HHS Proposes Increasing Buprenorphine Patient Limit for Medication-Assisted Treatment.

HHS Proposes Increasing Buprenorphine Patient Limit for Medication-Assisted Treatment.

With the goal of expanding access to medication-assisted treatment (MAT), United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has proposed a rule that would permit qualified physicians to prescribe buprenorphine, the opioid use disorder treatment medication, to as many as 200 patients. Under current regulations, physicians who are certified to prescribe buprenorphine for MAT can only prescribe up to 30 patients initially and after one year can request authorization to prescribe up to a maximum of 100 patients. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Principal Deputy Administrator Kana Enomoto states “there are long patient waiting lists for prescribers who have reached the 100 patient limit.”
 
Buprenorphine is a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drug used as part of MAT, a comprehensive way to address the recovery needs of individuals that combines the use of medication with counseling and behavioral therapies to treat substance use disorders, indicates the HHS press release. HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell said the proposal “is critical in our comprehensive approach to addressing the serious opioid epidemic facing our nation.” More information about MAT and increasing the patient limit is available in the HHS fact sheet.
 
Written or electronic comments on the proposed rule must be submitted by May 31, 2016. The Federal Register notice contains instructions and additional information for submitting public comment.
 
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Pharmacists in Florida May Dispense Opioid Antagonist Pursuant to Standing Order.

Pharmacists in Florida May Dispense Opioid Antagonist Pursuant to Standing Order.

Pharmacists in Florida may dispense an emergency opioid antagonist pursuant to a non-patient-specific standing order prescribed by a health care provider, according to a recently passed law that goes into effect on July 1, 2016. The standing order would be for an auto-injection delivery system or intranasal application delivery system, which must be appropriately labeled with instructions for use, indicates the law (House Bill 1241).

Idaho Bill Seeks to Lower Age for Children to Be Immunized by Pharmacists.

Idaho Bill Seeks to Lower Age for Children to Be Immunized by Pharmacists.
 
Pharmacists in Idaho would be able to prescribe and administer immunizations to children who are six years of age or older, under proposed legislation passed in the Idaho House of Representatives. Current Idaho law authorizes pharmacists to prescribe and administer immunizations to persons age 12 and older. Senate Bill 1294 has been reported as delivered to Governor Butch Otter.
 

New York Law Mandate Electronic Prescribing Law.

Prescribers in the state of New York must issue electronic prescriptions directly to a pharmacy according to a new law. All prescriptions must be transmitted in electronic format, except for certain limited circumstances, effective March 27, 2016, under the Internet System for Tracking Over-Prescribing (I-STOP) Act. The regulations require prescribers and pharmacists to have a secure system for electronic transmission of the prescription from computer to computer in order to protect the confidentiality of patient information, notes the Office of the Professions (OP) advisory notice. For additional information on the electronic transmittal of prescriptions in New York, visit the OP section of the New York State Education Department website.
 
The New York Times states that New York is the first state to mandate electronic prescribing and enforce penalties, such as fines and imprisonment, for physicians who do not comply. The New York Times also notes that Minnesota has an electronic prescribing law but does not enforce or fine physicians for not complying with the mandate.

Coming at a time when heroin and opioid overdoses are gripping the nation, a new Colorado law allows pharmacies to sell naloxone without a prescription. A number of states are allowing measures like Colorado’s to combat increasing overdose death rates associated with prescription opioid and heroin abuse.
 
NABP’s AWARXE® Prescription Drug Safety Program is working to reduce opioid and heroin overdose deaths by educating the public on prescription drug abuse and misuse. The program’s website offers resources such as facts on the dangers of prescription drug abuse, informational flyers and posters, and a Locator Tool to help consumers find prescription drug disposal programs near them.

Coming at a time when heroin and opioid overdoses are gripping the nation, a new Colorado law allows pharmacies to sell naloxone without a prescription. A number of states are allowing measures like Colorado’s to combat increasing overdose death rates associated with prescription opioid and heroin abuse.
 
NABP’s AWARXE® Prescription Drug Safety Program is working to reduce opioid and heroin overdose deaths by educating the public on prescription drug abuse and misuse. The program’s website offers resources such as facts on the dangers of prescription drug abuse, informational flyers and posters, and a Locator Tool to help consumers find prescription drug disposal programs near them.

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie recently signed into law a bill that will require prescribers and pharmacists to register for the state’s prescription monitoring program (PMP) and to check the database that tracks controlled substance (CS) prescriptions under certain situations. The legislation, S-1998, includes the following requirements:
 
Pharmacists will be required to consult the state PMP before dispensing a Schedule II CS if they believe the patient may be seeking the prescription for any use other than medical treatment.

Pharmacists will be required to report dispensing a CS no more than seven days after doing so.

On September 1, 2015, pharmacists will be required to report CS prescription information daily, or no more than one business day after a CS was dispensed. Pharmacists must also submit identifying information for anyone who picks up a controlled substance prescription on behalf of another patient if abuse or misuse is suspected.

Under the law, prescribers must consult the PMP the first time they prescribe a Schedule II CS to a patient for acute and chronic pain, and quarterly thereafter for patients who continue to receive such medications. More information about the new law is available in a press release from the governor’s office.
 
Source: www.nabp.net

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie recently signed into law a bill that will require prescribers and pharmacists to register for the state’s prescription monitoring program (PMP) and to check the database that tracks controlled substance (CS) prescriptions under certain situations. The legislation, S-1998, includes the following requirements:
 
Pharmacists will be required to consult the state PMP before dispensing a Schedule II CS if they believe the patient may be seeking the prescription for any use other than medical treatment.
Pharmacists will be required to report dispensing a CS no more than seven days after doing so.

On September 1, 2015, pharmacists will be required to report CS prescription information daily, or no more than one business day after a CS was dispensed. Pharmacists must also submit identifying information for anyone who picks up a controlled substance prescription on behalf of another patient if abuse or misuse is suspected.

Under the law, prescribers must consult the PMP the first time they prescribe a Schedule II CS to a patient for acute and chronic pain, and quarterly thereafter for patients who continue to receive such medications. More information about the new law is available in a press release from the governor’s office.
 
Source: www.nabp.net

Ohio pharmacists are among the latest in the country to be allowed to dispense naloxone, a drug that reverses opioid overdose, without a prescription. Last week, Ohio Governor John Kasich signed into law modifications to Section 4729.44 of the Ohio Revised Code and Rule 4729-5-39 of the Ohio Administrative Code allowing pharmacists to dispense the drug under a physician-approved protocol. The legislation is effective immediately, and the Ohio State Board of Pharmacy has compiled information and other resources on its website to help pharmacists comply with the new rules.

Ohio pharmacists are among the latest in the country to be allowed to dispense naloxone, a drug that reverses opioid overdose, without a prescription. Last week, Ohio Governor John Kasich signed into law modifications to Section 4729.44 of the Ohio Revised Code and Rule 4729-5-39 of the Ohio Administrative Code allowing pharmacists to dispense the drug under a physician-approved protocol. The legislation is effective immediately, and the Ohio State Board of Pharmacy has compiled information and other resources on its website to help pharmacists comply with the new rules.

Source:http://www.nabp.net/news/ohio-pharmacists-can-now-dispense-naloxone-without-a-prescription

INTERPOL has issued a global alert for a drug knows as 2.4-dinitrophenol (DNP), an illicit and potentially lethal drug sold as a dieting and body-building aid.

The “Orange Notice” (PDF) warning about DNP was published after a woman in the United Kingdom died and a man in France was left seriously ill after taking the substance.

In the 1930s, DNP was used to boost metabolism and encourage weight loss, but it was taken out of circulation due to several deaths. Sold as a plain yellow powder, capsules, or cream, DNP is often illegally manufactured and sold via the Internet; unsafe manufacturing of the drug and potential contamination may be magnifying the dangers of taking the drug, notes INTERPOL.

INTERPOL has issued a global alert for a drug knows as 2.4-dinitrophenol (DNP), an illicit and potentially lethal drug sold as a dieting and body-building aid. 

The “Orange Notice” (PDF) warning about DNP was published after a woman in the United Kingdom died and a man in France was left seriously ill after taking the substance. 

In the 1930s, DNP was used to boost metabolism and encourage weight loss, but it was taken out of circulation due to several deaths. Sold as a plain yellow powder, capsules, or cream, DNP is often illegally manufactured and sold via the Internet; unsafe manufacturing of the drug and potential contamination may be magnifying the dangers of taking the drug, notes INTERPOL.

Pharmacists in California may now provide naloxone, the medication that can help to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, without a prescription after the California State Board of Pharmacy approved new emergency regulations (PDF).

To be eligible to dispense the drug under the new regulations, pharmacists must complete one hour of continuing education (CE) on the use of the drug, notes a press release (PDF) from the Board.

When dispensing the drug, pharmacists must screen for any hypersensitivity, and must provide the recipient with training in opioid overdose prevention, recognition, response, and on the administration of the drug.

The pharmacist must also provide the recipient a naloxone fact sheet (PDF), which has been approved by the Board.

In October 2014, NABP released a statement supporting an active role for pharmacists in increasing access to naloxone.

NABP is also active in educating consumers about prescription drug abuse and prevention through the AWARXE® Prescription Drug Safety Program, and information and educational resources on these topics are available on the program’s website.

Pharmacists in California may now provide naloxone, the medication that can help to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, without a prescription after the California State Board of Pharmacy approved new emergency regulations (PDF).

To be eligible to dispense the drug under the new regulations, pharmacists must complete one hour of continuing education (CE) on the use of the drug, notes a press release (PDF) from the Board.

When dispensing the drug, pharmacists must screen for any hypersensitivity, and must provide the recipient with training in opioid overdose prevention, recognition, response, and on the administration of the drug.

The pharmacist must also provide the recipient a naloxone fact sheet (PDF), which has been approved by the Board.

In October 2014, NABP released a statement supporting an active role for pharmacists in increasing access to naloxone.

NABP is also active in educating consumers about prescription drug abuse and prevention through the AWARXE® Prescription Drug Safety Program, and information and educational resources on these topics are available on the program’s website.