NCAP E-News April 2020

E-News ENews

2020, Issue 4 of 12 April 30, 2020 ncpharmacists.org

Advancing Pharmacy. Improving Health.

General News NCAP Is Grateful For Your Service As we prepare this E-News, North Carolina is in its seventh week of a state declared public health emergency for the coronavirus pandemic. COVID-19 dominates the news, press conferences and floods our inboxes. Nothing is ‘business as usual’. Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are essential healthcare workers who have demonstrated their ever-growing value, on a daily basis, through the ongoing care of patients during this time. Community pharmacies have implemented curbside service and expanded home delivery to provide essential medicines and services to their patients. Health-system pharmacies have prepared for a surge phase, with policies and procedures to handle drug shortages, personnel coverage, and infection control measures, which seemingly change on an almost daily basis. Long-term care pharmacies and senior care pharmacists continue to face their own unique challenges as outbreaks hit nursing homes and assisted

living facilities across our state.

Just as the rise in COVID-19 cases continues to climb, it is also inevitable that pharmacists will continue to be front and center during this public health emergency. You, our NCAP members, are among the healthcare heroes rising to the challenge to take care of our state’s citizens. While you are busy taking care of patients during this pandemic, NCAP wants you to know that the Association is working nonstop to represent you. From the entire NCAP staff and Board of Directors, we say—thank you—thank you for your dedication to all those you work with and serve.

larger COVID-19 omnibus bill.

• Suspension of PBM Audits, Fees and Signature Requirements--Audits by Health Plans and Pharmacy Benefits Manager Organizations are suspended during the period of the state of emergency declared by the Governor pursuant to Executive Order 116 and for a period of not less than 90 days subsequent to the rescinding of that order. Future audits that cover the time period during the emergency must recognize any alterations or waivers as mitigating strategies recommended by federal, state or local governments or agencies. Health plans or PBMs are prohibited from audit recoupments for early refills, NCAP Shares Information with days-supply, delivery or mailed NC House COVID-19 Committee medication services, nor clerical and scrivener errors on claims On Tuesday, April 14th, Repre- made during the emergency. sentative Wayne Sasser presented on pharmacy issues before • PBM organizations shall not in the NC House Select Committee any way limit, hinder or penalize on COVID-19, Health Care Work pharmacies for providing mail orGroup. NCAP Executive Director, der and delivery services for prePenny Shelton, provided infor- scription medicines. mation in advance of the meeting and attended to help answer leg- • Pharmacists shall be included islators’ questions. Then on April in the state’s plan for expanded 16th, Shelton provided follow-up COVID-19 antigen and antibody communication with the Commit- testing; and any FDA-approved tee and included the following re- COVID-19 vaccine shall be addquests be considered as part of a ed to the list of immunizations

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authorized to be given by immunizing pharmacists. Health plans with patients in North Carolina shall reimburse pharmacists for the cost of the test kits, vaccines as well as provide a reasonable fee for these services.

• In order to help address patients’ need for long-acting antipsychotic injections, NCAP asked for: Pharmacists shall be allowed to administer physician or advanced practitioner prescribed medications.

• To help address chronic disease burden, particularly in wake of primary care providers being stretched more for acute care needs, NCAP asked for one of the modification in our previous Collaborative Practice Bill to be considered: Under the provisions of G.S. 90-18(c)(3a) any licensed pharmacist (who enters into a collaborative agreement with a physician) may perform collaborative care services and use the title clinical pharmacist practitioner.

• Pharmacists and pharmacy employees shall be considered a priority category for any state-funded or administered distribution of PPE equipment.

• The NC Division of Health Service Regulation shall create an emergency rule effective during the course of the state of emergency allowing for the use of tele-health services by consultant pharmacists for patients in assisted living facilities.

• Pharmacies shall be prioritized for access to any state-funded grants or loans designed to ease

the burdens to businesses created meeting of the year. Like meetings by the COVID-19 pandemic. all across the nation, our BOD met virtually. The meeting was preLast Thursday, the House Select sided over by Debra Kemp, BOD Committee Health Work Group Chairperson. The agenda includreleased a draft bill. The bill ad- ed written reports from several dressed the vaccine, but the other of our leadership groups, the Exprovisions were not incorporat- ecutive Director and a final finaned. Technically, we do not need cial report on the Chronic Care & legislation to allow pharmacists Health System 2020 Spring Conto participate in testing, if phar- ference held March 5-6th. Each macies apply for CLIA waiver; practice academy was provided however, we had hoped that by time to provide updates on their acknowledging pharmacists in activities, and the Board Liaison the bill, should the bill eventually for our Education Project Teams address payment for COVID test- reported on the progress of each ing, pharmacists would find less team. Tom D’Andrea, Treasurer, resistance from private insurer reviewed first quarter financials health plans for COVID testing with the BOD. Despite the chalpayment. At this time NCAP is lenges presented by COVID-19, working closely with Rep. Wayne the Association exhibited positive Sasser and Tony Solari, NCAP Lob- 1st quarter financial position. The byist, in an attempt to amend the BOD voted to try new 1st year gradbill to include some of our other uate membership model beginprovisions. Yesterday the House ning with the Class of 2021. This Health Committee met. Amend- will provide time to get a new Asments were made to a) address sociation Management System in technical changes to the prescrip- place and work out logistics with tion identification requirements, each of the schools of pharmacy. and b) to add civil immunity to The BOD voted to approve a new any pharmacist who administers 2-day, multi-academy-track Ana COVID-19 immunization or vac- nual Convention model to begin cine. The amended HB 1037 was in 2021. The Board also approved approved unanimously and has the establishment of a COVID-19 now moved to the House Rules testing work group to put togethCommittee. Chairman Lambeth er a toolkit of resources to help noted that a possible second pharmacies effectively and safely funding/policy bill may be re- implement COVID-19 antigen and leased later in May. He acknowl- antibody testing. The next NCAP edged that there are a multitude BOD meeting is scheduled for of issues in the healthcare arena, May 20th. and the House will continue to North Carolina Forms receive requests from the healthCarolina Community Tracing care community.

Collaborative: Recruitment Begins Now NCAP Board of Directors Met on April 22nd The state announced today, the Last Wednesday the NCAP Board Carolina Community Tracing Colof Directors (BOD) held their 4th laborative, a new partnership

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with Community Care of North Carolina, and the North Carolina Area Health Education Centers to expand contact tracing.

Contact tracing is the process of supporting patients and notifying contacts of exposure in order to stop chains of transmission.

Our local health departments are North Carolina’s experts in this essential detective work. The new Collaborative will hire and train staff that will support local health department’s contact tracing efforts. This will allow North Carolina to meet the goal of doubling the number of contact tracers in the state to 500. Recruitment will start immediately; interested applicants should visit the Collaborative’s webpage. Special consideration will be given to those who are unemployed, have community engagement experience and live in the communities that they will serve.

New Metrics Added to NC COVID-19 Dashboard Governor Cooper’s plan to slowly lift restrictions will be guided by the state’s progress on testing, tracing and trends. The state has added a section on the COVID-19 Dashboard for the combination of metrics our state will follow, including: COVID symptom-like cases, lab-confirmed cases, positive tests as a percentage of total tests, and hospitalizations. The dashboard will also share where we are on our testing and tracing capacity, including our supply of personal protective equipment, number of tests per day, and staffing for contact tracing. $2 Million Emergency Grant will Support Behavioral Health

Response to COVID-19

bell University. Thomas Cameron and Kecia Missos spent the A $2 million grant from the Sub- month serving as part of our stance Abuse and Mental Health NCAP staff. As you might imagServices Administration (SAMH- ine, this month was not business SA) will support NCDHHS’ efforts as usual, since NCAP staff are all to address the growing needs of working remotely; but amazingly people with mental health issues both of these individuals jumped and substance use disorder as it re- right in and became an integral lates to the COVID-19 crisis, along part of helping us get a number with the mental health needs of of projects completed. Today we the general public and health care say farewell to Kecia and Thomas workers who are on the front lines as they are days away from gradof this pandemic. The funds from uating and preparing for the next SAMHSA will be used to strength- phase of their career as pharmaen the Hope4Healers helpline cists. Both are headed to out-of(919) 226-2002, a new initiative state residency programs, but I of NC DHHS in partnership with have a feeling our paths will cross the NC Psychological Foundation again. After all, pharmacy is a which connects health care work- small world! Best of luck to both ers and their families to licensed of you. clinicians through telehealth and provides short-term support to cope with symptoms and build Practice Advancement resilience.

Mask Shortages More Prevalent, Local NC Company Wants to Help

There’s an old adage commonly used in show business that says, “The Show Must Go On,” which In the past week since more means whatever happens, whatguidance was handed down that ever has been planned, it must be individuals should be wearing carried out, regardless of the curmasks in public, an NCAP mem- rent circumstances. The legendber, pointed out to me that some ary singer/songwriter Freddie pharmacies are finding trouble Mercury from Queen wrote a song keeping masks in stock. Hanes, by the same title in which some a long-standing North Carolina feel was his way of saying that he textile company, is making masks was choosing to continue with life and has passed along the follow- and press on even though he was ing information for those NCAP losing his battle with AIDS. members that may be interested. In speaking with community pharmacists, their lives have been NCAP Says Thank You turned upside down and inundatTo Our April ed with changes never envisioned APPE Student Pharmacists before COVID-19. How to monitor patients with chronic disease This month, NCAP was privileged has taken on a whole new meanto have two advanced pharma- ing. Finding a balance between cy practice students from Camp-

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managing a pandemic, keeping themselves, their staff, and their patients safe, and keeping the most vulnerable of their patients out of the hospital has never been more critical than it is right now.

Dr. Nerissa Price, Medical Director for WakeMed Behavioral Health Community Case Management, spoke to ABC-11 Eyewitness News on April 20th saying that while many of us have been watching the curve associated with COVID-19 cases, providers in mental health are worried about a second curve, one that reflects a rise in an emotional health crisis from COVID-19, triggering worsening of conditions in those with an underlying psychiatric illness such as depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders.

For pharmacies currently participating in our NCAP initiatives, focusing on mental health conditions like Chronic Pain and Substance Use Disorder, I encourage you to aspire to “THE SHOW MUST GO ON” ideology. Continuing to offer the services and interventions associated with these projects has never been more urgent.

One, because of the pandemic’s impact on behavioral health. Two, because the data gleaned from your participation demonstrates the value pharmacists bring to chronic disease management, and reinforces recommendations made to legislators that address the very barriers our profession faces in providing this type of care (i.e collaborative practice authority, provider status, payer reimbursement).

In the wake of having to forge alternative paths for care delivery, continue to explore how your pharmacies’ chronic pain services can adapt and sustain alignment

with new workflow patterns.

If anything, this pandemic has proven we must embrace a new “norm,” learning from life’s challenges, and transition to more unique, innovative, and revolutionary ways to provide patient care.

So, thank-you to all those pharmacies continuing to cultivate these clinical services during this most strenuous time.

For pharmacies interested in learning more, there is still time to get involved and show your support.

For more information, contact Cheryl Viracola at cheryl@ncpharmacists.org . Stay Safe, Stay Well.

Continuing Education News Texas Tech University Extends Online Preceptor Training to All Pharmacists

Texas Tech University Hodge School of Pharmacy has created a mini-series of videos for preceptors that are available for continuing education credit They have extended the offer to any pharmacist in the nation for free through June 1, 2020. Each movie provides between 1.5 to 3.5 hours of continuing education credit. You simply create an account, watch the movies, complete short reflections, and then submit for automatic CE credit. Click here for more details on the mini-series and how to register.

NCAP and Catawba Valley Society of Pharmacists

Hosts Live CE Webinar Sunday, May 17th, at 6:30pm, Dr. Cheryl Viracola will provide a live webinar on Medication Assisted Treatment. NCAP members who are not yet registered for the event, and who would like to view this 90-minute webinar for live NC-CE continuing education, should contact Angie Broughton at angie@ncpharmacists.org for access information. The price of the webinar is included in your annual membership, however, space is limited.

New NCAP On-Demand Continuing Education Webinar Now Available

This week, the NCAP E-Learning Project Team, released a new continuing education clinical topic.

Dr. Amy Holmes provides a onehour update on Medications & Breastfeeding. This on-demand, home-study continuing education program is accredited with 1 hour of NC-CE and is available for free to NCAP members.

Event News What’s Happening?

This is an unprecedented time in our lives. Not just here in North Carolina, but all over the world.

COVID-19 is prominent in everyone’s thoughts. It has changed how we live, how we shop, how we work, how we think and how we meet. Although this enemy currently infiltrates our lives everyday, it won’t last forever. Fortunately, due to the growth in

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so many different areas of technology, we are still able to meet.

Granted, not face to face, but we can see each other through our computer screens and even our smart phones allowing us to connect and share information. This technology allows us to move forward safely rather than postpone or cancel important gatherings.

We here at NCAP are doing everything we can to make sure all of you get the information you need to be effective in your careers.

We are creating opportunities to make continuing education classes and meetings available to you virtually. We will continue to keep our website updated with current information. Please, check in frequently to see what’s happening and reach out to our staff if we can assist you. Upcoming events are listed here.

NC MPJE Online Course May 7th – November 7th Catawba Valley MAT Online Meeting May 17th Pharmacy Legislative Day Postponed TBD Residency Conference July 17th Annual Convention October 29th and 30th

vancement of pharmacy in North Carolina during the past year. This Awards award was established by Charles Blanton in memory of his father, Don Blanton, who served the It is a privilege for the North Car- North Carolina Pharmaceutical olina Association of Pharmacists Association as President 1957-58. to recognize excellence within the profession. NCAP members Excellence In Innovation Award are invited to nominate deserving members for the following Sponsored by Upsher-Smith awards to be presented at the Laboratories Annual Convention. Nominations must be in writing. Click here Presented to a pharmacist pracfor the nominations form or you ticing in North Carolina who has may request a copy from Ang- demonstrated Innovative Pharie Broughton. Send nominations macy Practice resulting in imto the NCAP Awards Committee, proved patient care. c/o Angie Broughton, 1101 Slater Road, Suite 110, Durham, NC Distinguished Young 27703; FAX 984-439-1649; or Pharmacist Award email angie@ncpharmacists.org.

Bowl of Hygeia Award

Sponsored by the American Pharmacists Association Foundation and National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations

Criteria for this award are: (1) Licensed to practice pharmacy in NC; (2) Has not previously received the award; (3) Is not currently serving, nor has he/she served within the immediate past two years on its awards committee or as an officer of the Association in other than an ex officio capacity; (4) Has compiled an outstanding record of community service, which, apart from his/her specific identification as a pharmacist, reflects well on the profession.

Sponsored by Pharmacists Mutual Companies

Criteria for this award are: (1) Entry degree in pharmacy received less than 10 years ago (2010 or later graduation date); (2) Licensed to practice pharmacy in NC; (3) Actively practices retail, institutional, managed care or consulting pharmacy; (4) Participates in national pharmacy associations, professional programs, state association activities and/or community service. Please, send nominations for this award to Brianna Berish, 2020 Chair of the New Practitioner Forum Brianna. berish@gmail.com.

Elections

Don Blanton Award

NCAP members interested in Presented to the pharmacist who serving on the NCAP Board and/ has contributed most to the ad- or Practice Academy Executive

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Committees are invited to submit their bios by June 15, 2020 for the following important roles: NCAP Board of Directors

NCAP will elect a President-Elect (to serve as President in 2022) a Secretary and one At-large Board Member (3-year terms). Please, send bio to Debra Kemp dwobbleton@gmail.com.

Chronic Care Practice Academy

Executive Committee member (3year term). As this is a new practice academy, please, send bio to Jenn Wilson, Chair of the Practice Academy j.wilson@wingate.edu.

Call for Posters

North Carolina Association of Pharmacists. Edits to abstracts cannot be made after submission.

NOTE: Poster presenters MUST register for the Convention for the day of presentations. There will be no discounted registration, honorarium or speaker fee.

NCAP Annual Meeting to Hold its 5th Annual Poster Session!

The NCAP Annual Convention scheduled in Winston Salem, NC on October 29th and 30th will host its 5th annual poster session. Presenting a poster at NCAP is an excellent opportunity to share your research with pharmacy practitioners all around the state! Selected abstracts will be published Community Care Practice in the North Carolina Pharmacist: Academy The Official Journal of the North The Practice Academy will elect Carolina Association of Phara Chair-Elect (3-year term) and macists. Submissions by practithree Executive Committee mem- tioners, students, and residents bers (3-year terms). Please, send are welcome! bio to Andria Eker, Past Chair of the Practice Academy andri- The poster session will take place Friday, October 30th from aeker@gmail.com.

11:15am-12pm.

Health-System Practice Click here for complete details Academy and an example of a structured The Practice Academy will elect abstract. a Chair-Elect (3-year term) and three Executive Committee mem- Please submit your name, your bers (3-year terms). Please, send credentials, and your abstract to bio to Brock Harris, Past Chair of Angie Broughton angie@ncpharthe Practice Academy johnbrock- macists.org. Deadline: August 17, 2020. Status of submissions will harris@gmail.com. be communicated to authors by September 18, 2020.

Ambulatory Care Practice Academy Abstracts will be printed as subThe Practice Academy will elect a mitted in the North Carolina PharChair-Elect (3-year term) and one macist: The Official Journal of the The Practice Academy will elect a Chair-Elect (3-year term) and two Executive Committee members (3-year terms). Please, send bio to Tasha Woodall, Past Chair of the Practice Academy tasha. woodall@mahec.net.

This study guide contains pertinent federal- and state-level statutes and regulations for the practice of pharmacy in North Carolina. There are 75 “Test Your Knowledge� questions spread throughout the sections of the study guide; and as an added bonus, the guide contains a mock test with 80 practice questions. The book will be shipped in the form of a binder with loose leaf pages, making it easy to highlight and take notes as you work through the material. Click here to purchase your copy today!

Opening doors for Independent Pharmacists.

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