Ken Sternfeld, RPh., gives us updates of Coronavirus and Pharmacists doing point of care testing. On April 8, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that pharmacists could order and administer COVID-19 testing tests that have been authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  HHS said in the guidance, “Pharmacists, in partnership with other healthcare providers, are well positioned to aid COVID-19 testing expansion.  Pharmacists are trusted healthcare professionals with established relationships with their patients.  The vast majority of Americans live close to a retail or independent community-based pharmacy.  That proximity reduces travel to testing locations, which is an important mitigation measure.  Pharmacists also have strong relationships with medical providers and hospitals to appropriately refer patients when necessary.” 

The National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations offered four action items that could be taken to help relieve the strain on the healthcare system and that pharmacists should be utilized because they are trained professionals, easily accessible, and are medication experts.  The four recommendations include:

• Allow pharmacists to test, treat, and immunize for infectious diseases, like COVID-19 and expand immunization authority.
• Allow pharmacists and pharmacy technicians with valid licenses to cross state lines and utilize telehealth.
• Allow pharmacists that are providing direct patient care to manage therapeutic substitution of drugs, in coordination with the physician, when there are shortages and have the FDA identify potential drug shortages and work with manufacturers to address the issue.
• Allow direct reimbursement for services delivered if within scope of practice and if services are delivered by other healthcare providers.

NEWS: New York eliminates PBM spread pricing

FixRx is a campaign launched jointly by the New York City Pharmacists Society (NYCPS) and the PSSNY in November 2018 to improve the quality of healthcare provided by pharmacists, protect patient choice, save taxpayers money and restore fairness to the distribution of prescription drugs.

“This new law is an exciting and important first step in bringing high prescription drug costs down by shedding new light on the business practices of PBMs,” said Elizabeth Lasky, PSSNY executive director. “For too long New Yorkers have seen prescription costs go up while access to medications has gone down. We appreciate the support of our governor and the response from our legislators to issues raised by community pharmacists. While there is still more work to be done, we are pleased to have this foundation on which to build a cost-effective Medicaid program, improve patient access and create a sound future for local pharmacies.”

Sponsored by UltiGuard Safe Pack 

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