16 

Legislation has been introduced to allow pharmacists the ability to prescribe immunizations that they are authorized to administer. This bill also requires the pharmacist who administers a vaccine to a minor to recommend annual well-child visits with a pediatrician. 

AL HB290

Additional updates were located in the “Executive Secretary Report June 2023” email. These updates have not yet been published on the Alabama Board of Pharmacy website. 

1. Beginning May 1st, correspondence from the board office will be sent to employers identified on the profile of any practitioner that has disciplinary action taken on the part of an employee. This will be done to ensure employers are timely made aware of sanctions placed on licensees they employ.
2. Effective January 1, 2020, all newly registered technicians are required to complete a Board approved training program within six (6) months of the registration as set out in 680-X-2-.14 The Role of Technicians. It is the responsibility of the technician, as well as the pharmacy/supervising pharmacist, to ensure that all training is completed within six (6) months of the technician’s registration and documented with the Board of Pharmacy within ten (10) days of the completion of training. It is the responsibility of the supervising pharmacist to ensure all technicians registered with the Board for greater than six (6) months have training complete and documented by the Board prior to working in the pharmacy. Technicians with Board approved training completed, PTCB or CPhT certifications, or registered prior to January 1, 2020 will be reflected as compliant with the training requirement on their profile. 
1. Completed training status will be available on license documentation from the Alabama license search lookup website: www.albop.com → Search for a License → Individual Lookup → Choose the technician that matches your inquiry → Click the print icon → Document will reflect if training is complete

California:

The California Board of Pharmacy has proposed changes to Title 16 CCR § 1706.6, related to the Temporary Licenses for Military Spouses/Domestic Partners. The existing requirements were expanded and now require the board to issue temporary licenses to spouses or domestic partners of active duty military who hold current, active, unrestricted licenses in another state, district, or territory of the United States. 

CA Military Temporary Licenses Amendment

Colorado:

Legislation has been passed to allow for the licensure of certified midwives under the Colorado Board of Nursing. Effective July 1, 2024, individuals with a midwife certification from the American Midwifery Certification Board will be able to apply for state licensure as a Certified Midwife. 

CO SB23-167

Legislation has been passed which changes the relationship between a physician assistant and a physician from a supervisory role to a collaborative agreement. The bill also outlines the conditions of the collaborative agreement. In response to the passing of legislation concerning physician assistant collaboration requirements, the Colorado Medical Board has proposed revisions to board rules to comply with the new requirements. Effective August 7, 2023. 

CO SB23-083

CO Medical Board Rule Updates

Indiana: 

Legislation has been passed to amend the Indiana Code Concerning Health. Updates include requirements for credentialing providers in state Medicaid services, state employee medical programs, health maintenance organization contracts, hospital quality assessments, and health plan and insurer requirements. It also urges the study by an interim committee of (1) prior authorization exemptions for certain health care providers and (2) whether Indiana should adopt an interstate mobility of occupational licensing.

Medicaid updates (Section 2 through 3) include: Clarification of the definition of complete, acceptable credentialing applications; A timeline for application corrections submitted through a managed care organization and guidelines for use of provisional credentials; Offices shall prescribe the credentialing application used by the Council for Affordable Quality Healthcare (CAQH). 

Major changes to Medicaid credentialing are effective July 1, 2024. The majority of the bill is effective July 1, 2023. 

IN SB400

Pennsylvania: 

Legislation has been introduced to amend the Professional Psychologists Practice Act which would update definitions, expand the State Board of Psychology, add further detail to disciplinary processes, and provide for the issuance of prescription certificates for prescribing psychologists. 

PA HB1000 

Legislation has been introduced to amend the Professional Nursing Law. The amendment of section 5(f) requires the state board of nursing to immediately admit any eligible applicants to examination. 

PA HB590 

Legislation has been introduced to amend the Medical Practice Act of 1985. This bill would add licensure qualifications and requirements for behavior analysts and assistant behavior analysts. It also adds to the definitions of other licensed fields: respiratory therapists, perfusionists, genetic counselors, prosthetists, orthotists, pedorthists, and orthotic fitters. 

PA HB0019

Texas:

Effective May 11, 2023, the PREP Act has been extended, and extends the authorization of qualified individuals, including pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, to administer COVID-19 and flu vaccines. This provision will end December 31, 2024.  

It does not extend authorization for pharmacists to order and administer, or pharmacy technicians to administer childhood vaccines; this provision ended with the expiration of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency declaration (May 11, 2023).

TX PREP Act Amendment

Disclaimer: This information has been gathered from a variety of sources. Although Verisys has made every effort to provide complete, accurate and up-to-date information, Verisys makes no warranties, express or implied, or representations as to the accuracy or reliability of this information. The information is fluid and evolving. Verisys assumes no liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions in the information contained in this resource