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Source: http://www.ascp.com/resource/rss/news.rss

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<channel>
<title>News & Press</title>
<link>https://www.ascp.com/news/</link>
<description><![CDATA[ Read about recent events, essential information and the latest community news. ]]></description>
<lastBuildDate>Thu, 2 May 2024 07:41:25 GMT</lastBuildDate>
<pubDate>Tue, 30 Apr 2024 14:11:00 GMT</pubDate>
<copyright>Copyright © 2024 American Society of Consultant Pharmacists</copyright>
<atom:link href="http://www.ascp.com/resource/rss/news.rss" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"></atom:link>
<item>
<title>CMS Revised Definitions Related to Mandated Reporting </title>
<link>https://www.ascp.com/news/665606/</link>
<guid>https://www.ascp.com/news/665606/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[CMS has revised Chapter 10 of the Manual to update definitions related to “managing employees” which must be reported to CMS.<a href="https://www.cms.gov/files/document/mm13333-medicare-program-integrity-manual-cy-2024-home-health-prospective-payment-system-updates.pdf" target="_blank" title="https://www.cms.gov/files/document/mm13333-medicare-program-integrity-manual-cy-2024-home-health-prospective-payment-system-updates.pdf" style="color: #0078d7;">In an MLN Matters from December 7, 2023</a>states: “Section 10.1.1: CMS revised the definition of managing employee. For purposes of this definition of managing employee, this includes, but isn’t limited to, a hospice or skilled nursing facility (SNF) administrator and a hospice or SNF medical director. Every Medicare provider and supplier must report all current managing employees. If a hospice or SNF hasn’t reported a medical director or administrator as a managing employee, they must report now.” It is ASCP’s understanding that a facilities consultant pharmacist also meets the definition of a “managing employee” and we encourage facilities to report them, as such, to CMS. The current CMS definition of a “managing employee” within the Manual is Managing Employee means a general manager, business manager, administrator, director, or other individual who exercises operational or managerial control over, or who directly or indirectly conducts, the day-to-day operation of the provider or supplier, either under contract or through some other arrangement, whether or not the individual is a W-2 employee of the provider or supplier. For purposes of this definition of managing employee, this includes, but is not limited to, a hospice or skilled nursing facility administrator and a hospice or skilled nursing facility medical director.” ASCP believes this definition includes the facility’s consultant pharmacists. ASCP has reached out to CMS for clarity. A response letter from the CMS does not answer the question but denotes that future guidance will be forthcoming. <div> </div>]]></description>
<category>ASCP News</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 21 Feb 2024 18:19:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>CMS Issues Additional Guidance on IRA Smoothing Provisions with Specific Elements Related to LTC Pha</title>
<link>https://www.ascp.com/news/665605/</link>
<guid>https://www.ascp.com/news/665605/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[On February 15th, 2024, CMS issued <a href="https://www.cms.gov/files/document/medicare-prescription-payment-plan-draft-part-two-guidance.pdf" target="_blank" title="https://www.cms.gov/files/document/medicare-prescription-payment-plan-draft-part-two-guidance.pdf" style="color: #0078d7;">its second guidance</a>related to the smoothing provisions in theInflation Reduction Act(IRA.) Pages 23-27 provide information for pharmacies, specifically long-term care pharmacies.In the guidance, CMS states: “...when the POS notification is received by a long-term care pharmacy, the plan sponsor is not required to ensure that the long-term care pharmacy provides the “Medicare Prescription Payment Plan Likely to Benefit Notice” prior to dispensing the medication. Instead, the plan sponsor can require the long-term care pharmacy to provide the notice to the Part D enrollee at the time of its typical billing process.”CMS proposed the pharmacies conducting disease management or medication management programs including Medicare Prescription Payment Plan information within these processes.Regarding the diversity of payment arrangements between residents, LTC pharmacies and LTC facilities, CMS states: “In some situations, long-term care pharmacies do not collect Part D cost-sharing from the enrollee but instead bill the long- term care facility for the final patient OOP responsibility. When such an arrangement is in place between a long-term care pharmacy and a long-term care facility, and an enrollee in a long-term care facility is participating in the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan, billing the participant’s Part D plan’s Medicare Prescription Payment Plan BIN/PCN for the participant’s OOP costs (when the pharmacy would not have otherwise directly billed the enrollee) may result in additional financial burden on that participant. In such cases, CMS encourages Part D sponsors to take the participant’s particular circumstances into account when considering Medicare Prescription Payment Plan billing practices and to work with the participant, their authorized representative, and the long-term care pharmacy to understand the best billing approach for the participant.”Review the full guidance here:<a href="https://www.cms.gov/files/document/medicare-prescription-payment-plan-draft-part-two-guidance.pdf" target="_blank" title="https://www.cms.gov/files/document/medicare-prescription-payment-plan-draft-part-two-guidance.pdf" style="color: #0078d7;">https://www.cms.gov/files/document/medicare-prescription-payment-plan-draft-part-two-guidance.pdf</a> ]]></description>
<category>ASCP News</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 21 Feb 2024 18:15:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Partnerships with pharmacists increasingly important for complex resident needs, care transitions</title>
<link>https://www.ascp.com/news/671355/</link>
<guid>https://www.ascp.com/news/671355/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, 'system-ui', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', 'Fira Sans', Ubuntu, Oxygen, 'Oxygen Sans', Cantarell, 'Droid Sans', 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Lucida Grande', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; background-color: #ffffff;">The importance of "Why Nursing Home Pharmacists Matter"!<span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, 'system-ui', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', 'Fira Sans', Ubuntu, Oxygen, 'Oxygen Sans', Cantarell, 'Droid Sans', 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Lucida Grande', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; background-color: #ffffff;">Our Chief Executive, Chad Worz and Dr. Nicki Brandt both quoted. <span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, 'system-ui', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', 'Fira Sans', Ubuntu, Oxygen, 'Oxygen Sans', Cantarell, 'Droid Sans', 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Lucida Grande', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; background-color: #ffffff;">Read the article <a href="https://www.mcknights.com/news/partnerships-with-pharmacists-increasingly-important-for-complex-resident-needs-care-transitions-experts/">here.</a><span class="white-space-pre" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); font-size: 14px; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); background-color: #ffffff; outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, 'system-ui', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', 'Fira Sans', Ubuntu, Oxygen, 'Oxygen Sans', Cantarell, 'Droid Sans', 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Lucida Grande', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); white-space: pre !important; line-height: inherit !important;"> ]]></description>
<category>ASCP News</category>
<pubDate>Tue, 30 Apr 2024 15:11:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>More seniors may be willing to take deprescribing advice</title>
<link>https://www.ascp.com/news/671053/</link>
<guid>https://www.ascp.com/news/671053/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The pandemic “encouraged more acceptance to eliminate unnecessary medications, and fewer ‘touches’ for nurses or caregivers and lower risk of transmission of infection,” says Chad Worz, chief executive officer of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists.Read the full article <a href="https://www.mcknights.com/news/more-seniors-may-be-willing-to-take-deprescribing-advice/">here</a>Source: McKnights Long-Term Care News]]></description>
<category>ASCP News</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 25 Apr 2024 23:24:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>CMS Finalizing SNF Staffing Rule; Industry Leader Call It “An Extinction Event”</title>
<link>https://www.ascp.com/news/670861/</link>
<guid>https://www.ascp.com/news/670861/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[On Monday evening, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (<a href="https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/medicare-and-medicaid-programs-minimum-staffing-standards-long-term-care-facilities-and-medicaid-0" title="https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/medicare-and-medicaid-programs-minimum-staffing-standards-long-term-care-facilities-and-medicaid-0" data-outlook-id="5df18973-be9a-422c-bb47-94a48a1af156" style="color: #0078d7;">CMS) finalized the minimum staffing standard rulemaking for skilled nursing facilities</a> (SNF.) The rule mandates 3.48 hours per resident per day of total staffing hours, encompassing 0.55 hours of direct RN care and 2.45 hours of direct nursing aide care. Facilities may use a mix of RNs, LPNs/LVNs and nurse aides to meet the standard. The rule also mandates that an RN be onsite 24 hours a day.Using this new requirements, a facility with 100 residents would need 2-3 RNs, 10-11 nurse aides per shift and two additional nurse staff members. According to<a href="https://www.kff.org/policy-watch/nursing-facilities-staffing-levels-standards-final-rule/" title="https://www.kff.org/policy-watch/nursing-facilities-staffing-levels-standards-final-rule/" data-outlook-id="62315bf6-db44-4fc5-9688-82d56a177835" style="color: #0078d7;">an analysis from Kaiser Family Foundation</a>, just 19 percent of facilities currently meet this new staffing standard.The rule will be implemented in phases over the coming 3-5 years. Urban facilities will be required to meet the  interim mandate by May 2026 and final requirements by the end of 2027. Rural facilities have until May 2027 to meet interim requirements and final requirements by May 2028.The rule garnered more than 46,000 public comments, including comments from ASCP highlighting the negative impact this one-size-fits-all rule would have on patients, families and facilities, especially in rural areas. The future of the rule remains uncertain and key Senators and Congressional committees have taken steps to prevent the HHS Secretary from finalizing and implementing the rule. ASCP will continue to be engaged with Congressional leaders in efforts to prevent the harms of this rulemaking from impacting long-term care residents.]]></description>
<category>ASCP News</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 24 Apr 2024 18:49:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Update: Temporary Payment Advance Program for Optum Rx Network Pharmacy Partners</title>
<link>https://www.ascp.com/news/668907/</link>
<guid>https://www.ascp.com/news/668907/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Throughout the Change Healthcare outage, maintaining continuity of care for patients has been our top priority. Optum Rx has committed to reimbursing appropriate prescriptions filled in good faith by our pharmacy network partners. We recognize that the disruption caused by the Change Health Care outage may be creating cash flow challenges for independent pharmacies. To help our pharmacy partners during these extraordinary circumstances, Optum Rx has created a limited duration cash advance process to support independent pharmacies in the Optum Rx Network. There are no fees or interest charged on cash advances. Optum Rx network pharmacies may request an advance payment of funds based on prescriptions they have filled and provided to Optum Rx members where the pharmacy is experiencing cash flow problems due to dispensing those prescriptions. Pharmacies seeking a payment advance must request it through the Optum Rx Pharmacy Help Desk at <a href="tel:18007887871" title="tel:18007887871" data-outlook-id="28bed082-ca67-43a9-aa49-73c2b0998cd0" style="color: #0078d7;">1-800-788-7871</a>. To qualify:<ol start="1" style="color: #212121; font-family: Aptos;"><li style="color: black; background: white; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Must be an Optum Rx Network pharmacy serving Optum Rx patients who need a cash advance (excludes chains). Advance is per pharmacy.</li><li style="color: black; background: white; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Must be in good standing with Optum Rx – no audits, terminations, audit suspension, suspected FWA.</li><li style="color: black; background: white; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">May request between $10,000 - $100,000 based on prescriptions filled and dispensed 2/21/24 or later where there was a delay in the pharmacy’s ability to submit claims for Optum Rx members.</li><li style="color: black; background: white; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Must attest that the prescriptions have been dispensed.</li><li style="color: black; background: white; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Must submit information at the pharmacy level: NPI, NCPDP number, pharmacy name and list the following Optum Rx member claim information: BIN, PCN, Group ID, Member ID, Date of Service, Rx Number, NDC, Quantity Dispensed, Submitted Cost</li><li style="color: black; background: white; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">May request payment advance no more than one time per week.</li><li style="color: black; background: white; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Will be required to sign an agreement to return funds to Optum Rx at a later date.</li></ol><a href="https://url.us.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/f9nkCn5XP1U6v8Au9Jrkf?domain=professionals.optumrx.com" title="https://url.us.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/f9nkCn5XP1U6v8Au9Jrkf?domain=professionals.optumrx.com" data-outlook-id="85519629-3a1b-4614-950f-041e7ea37af6" style="color: #0078d7;">Pharmacy e-Services (optumrx.com)</a><a href="https://url.us.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/CLmICo2KP1HKEOjszASg1?domain=professionals.optumrx.com" title="https://url.us.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/CLmICo2KP1HKEOjszASg1?domain=professionals.optumrx.com" data-outlook-id="91b5be77-500c-4c21-8ef5-fbc21e75ecb9" style="color: #0078d7;">OptumRx Temporary Payment Advance</a>]]></description>
<category>ASCP News</category>
<pubDate>Mon, 1 Apr 2024 20:42:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Update on Change Healthcare Cyberattack</title>
<link>https://www.ascp.com/news/667984/</link>
<guid>https://www.ascp.com/news/667984/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Change Healthcare, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group, offers vital pharmacy services including pre-authorization criteria management, patient claim processing for third-party payers, and verification of coverage. It is one of only three such so-called "switches" which process these transactions. On February 21st, 2024, an external entity (likely affiliated with a foreign nation) infiltrated one of Change Healthcare's internal portals, leading to the company becoming the target of a cyber ransom attack.  The recent cyberattack inflicted a devastating financial strain on pharmacies, especially specialty pharmacies; posing a significant threat to patient’s healthcare providers nationwide and increased the workload on pharmacy staff. Extensive delays in patient care and claims submission for payment have compound the situation, potentially jeopardizing the viability of numerous healthcare providers and medication adherence by patients. The ransomware attack resulted in a lockdown of the organization's billing and care portals, preventing healthcare providers nationwide from ordering prescriptions, processing billing claims, securing revenue, and most importantly, delivering optimal patient care.The American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) has partnered with other pharmacy associations to ensure our opinions are heard and members concerns are addressed. On March 12, 2024, CEO Chad Worz and other pharmacy leaders met directly with Health and Human Services (<a href="https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2024/03/12/readout-biden-harris-administration-convening-health-care-community-concerning-cyberattack-change-healthcare.html?utm_source=MarketingCloud&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=PT+Daily+March+13&utm_content=PT+Daily+March+13" target="_blank" title="https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2024/03/12/readout-biden-harris-administration-convening-health-care-community-concerning-cyberattack-change-healthcare.html?utm_source=MarketingCloud&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=PT+Daily+March+13&utm_content=PT+Daily+Marc">HHS</a>) Secretary Becerra. Key topics addressed during this meeting included: an extension of prior authorization suspension and step edits, ensuring no-claw back if a pharmacy in good faith provides a non-covered medication, and inquiring about how HHS is going to hold plans accountable to prevent this from happening again.  UnitedHealth Group has an active <a href="https://www.unitedhealthgroup.com/newsroom/2024/2024-03-07-uhg-update-change-healthcare-cyberattack.html" target="_blank" title="https://www.unitedhealthgroup.com/newsroom/2024/2024-03-07-uhg-update-change-healthcare-cyberattack.html">webpage</a> dedicated to updating the medical community and general public about the status of its restoration of services. As of <a href="https://www.reuters.com/technology/cybersecurity/unitedhealth-says-its-unit-change-healthcares-pharmacy-network-back-online-2024-03-13/?utm_source=MarketingCloud&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=PT+Daily+March+14&utm_content=PT+Daily+March+14" target="_blank" title="https://www.reuters.com/technology/cybersecurity/unitedhealth-says-its-unit-change-healthcares-pharmacy-network-back-online-2024-03-13/?utm_source=MarketingCloud&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=PT+Daily+March+14&utm_content=PT+Daily+March+14">March 13</a>, UnitedHealth reported all major pharmacy and payment systems are up and more than 99% of pre-incident claim volume is flowing. However, numerous challenges still exist and many pharmacies have reported ongoing problems, including processing of "discount cards.”On March 13th, a representative from Optium told pharmacy leaders: “We are providing updated information on how Optum Rx is addressing audits. The actions we have taken and/or are implementing are as follows:·   The Optum Rx Pharmacy Audit team has implemented a “Do Not Audit” block on pharmacies that use Change claim switch exclusively through early April.·   In addition, the Optum Rx Pharmacy Audit team is working to implement a claim-level logic that will permanently exclude impacted claims filled during the outage period from being selected for Optum Rx pharmacy audits.o If, for any reason, impacted claims are selected for audit, upon notification from the pharmacy, Optum Rx will remove the claims and/or clear any audit findings from those claims.·   Until the claim-level logic is in production, it is possible that a pharmacy may receive a Prescription Validation Review (PVR). This should stop occurring after this week. In the meantime, the pharmacy simply needs to notify Optum Rx that the selected claims are for during the outage and the audit will be removed.·   For CMS-directed audits, we have confirmed an extension with CMS into June. If further extensions are needed beyond that time, we will address those down the line.”On March 19th, <a href="https://www.ama-assn.org/system/files/us-congress-change-healthcare-cyberattack-letter-to-hhs.pdf" title="https://www.ama-assn.org/system/files/us-congress-change-healthcare-cyberattack-letter-to-hhs.pdf">nearly 100 Members of Congress</a> wrote to HHS Secretary Becerra asking him to ensure timely payment to Medicare providers and if CMS had the authority to provide repayment flexibility.ASCP will continue advocating for member pharmacies to ensure they are not unfairly punishment for the cybersecurity failure of a payer entity. ]]></description>
<category>ASCP News</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 20 Mar 2024 22:20:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>ASCP, Alliance Applaud Congress for Directing FDA to Re-evaluate Boxed Warning and Data </title>
<link>https://www.ascp.com/news/667698/</link>
<guid>https://www.ascp.com/news/667698/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<a href="https://www.ascp.com/resource/resmgr/files/fda_black_box_approps_press_.pdf">/resource/resmgr/files/fda_black_box_approps_press_.pdf</a>]]></description>
<category>ASCP News</category>
<pubDate>Mon, 18 Mar 2024 19:44:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>ASCP Partners With the Lamy Center at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy </title>
<link>https://www.ascp.com/news/667597/</link>
<guid>https://www.ascp.com/news/667597/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<a href="https://www.ascp.com/resource/resmgr/docs/jahf_press_release_-_final_.pdf">/resource/resmgr/docs/jahf_press_release_-_final_.pdf </a>]]></description>
<category>ASCP News</category>
<pubDate>Mon, 18 Mar 2024 13:33:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>ASCP Featured Twice this week in McKnights Long-Term Care News</title>
<link>https://www.ascp.com/news/666863/</link>
<guid>https://www.ascp.com/news/666863/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[https://www.mcknights.com/print-news/how-to-do-it-forge-stronger-pharmacy-nurse-ties/https://www.mcknights.com/blogs/guest-columns/improving-disaster-preparedness-for-the-most-vulnerable/]]></description>
<category>ASCP News</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 7 Mar 2024 16:23:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Pharmacy Associations Join Forces to Advocate for Pharmacists During Change Healthcare Outage</title>
<link>https://www.ascp.com/news/666501/</link>
<guid>https://www.ascp.com/news/666501/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Pharmacy Associations Join Forces to Advocate for Pharmacists During Change Healthcare OutageFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMedia Contacts: Ross Hemminger, <a href="mailto:rhemminger@aphanet.org" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="5dfbca8f0e82546bb99824f5" style="color: blue;">rhemminger@aphanet.org</a>; 419-934-3069 Melissa Blacketer, <a href="mailto:mblacketer@ascp.com" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="5dfbca8f0e82546bb99824f5" style="color: blue;">mblacketer@ascp.com</a>; 703-739-1311    NASPA General Office, <a href="mailto:info@naspa.org" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="5dfbca8f0e82546bb99824f5" style="color: blue;">info@naspa.org</a>; 804-285-4431 Jack Mozloom, <a href="mailto:jack.mozloom@ncpa.org" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="5dfbca8f0e82546bb99824f5" style="color: blue;">jack.mozloom@ncpa.org</a>; 703-600-1177(March 1, 2024 – Washington, D.C.) As the Change Healthcare outage is now in its second week, the pharmacy community continues to be challenged and frustrated by the significant impact this has on pharmacies, pharmacy teams, and patients—from both an access to care and an economic perspective. Pharmacies are struggling or—in some cases—unable to process prescription claims, some have not received e-prescriptions for a full week, and many cannot process manufacturer patient assistance copay cards, which patients rely on. Despite this chaos, pharmacies and pharmacists are making good faith efforts to provide continuity of patient care and, in many cases, working with no or little information about a prescription’s coverage details. This is creating backlogs, workflow disruptions, and an inability to provide patient care.  Association executives from the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA), the National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations (NASPA), and the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) released an open letter to pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) executives and other insurance payers whose systems may have been impacted by the Change Healthcare outage. Pharmacists and pharmacies are asking for assurances that claims fulfilled during this outage will be paid, and paid in a timely manner, considering the challenges faced by pharmacies and pharmacists with predicting co-payments and determining eligibility and coverage.  As always, pharmacies and pharmacists acted in good faith with patient care at the center of their decisions and met the needs of patients in accessing their medications and treatments. These frontline health care providers must be made whole when services are restored.  This emergency has been ongoing since Wednesday, February 21, and has yet to be resolved.The pharmacy organizations also asked Change Healthcare to work with the appropriate partners to expeditiously implement less onerous means for all willing pharmacies to process impacted manufacturer patient assistance programs.It is unclear when systems will be back to pre-outage functioning and fully recovered, so this needs to be addressed urgently.  APhA, NCPA, NASPA, and ASCP stand ready to work with all organizations to disseminate information about the status of the outage as a whole, as well as their efforts related to impacted manufacturer patient assistance programs.The open letter to PBM Executives can be found here: <a href="https://www.pharmacist.com/Pharmacy-open-letter-to-PBM-Executives" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="5dfbca8f0e82546bb99824f5" style="color: blue;">https://www.pharmacist.com/Pharmacy-open-letter-to-PBM-Executives</a>The letter to Change Healthcare can be found here: <a href="https://www.pharmacist.com/Pharmacy-letter-to-Change-Healthcare" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="5dfbca8f0e82546bb99824f5" style="color: blue;">https://www.pharmacist.com/Pharmacy-letter-to-Change-Healthcare</a>The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) leads the pharmacy profession by supporting pharmacists, student pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians in their role optimizing medication use and patient health outcomes and ensuring patients have access to pharmacists’ care. We do this through our strong and effective advocacy, top notch education, practice tools, and resources, dissemination of evidence, and opportunities for members to engage and learn from each other. APhA is the pharmacy voice at the table in developing national guidelines, policies, and best practices that advance the profession and patient care.The American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) is the only international professional society devoted to optimal medication management and improved health outcomes for all older persons. ASCP's members manage and improve drug therapy and improve the quality of life of geriatric patients and other individuals residing in a variety of environments, including nursing facilities, sub-acute care and assisted living facilities, psychiatric hospitals, hospice programs, and home and community-based care.The National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations (NASPA), founded in 1927 as the National Council of State Pharmacy Association Executives, is dedicated to enhancing the success of state pharmacy associations in their efforts to advance the profession of pharmacy. NASPA’s membership is comprised of state pharmacy associations and over 70 other stakeholder organizations. NASPA promotes leadership, sharing, learning, and policy exchange among its members and pharmacy leaders nationwide.Founded in 1898, the National Community Pharmacists Association is the voice for independent pharmacy, representing over 19,400 pharmacies that employ more than 230,000 individuals nationwide. Independent pharmacy is a $94 billion marketplace. Community pharmacists are local health care problem-solvers who can customize solutions to local health challenges for groups and employers.### ]]></description>
<category>ASCP News</category>
<pubDate>Mon, 4 Mar 2024 16:10:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>ASCP-APhA Partnership</title>
<link>https://www.ascp.com/news/660982/</link>
<guid>https://www.ascp.com/news/660982/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<a href="https://www.ascp.com/resource/resmgr/docs/ascp-apha_press_release_upda.pdf">ascp-apha_press_release_upda.pdf</a>]]></description>
<category>ASCP News</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 20 Dec 2023 18:55:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>USA Boxing and ASCP Outreach Efforts to Increase Vaccination in Local Communities Expanding </title>
<link>https://www.ascp.com/news/657857/</link>
<guid>https://www.ascp.com/news/657857/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<a href="https://www.ascp.com/resource/resmgr/accordion/press_release_final_ngbs_cyu.pdf">press_release_final_ngbs_cyu.pdf</a>]]></description>
<category>ASCP News</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 15 Nov 2023 13:46:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>LTPAC Health IT Collaborative Launches New Website</title>
<link>https://www.ascp.com/news/657077/</link>
<guid>https://www.ascp.com/news/657077/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<a href="https://www.ascp.com/resource/resmgr/accordion/ltpac_health_it_collaborativ.pdf">/resource/resmgr/accordion/ltpac_health_it_collaborativ.pdf</a>]]></description>
<category>ASCP News</category>
<pubDate>Fri, 3 Nov 2023 22:02:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>The Big E Vaccination Effort = HUGE success! </title>
<link>https://www.ascp.com/news/654735/</link>
<guid>https://www.ascp.com/news/654735/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<a href="https://www.ascp.com/resource/resmgr/accordion/css/the_national_grange_at_the_b.pdf">the_national_grange_at_the_b.pdf</a>]]></description>
<category>ASCP News</category>
<pubDate>Tue, 10 Oct 2023 15:20:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>ASCP Redoubles Advocacy for Greater “Incident To” Billing Flexibilities for Pharmacists</title>
<link>https://www.ascp.com/news/651987/</link>
<guid>https://www.ascp.com/news/651987/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[In <a href="https://www.ascp.com/resource/resmgr/docs/news/ASCPCommentsCY24PFS.pdf">comments</a> to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on the Physician Fee Schedule (PFS), ASCP expanded its ongoing advocacy to preserve and expand flexibilities that increase patient access to pharmacists' services. Given that patient safety has not been compromised, CMS should maintain the relaxed billing requirements related to supervision. The comments state, "previously, ‘incident to’ requirements were onerous requiring...the physical presence of the physician or APP in the office or buidling when the “incident to” services were rendered." In the proposed rule, CMS notes that there is no data showing a compromise of patient safety from COVID-era flexibilities. Without evidence of harm, ASCP supported the agency's proposed extension of the current, relaxed definition of “direct supervision” through December 31, 2024. Additionally, ASCP strongly “encouraged the agency to make this definition permanent for CY2025 and beyond because it has 1) increased patient access to care, 2) fostered greater cooperation amongst care team members supporting the physician or APP and 3) proven not to impact patient safety.” The proposed rule covered other topics including the creation of new codes. ASCP agreed with CMS that “pharmacists and auxiliary personnel are currently performing community health integration (CHI) services, social determinants of health (SDOH) risk assessments and principle illness navigation (PIN) activities, and that the involved resources are not consistently or appropriately tracked in current coding and payment policies.” Additionally, CMS proposed to “create new CPT codes for caregiver behavioral management and caregiver training services.” ASCP supports the creation of these new codes and encourage the application of the “general supervision” requirement. Furthermore, ASCP requested the agency to clarify that a diabetes self-management training (DMST)-accredited pharmacy can bill for services without sign-off from a Part B provider, given CMS certifies pharmacists as DSMT-certified instructors. Regarding telemedicine, ASCP cited a December 2021 report from the Office of the HHS Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) documenting a 63-fold increase in Medicare fee-for-service telehealth visits in 2020. In the preceding, non-pandemic years, less than one percent of Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries could access telehealth service. ASCP argued that CMS cannot “allow artificial restrictions and barriers to prevent patients from accessing care through telehealth technologies.” ASCP strongly encouraged “the agency to work with Congress to establish long-term, permanent standards that expand access to care via telemedicine technologies. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, patients learned to seek care via these technologies and providers adapted their practices to provide care, despite public health restrictions. We strongly believe that clarity on long-term agency policies regarding telemedicine is critical to ensure patients and providers can continue to communicate and work collectively toward the patient’s health goals.” The PFS is published annually by CMS and principally sets the reimbursement rate for physicians. CMS uses the rulemaking to advance a number of policies related to the fee-for-service program. ASCP uses this opportunity to clarify matters and advocate for expanded access to pharmacists’ services. Elements of ASCP’s comment letter will be echoed by other organizations in the pharmacy and long-term care space. The full ASCP comment letter can be found <a href="https://www.ascp.com/resource/resmgr/docs/news/ASCPCommentsCY24PFS.pdf">here</a>.]]></description>
<category>ASCP News</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 20 Sep 2023 15:36:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>How Fatherhood Inspired Ice-T to Prioritize His Health and Get His Flu Shot</title>
<link>https://www.ascp.com/news/651586/</link>
<guid>https://www.ascp.com/news/651586/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[https://www.healthline.com/health-news/how-fatherhood-inspired-ice-t-to-prioritize-his-health-and-get-his-flu-shot ]]></description>
<category>ASCP News</category>
<pubDate>Fri, 15 Sep 2023 14:33:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>HHS Announces First 10 Medicines to be Negotiated under Inflation Reduction Act </title>
<link>https://www.ascp.com/news/650504/</link>
<guid>https://www.ascp.com/news/650504/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The Inflation Reduction Act passed at the end of the 117th Congress allows the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for the first-time to negotiate drug prices under the Medicare program. Previously, the legislation establishing the Part D benefit program specifically prohibited the agency from this type of interaction.
Today, the agency announced the first 10 medications to be negotiated, including:
<ul><li>Eliquis</li><li>Jardiance</li><li>Xarelto</li><li>Januvia</li><li>Farxiga</li><li>Entresto</li><li>Enbrel</li><li>Imbruvica</li><li>Stelara</li><li>Fiasp; Fiasp FlexTouch; Fiasp PenFill; NovoLog; NovoLog FlexPen; NovoLog PenFill</li></ul>
President Biden said, “Lowering prescription drug costs is part of a much broader vision for the country, growing the economy from middle out and the bottom up, not the top down.”
The announcement is the first step in a process that will take more than a year to complete. On October 1st, the Secretary will begin negotiations with manufacturers on the drug price and negotiations are expected to end on August 1st, 2024. One month later, the “maximum fair price” will be published and the new negotiated price will go into effect in 2026.
As this process plays out for the first year, in February 2025, HHS will announce the second round of 15 medications covered by Part D plans to be negotiated. Those negotiations are slated to run from February 28th, 2025 to November 1st, 2025 and the maximum fair price will be published on November 30th, 2025 and take effect in 2027.
The IRA established a timeline that increases the number of medications to be negotiated from 10 medication under Part D in 2026 to 15 medications in 2027. For prices taking effect in 2028, HHS will be allowed to add medications covered by Part B to the list of 15 medications. For prices taking effect in 2029 and beyond, HHS will select 20 medications covered by either Parts B or D.
Manufacturers who do not negotiate will face an excise tax starting at 65 percent of the drug’s prior year sales. The tax will increase by 10% every quarter and is capped at 95 percent. The tax will be suspended if the manufacturer chooses to remove the medication from Medicare and Medicaid. Civil monetary penalties can be levied for not offering the negotiated price with a maximum on ten-times the difference between the price charged and the negotiated price.]]></description>
<category>ASCP News</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 31 Aug 2023 21:35:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Letter to Ohio Board Pharmacy: Nalmefene Nasal Spray</title>
<link>https://www.ascp.com/news/648271/</link>
<guid>https://www.ascp.com/news/648271/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<a href="https://www.ascp.com/resource/resmgr/files/nalmefene_letter_-_oh_bop_-_.pdf">nalmefene_letter_-_oh_bop_-_.pdf</a>]]></description>
<category>ASCP News</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 9 Aug 2023 13:33:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>DEA Issues CARA Clarifying Rule</title>
<link>https://www.ascp.com/news/646931/</link>
<guid>https://www.ascp.com/news/646931/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[On July 21st, DEA has issued a <a href="https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2023-07-21/pdf/2023-15508.pdf">final rule</a> regarding the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) of 2016. To help reduce opioid dependency, risk of diversion, and
potential costs, CARA amended the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) to allow a pharmacist to partially fill a prescription for a Schedule II-controlled substance at the request of a patient or prescriber. As it relates to practitioners and pharmacists,
this rule revises this regulation to provide clear guidance as to how a pharmacist should record the partial filling for a Schedule II-controlled substance. This final rule will go into effect on August 21, 2023.
Please note that when CARA was enacted in 2016, ASCP requested clarification from the DEA of the partial fill provision in writing in November of 2016. DEA responded in a letter to ASCP in January of 2017 clearly stating that the CARA provisions for partial
fill were in addition to the exemptions currently in place for pharmacist initiated partial fills for patients in LTC facilities.
 The provisions updated in rule 21 CFR 1306.13(b)(1) indicate the recordkeeping requirements when partial fills are requested by the prescribing practitioner and patient or patient’s legal guardian. The DEA requires pharmacies to create and maintain records
related to partial fills of Schedule II-controlled substances, including specific notation of:

<ul>
<li>
Quantity Dispensed: written on the face of the prescription, in the written record of the emergency oral prescription, or in the electronic prescription record (21 CFR 1306.13 (a)). </li>
<li>Practitioner Authorizing Information: Statement of “Authorized by Practitioner to Partial Fill,” name of practitioner, date and time of discussion, pharmacist’s initials. For electronic records, pharmacy software will need to link
necessary information to each electronic controlled substance prescription record required by 21 CFR 1311.205 (b)(10). </li>
<li>Patient Authorization Information: Statement of “The [patient, parent or legal guardian of a minor patient, or caregiver of an adult patient named in a medical power of attorney, whichever is applicable)] requested partial fill on
[date such request was made]’’, date of dispensing, name/initials of dispenser as required by 21 CFR 1306.22(c). </li>
<li>Written in Excess of State Dispensing Limit: “DEA wishes to clarify that where state law provides exceptions or exemptions for prescriptions for schedule II controlled substances which exceed the state limit for quantity, the prescription
is not considered in violation of the CARA… In acknowledgement of those states’ actions, DEA will not consider a prescription for a schedule II controlled substance to be invalid when written in excess of the state limit, when the state has provided
an exception or exemption.” </li>
<li>Quantity Modification of Schedule II Prescription by a Pharmacists: DEA highlights that current “DEA regulations do not provide for a pharmacist to modify a prescription for a schedule II controlled substance. Where a pharmacist knows
that a modification is needed to address the amount being in excess of the state’s limit (and the state does not have an exception or exemption in place), the pharmacist should use their knowledge of state laws and state guidance and return the
prescription to the prescribing practitioner.” </li>
<li>The agency directly states: “DEA declines” the “request to change the regulatory text to allow pharmacists the authority to modify prescriptions by fixing the amount of the partial fill so that it is not in excess of a state’s limit”
</li>
<li>Longstanding DEA regulations, which are not be changed by this rule, also allow the partial filling of a schedule II prescription where the pharmacist is unable to supply the full quantity called for in the prescription (21 CFR 1306.13(a)),
the patient is in a long-term care facility (21 CFR 1306.13(b), or the patient has a terminal illness (21 CFR 1306.13(c)). </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Any electronic records must be linked as mentioned in 21 CFR 1311.205 (b)(10). </li>
</ul>
Under this rule, pharmacists are not permitted to perform partial fills without authorization or consultations with the prescribing practitioner or request from the patient or patient’s legal guardian. All partial fills, not prohibited by State law, must
still be prescribed, and filled in accordance with CARA, CSA, and State law.
For more information, the complete updated ruling can be found<a href="https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2023-07-21/pdf/2023-15508.pdf"> here</a>.]]></description>
<category>ASCP News</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 27 Jul 2023 14:58:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>USA Boxing Blog</title>
<link>https://www.ascp.com/news/645102/</link>
<guid>https://www.ascp.com/news/645102/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<p class="p1" style="caret-color: #212121; color: #212121; font-family: Calibri; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">In the clearing stands a boxer<p class="p1" style="caret-color: #212121; color: #212121; font-family: Calibri; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">And a fighter by his trade<p class="p1" style="caret-color: #212121; color: #212121; font-family: Calibri; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">And he carries the reminders<p class="p1" style="caret-color: #212121; color: #212121; font-family: Calibri; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">Of every glove that laid him down<p class="p1" style="caret-color: #212121; color: #212121; font-family: Calibri; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">Or cut him till he cried out<p class="p1" style="caret-color: #212121; color: #212121; font-family: Calibri; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">In his anger and his shame<p class="p1" style="caret-color: #212121; color: #212121; font-family: Calibri; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">"I am leaving, I am leaving"<p class="p1" style="caret-color: #212121; color: #212121; font-family: Calibri; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">But the fighter still remains<ul class="ul1" style="margin: 0px; caret-color: #212121; color: #212121; font-family: Calibri; list-style-type: '— ';"><li class="li1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">“The Boxer” Simon and Garfunkel </li></ul><p class="p2" style="caret-color: #212121; color: #212121; font-family: Calibri; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 22px;"> <p class="p1" style="caret-color: #212121; color: #212121; font-family: Calibri; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">Pharmacists are fighters. Emphasized during the pandemic and because of that - a puncher’s chance of landing provider status this year with House Bill 1770 for testing, treatments and vaccinations. <p class="p2" style="caret-color: #212121; color: #212121; font-family: Calibri; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 22px;"> <p class="p1" style="caret-color: #212121; color: #212121; font-family: Calibri; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">It’s time for a TKO. <p class="p2" style="caret-color: #212121; color: #212121; font-family: Calibri; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 22px;"> <p class="p1" style="caret-color: #212121; color: #212121; font-family: Calibri; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">In the last three years, pharmacists in long term care and those that work with older adults stood center ring and kept swinging, often when the odds were against them and the systems to support them let them down.  Running out of reimbursement for the uninsured, restricted access to vaccines and treatments at pivotal times, clawbacks from PBMs for doing the right thing in emergency situations… just some hits we took. <p class="p2" style="caret-color: #212121; color: #212121; font-family: Calibri; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 22px;"> <p class="p1" style="caret-color: #212121; color: #212121; font-family: Calibri; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">But we continue to fight.  <p class="p2" style="caret-color: #212121; color: #212121; font-family: Calibri; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 22px;"> <p class="p1" style="caret-color: #212121; color: #212121; font-family: Calibri; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">The latest swing for ASCP landed a $1.3 million grant to the ASCP Foundation from USAging and partnering with USA Boxing on vaccine clinics at their major boxing events and their local gyms all over the country.  <p class="p2" style="caret-color: #212121; color: #212121; font-family: Calibri; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 22px;"> <p class="p1" style="caret-color: #212121; color: #212121; font-family: Calibri; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">“Coaching you Up” is a campaign that correlates the corner coach in a boxing match to a pharmacist providing guidance to patients. Developing education and delivering vaccine clinics alongside USA Boxing during this Olympic qualifying year, the ASCP Foundation will connect pharmacy and pharmacist ASCP members with USA Boxing to “punch out” flu and Covid-19.  These clinics promise to improve access to vaccines to people, promote the importance of vaccines and support pharmacists and pharmacies as we look toward this years infection season. <p class="p2" style="caret-color: #212121; color: #212121; font-family: Calibri; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 22px;"> <p class="p1" style="caret-color: #212121; color: #212121; font-family: Calibri; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">It took a global pandemic for many to finally realize the role of the pharmacist and how it could be maximized to improve care, but that’s where “you happened” and now, in the clearing, here we stand. Fighters remaining to deliver treatments and vaccines alongside the medication management services we consistently provide. <p class="p2" style="caret-color: #212121; color: #212121; font-family: Calibri; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 22px;"> <p class="p1" style="caret-color: #212121; color: #212121; font-family: Calibri; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">This is our shot. Let’s get ready to rumble! ]]></description>
<category>ASCP News</category>
<pubDate>Tue, 4 Jul 2023 12:45:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Roundtable Analysis Urges Agencies to Utilize Lessons Learned from COVID-19 Pandemic</title>
<link>https://www.ascp.com/news/644542/</link>
<guid>https://www.ascp.com/news/644542/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<a href="https://www.ascp.com/resource/resmgr/files/our_best_shot_whitepaper_pre.pdf">Press Release </a>]]></description>
<category>ASCP News</category>
<pubDate>Tue, 27 Jun 2023 20:17:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>USA Boxing and ASCP to Expand Outreach Efforts to Increase Vaccination Among Older Adults</title>
<link>https://www.ascp.com/news/641085/</link>
<guid>https://www.ascp.com/news/641085/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[USA Boxing and ASCP Expand Outreach Efforts to Increase Vaccination Among Older Adults and People with Disabilities in Local CommunitiesMedia Contact: Brian Taylor <a href="mailto:btaylor@usaboxing.org" style="font-size: 11pt; color: blue;">btaylor@usaboxing.org</a><a href="mailto:btaylor@usaboxing.org" style="font-size: 11pt; color: blue;"></a>Melissa Blacketer <a href="mailto:mblacketer@ascp.org" style="font-size: 11pt; color: blue;">mblacketer@ascp.org</a> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE(May 23, 2023 – Alexandria, VA) USA Boxing and the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) Foundation announced today the launch of “Coaching You Up! KO Flu & COVID”.” This community-driven campaign will promote healthy living, access to vaccines and vaccine education for underserved communities including those with aging and disabled populations. Both organizations will work together to leverage their resources to host community vaccination clinics during local, regional and national USA Boxing sanctioned events. This effort was made possible with a sub-grant awarded by USAging’s Aging and Disability Vaccination Collaborative and funded through the U.S. Administration for Community Living. Implementation of the program will be supported by McUlsky Health Force (MHF) a strategic advocacy firm which focuses on advocacy relations, health care policy and strategic communications. The organizations are joining forces to prepare a culturally and linguistically coordinated novel effort to ensure their 2023/2024 vaccination outreach activities are effective and complementary across a wide range of communities. Senior care pharmacies and pharmacists will provide education and administer vaccines, compliant with state regulations, prioritizing all eligible older adults and people with disabilities as well as continue to conduct outreach and education to boxing fans, friends and families at a national, state and community level. Both organizations are dedicated to serving all populations, especially those from historically underserved neighborhoods, which include communities of color, LGBTQ+, and Native American; have low incomes or limited English proficiency, and those who live in hard-to-reach rural areas. “We are very fortunate to rely on the knowledge and experience of senior care pharmacists who can help us provide needed access to these important vaccines for members, fans, friends, families and communities,” said Mike McAtee, Executive Director, CEO of USA Boxing. “ASCP is unbelievably proud to join USA Boxing to bring vaccine services to local, regional, and national boxing events. Our pharmacies and pharmacists delivered vaccines during the pandemic and with this exciting partnership, they will continue to reach people who want and need vaccines as we get ready for next Fall and Winter, said Chad Worz, CEO of ASCP.  “Pharmacists that work with older adults recognize the importance of vaccinations, they too want to ‘knock out flu’ and ‘punch out’ COVID in people vulnerable to infections.” “Being able to meet these athletes, along with their friends and families, in their own communities to provide them with access to these needed protections is so important,” said Janet McUlsky, President of MHF. “We are thrilled to join this effort to help support good health and wellbeing across the country.”The American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) is the only international professional society devoted to optimal medication management and improved health outcomes for all older persons. ASCP's members manage and improve drug therapy and improve the quality of life of geriatric patients and other individuals residing in a variety of environments, including nursing facilities, sub-acute care and assisted living facilities, psychiatric hospitals, hospice programs, and home and community-based care.USA Boxing is the National Governing Body for Olympic-style boxing in the U.S. and a member organization of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee with a network of 200,000 plus people, 51,000 active members, including athletes, coaches, officials, physicians and administrators. USA Boxing sanctions all Olympic-style boxing competitions in the United States. The organization’s mission is to promote and grow US Olympic-style amateur boxing, to inspire the tireless pursuit of Olympic gold and to enable athletes and coaches to achieve sustained competitive excellence.###<a href="https://www.ascp.com/resource/resmgr/docs/ASCP_&_USA_Boxing_-_FINAL_Pr.pdf">www.ascp.com/resource/resmgr/docs/ASCP_&_USA_Boxing_-_FINAL_Pr.pdf</a> ]]></description>
<category>ASCP News</category>
<pubDate>Tue, 23 May 2023 13:34:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>FDA and DEA Update Opioid-Related Programs</title>
<link>https://www.ascp.com/news/637872/</link>
<guid>https://www.ascp.com/news/637872/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[As the Biden Administration and Congress continue working to address the ongoing opioid epidemic, a number of agencies have issued updates or guidance.

FDA has implemented one requirement of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, specifically the provisions repealing the Drug Addiction Treatment Act of 2000 (DATA 2000). In an email update, the FDA “notified pharmacists
that the recommendation in the Buprenorphine-containing Transmucosal products for Opioid Dependence (BTOD) REMS program to ‘verify that the prescription you receive is from a prescriber who is in compliance with the provisions of DATA 2000’ is no longer applicable. Pharmacists can dispense buprenorphine for opioid use disorder (OUD) to patients without such verification.”

In addition to the FDA, DEA has issued guidance related to the required one-time, eight-hour training for OUD. The Consolidate Appropriations Act of 2023 retired the X-waiver and replaced it with this requirement. <a href="https://deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubs/docs/MATE_Training_Letter_Final.pdf">The DEA guidance</a> contains additional details, including the accredited groups who can provide the training to meet the new requirement. The deadline for satisfying this new training requirement is the date of a practitioner’s next scheduled DEA registration submission—regardless
of whether it is an initial registration or a renewal registration—on or after June 27, 2023. At present, no pharmacy education organizations have been accredited and ASCP will update membership if/when that changes.
Beyond the requirements of the above-mentioned Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, FDA has taken additional regulatory steps designed to address the Opioid Epidemic. The regulatory shift with the biggest impact will be <a href="https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USFDA/bulletins/351b34d">allowing for over-the-counter (OTC) sale of the naloxone 4mg nasal spray</a>.
In January, <a href="https://www.ascp.com/news/628591/ASCP-Calls-for-Increased-Naloxone-Access.htm">ASCP submitted comments to FDA</a> recommending the OTC sale of naxolone. ASCP stated, “Since 2014, FDA has approved some naloxone drug-device combinations
for emergency use by laypersons. This ‘community-use’ standard has greatly increased access but has also created unnecessary confusion within pharmacies and the public, especially for family members of individuals living with substance use disorders.
Allowing for full OTC sale will further increase access while removing confusion.”
Additionally, <a href="https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-moves-forward-mail-back-envelopes-opioid-analgesics-dispensed-outpatient-settings?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery">FDA moved forward with a mail-back envelope scheme for dispensed opioid analgesics </a>(OA)via
a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) program for outpatients. When implemented, outpatient pharmacies and other dispensers will have the option to order prepaid mail-back envelopes from opioid analgesic manufacturers, which they may then
provide to patients prescribed opioid analgesics. In June 2022, ASCP opposed this proposal stating, “ASCP understands the motivation and goals of the FDA in making this proposal. However, we believe that current programs, including takeback kiosks
and takeback events coupled with expanded at-home disposal and neutralization options, are more likely to be used to render OAs unretrievable.”
Beyond these federal regulatory changes, pharmacists continue to play a keep rule in the stewardship of opioids. You can find <a href="https://www.ascp.com/page/opioid">ASCP’s Opioid Stewardship Toolkit</a> online in our Practice Resource Center.]]></description>
<category>ASCP News</category>
<pubDate>Tue, 18 Apr 2023 15:53:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>ASCP Files DEA Comments on Telemedicine</title>
<link>https://www.ascp.com/news/637788/</link>
<guid>https://www.ascp.com/news/637788/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[In an effort to ensure continued access to medications following the end of the public health emergency (PHE,) DEA is rushing to populate rulemaking allowing for prescribing via telemedicine. The proposed rules were divided into two Federal Register notices:
1) <a href="https://www.ascp.com/resource/resmgr/docs/news/ASCP_Comments_-_Telemedicine.pdf">One proposed rule would facilitate telemedicine prescribing of Schedule III-V non-narcotic products and</a> 2)<a href="https://www.ascp.com/resource/resmgr/docs/news/ASCP_Comment_-_Induction_of_.pdf"> Another proposed rule to facilitate the induction of buprenorphine (or other Schedule III-V narcotic) for maintenance or detoxification treatment.</a>Both proposed rules would restrict the prescribed supply to 30 days without an in-person medical evaluation. Both proposals would allow for prescribing beyond 30 days, if the patients has been examined, in-person, by another
qualified practitioner via a qualifying telemedicine referral. In comments to both proposed rules, ASCP requested a setting specific exemption for long-term care. We stated, “the proposed rulemaking envisions the practice and use of telemedicine for community-based,
ambulatory patients. It does not contemplate settings, such as skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and correctional facilities, where residents have ready and regular access to a host of medical professionals including certified nursing assistants (CNAs),
registered nurses, consultant pharmacists, the resident’s attending physician, and the facility’s medical director. While this regular access reduces the need for prescribing via telemedicine, there are situations in which telemedicine can improve access
and care for residents.” Beyond the long-term care setting exemption request, ASCP asked DEA for clarification on a number of matters impacting pharmacy practice across settings. For example, the proposed rule requires the inclusion of a “telemedicine
stamp” for prescriptions ordered via a telemedicine-only engagement. It is not clear if DEA expects pharmacists to police this requirement. Additionally, we highlighted that technical components are not in place to facilitate this mandate. With the PHE
ending on May 11, 2023, we expect DEA to move quickly with final rulemaking. The proposed rule on non-narcotic Schedule III-V received more than 20,000 comments and the proposed buprenorphine rule received more than 2,000 comments.]]></description>
<category>ASCP News</category>
<pubDate>Mon, 17 Apr 2023 20:06:00 GMT</pubDate>
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