North Carolina Association of Pharmacists 2021, Issue 7 of 12 ncpharmacists.org
E-News ENews
Advancing Pharmacy. Improving Health.
General News NCAP Appoints Standing Order Teams In anticipation of Governor Cooper signing H.96 into law, NCAP moved to appoint four small teams to work on draft standing orders that will be needed to implement the new law. NCAP has tapped several members to help work on a standing order for each of the following nicotine replacement therapy, oral & transdermal hormonal contraception, HIV post exposure prophylaxis, and Glucagon. This important body of work is underway with the plan to complete drafts in September. FDA Approves Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Hands down biggest news of the month, was the August 23rd FDA approval of the first COVID-19 vaccine (Comirnaty)for the prevention of COVID-19 in individuals age 16 years and older. May this full approval give greater assurance and motivate those still not vaccinated to get vaccinated. The emergency use authorization remains in place for the vaccine for those age 12-15 years. FDA Extends Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine Expiration Dates
The FDA has approved an extension to the amendment to the EUA for expiration dates for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. Cartons and vials of PfizerBioNTech COVID-19 vaccine with an expiry date of August 2021 through February 2022 printed on the label may remain in use for three months beyond the printed date as long as authorized storage conditions between -90°C to -60°C (-130°F to -76°F) have been maintained. Please note: the ultra-cold temperature range has been broadened to include -90° C (-130°F). Frozen vials stored at -25°C to -15°C and refrigerated vials (2°C to 8°C) are NOT eligible for extension. The extended expiration date is effective immediately for all currently available batches that have NOT yet expired. NOTE: Expiration dates extension does NOT apply to vials dated July 2021 and earlier. NAIIS Issues Call To Action For All Healthcare Providers Last week, the National Adult and Influenza Immunization Summit (NAIIS) issued a call to action to increase vaccination coverage among U.S. adults. Despite documented health benefits of adult vaccination, adult vaccination coverage rates remain low in the United States, and these rates have plummeted during the pandemic. NAIIS urges all healthcare providers to implement strategies that will improve vaccination of
adults. Let’s face it patients interact with their pharmacist more than any of their other health providers. We recognize that pharmacists may not be fully informed or have easily accessible or accurate immunization records on patients, so consider at a minimum a strategy that assesses whether your patients have been immunized for COVID, have received their flu shot, yet, or if they might be due for a COVID booster, as we move into the fall and winter months. Counterfeit HIV Medications For the second time in eight months fake HIV medications have been found in legitimate U.S. pharmacies. Biktarvy and Descovy counterfeits have been found in the U.S. Watch this video from Partnership for Safe Medicines. Monoclonal Antibody Cocktail for COVID-19 As reported by Kaiser Family Foundation, according a Regeneron spokesperson, shipments of their monoclonal antibody cocktail (REGEN-COV, casirivimab and imdevimab injection) have increased 5-fold, since mid-July, to 125,000 doses per week, to the tune of approximately $1,250 per dose. The FDA issued an EUA for the cocktail. As more and more states’ hospitals are at or near capacity due to the COVID delta variant, some states are now calling on pharmacists to help with adminis-
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tration of the monoclonal cocktail to help prevent COVID-19-related hospitalizations. In Arkansas, a law passed earlier this year, Act 406, that gave pharmacists permanent independent prescriptive authority for vaccines and immunizations for age 3 years and up, is being interpreted by the Arkansas Department of Health and their State Board of Pharmacy to include REGEN-COV for treatment/ prevention of COVID-19. Currently, the federal government is covering the cost of the treatment. If only more people were will to get a $25+ emergency use authorized vaccine, then a $1250+ emergency use authorized monoclonal antibody treatment would not be in such high demand. Desperate Patients Consuming Animal Dewormer What people are doing to prevent and treat COVID is mind-boggling. The FDA is warning against the use of ivermectin to treat or prevent COVID-19. In some southern states, ivermectin formulations, for cow and horse dewormer, is flying off the shelves. Ivermectin is difficult to come by, except in veterinary products; however, online pharmacies are now running ads for ivermectin. Pharmacists should be aware of this latest desperate trend to help stop the misinformation, prevent potential harm and keep your patients safe. CMS Expands Medicare Payments for At-Home COVID Vaccinations Many Medicare beneficiaries are able to receive a COVID-19 vaccine at a community pharmacy or physician office, but some individuals have great difficulty leaving their homes. These individuals are often at-risk patients who require complex care if they contract
COVID-19. On August 24th CMS announced expanded opportunities for Medicare beneficiaries to receive COVID-19 vaccinations. Healthcare providers can now receive additional payments for administering vaccines to multiple residents in one home setting or communal setting. Lifestance Health Elects Verma to Board Also on August 24, Lifestance Health announced that Dr. Seema Verma, longest-serving CMS Administrator, would be joining their company’s Board of Directors. Lifestance Health is the nation’s largest providers of both virtual and in-person mental health care. Their mission is to help people lead healthier, more fulfilling lives by improving access to trusted, affordable, and personalized mental healthcare. Many pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are grappling with anxiety and depression associated with pandemic-related stressors. Some have contacted our Association asking for recommendations to services to deal with burnout. When we saw the Lifestance Health press release, we thought you would also like to know they operate in 31 states, including North Carolina. CDC Publishes FAQ Resource for Influenza 2021-2022 A webpage for frequently asked Influenza (Flu) questions for the 2021-2022 flu season was recently published by the CDC. This site may be of help to you as you prepare for administering this season’s influenza vaccine as well as having conversations with your patients about the vaccine. Pharmacies Falling Victim to Scams
The Office of Criminal Investigations at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and U.S. Attorney’s Office are jointly investigating a wave of scams against pharmacies. Scammers have been obtaining legitimate prescriptions for insulin and other diabetes testing supplies, picking up their prescription, then immediately contacting PBMs posing as the pharmacy to reverse the claim, with the pharmacy only finding that the claim was fraudulently reversed, well after the fact, upon receipt of their remittance statement. Other scammers are obtaining pharmacy account information, placing orders with distributors for a shipment, then contacting the pharmacy, impersonating the distributor, to inform pharmacy staff the shipment was made in error, and then they send a person posing as a courier to retrieve (i.e., steal) the shipment.
Practice Advancement News Success in the Legislature Conveys Need for Enhanced Education and Training With the success of H. 196 and now H. 96 signed into law, pharmacists will soon be able to provide essential treatments to improve the health of our NC citizens. Under the new laws and per statewide protocols, pharmacists will have the authority to administer long-acting injections and provide much-needed med administration services to include any self-administered injectable drugs. Other provisions will allow pharmacists to offer specific birth control, tobacco cessation, and HIV prevention therapies.
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With this long-awaited expansion to pharmacists’ scope of practice, we recognize that pharmacists will want additional training to support their efforts in effectively delivering these services. Please note that NCAP has already begun preparing educational programming to assist you with this need. Programming will include everything from medication pharmacology to understanding the laws, rules, and protocols with additional resources to connect you with important stakeholders to build out your patient care service. STAY TUNED TO NCAP FOR UPCOMING INFORMATION ON PROGRAM AVAILABILITY New Harm Reduction Programming Planned for the Fall: REGISTRATION NOW OPEN! Funded in part through a grant from the Governor’s Institute in early 2021, NCAP provided continuing education to showcase how pharmacists could support Harm Reduction efforts in their community and aid in the fight against the opioid crisis plaguing our state. We focused on several strategies, including the non-discriminatory sale of syringes and Naloxone distribution, and local resources pharmacists could use to refer patients needing assistance with their Opioid Use Disorder. Due to the overwhelming response from this event, starting September 30th, NCAP is pleased to bring you ALL NEW programming entitled Strategies for Harm Reduction in the Pharmacy Setting: A series. In partnership with the NC DHHS Injury and Violence Prevention Branch, this 3-part series will introduce pharmacists to even more strategies they can use to mitigate risks in their patients taking opi-
oids. Cost is minimal, with a maximum of 3 hours of continuing education depending on the number of sessions attended. Click here to register and learn more about this exciting opportunity.
Executive Fellow News Independent Pharmacy Network’s October Meeting NCAP’s Independent Pharmacy Network (IPN) is planning to host a reception prior to the NCPA Annual Convention in Charlotte. The event will take place on Friday, October 8 and is open to all those attending NCPA. We are looking forward to a night filled with influential speakers, hot topic discussions, and networking with fellow independent pharmacists. For more information about this event, click here. To RSVP, click here. For any questions, please contact Megan Witkowski at fellow@ ncpharmacists.org. Stay Tuned! CPESN-NC and NCAP Partnership The NCAP Board of Directors recently approved a new partnership between NCAP and CPESNNC. The Community Pharmacy Enhanced Services Network (CPESN) is a national clinically-integrated network whose goal is to coordinate patient care by connecting independent pharmacies with opportunities for enhanced services and medication optimization activities. The proposed model will allow for closer alignment of communication, specialized pharmacist training, and data management between the state pharmacy association and the local chapter of CPESN. Together, we will have robust, value-based opportuni-
ties with payers and the ability to increase our memberships in an easy-to-use subscription model. Stay tuned for more information as this partnership kicks off this fall! Coming Soon! NCAP Fellow Practitioner Recognition Program In effort to continually promote pharmacy advancement in the state and acknowledge excellence among those in our field, NCAP is unveiling a new Fellow Practitioner Recognition Program. This program offers a pathway for pharmacy leaders in our state to be awarded NCAP Fellow status (FNCAP). The program will formally go live in mid-September with applications for fellow status opening at that time. Check back then for updates and more information regarding this exciting new designation!
New Practitioner News New Practitioner Forum Leadership Buzz! The NCAP New Practitioner Forum (NPF) will be hosting The Leadership Buzz! again this year. Sessions will be facilitated by leaders across the state and members of the NPF Leadership Team. Residents, fellow and recent graduates (2015 - 2021) are invited to join the group for personal and leadership development through reading and discussing diverse books and the Early Career Financial Series. It is requested that you commit to at least three sessions. If you have questions or are interested in joining the group, please, contact Tyler Vest, NPF Chair, at Tyler.Vest@duke.edu. Sessions will begin in September.
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Announcements 2021 Student Pharmacist Conference and Residency Showcase NCAP will be hosting, in partnership with the pharmacy schools of Campbell University, High Point University, University of North Carolina and Wingate University, the 2021 Student Pharmacist Conference and Residency Showcase. This event will be held in a virtual platform on Saturday, October 9th from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. The planning committee has been working hard to create student specific programming including roundtables, Pharmacy Jeopardy! and our very popular Residency Showcase. For more information and to register for the event click here.
Event News September New Drug Updates Part 1 Sunday, September 19th 6 – 7 pm First of a two-part live webinar that will bring pharmacists and technicians the most up-to-date information on new drugs. October NCAP Student Pharmacy Conference and Residency Showcase Saturday, October 9th This conference will be from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. It will be a virtual event of student specific programming including Residency Showcase.
NC Anti-Infective Conference Friday, October 15th Location Change - Virtual This annual meeting brings together infectious disease pharmacists from across the state for a day of continuing education and networking. New Drug Updates Part 2 Sunday, October 17th 6 – 7 pm Second of a two-part live webinar that will bring pharmacists and technicians the most up-to-date information on new drugs. APhA/WSU Pharmacy-Based Immunization Administration by Pharmacy Technicians Wednesday, October 20 This training program will be from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Please, click here for more details and to register. November Technician Conference Friday, November 12th
tor elections. Every year we have vacancies become available on each of our practice academy leadership teams. Serving on one of the practice academy leadership teams or the Board of Directors is an excellent way to become more involved in important decisions being made for your academy and our association (NCAP). This is your chance to serve and have your voice heard. The commitment to serve on the leadership teams is three years. If you are elected to serve, your term will begin January 2022. If you are interested, please email Angie Broughton, angie@ ncpharmacists.org. Please include your name, a headshot and your cv by September 10th, 2021. The following positions are going to be available in the following practice academies. NCAP Board of Directors: President-elect (1st year is served as President-elect; 2nd year as President; 3rd year as Immediate Past President). Also, 1 At-large position will need to be filled. Ambulatory Care:
Live webinar to bring together pharmacy technicians from across the state for a day of technician specific programming.
Chair-elect (1st year is served as Chair-elect; 2nd year as Chair; 3rd year as Past Chair). Also, 1 Atlarge position will need to be filled.
Visit www.ncpharmacists.org for event information and registration.
Chronic Care:
Repeat News Attention All Academies: Elections Are Coming! I hope everyone is having a great summer. This year is flying by! It’s hard to believe, but it is time for academy and Board of Direc-
Chair-elect (1st year is served as Chair-elect; 2nd year as Chair; 3rd year as Past Chair). Also, 3 At-large positions will need to be filled. Community Care: Chair-elect (1st year is served as Chair-elect; 2nd year as Chair; 3rd year as Past Chair). Also, 2 At-large positions will need to be filled.
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Health-Systems: Chair-elect (1st year is served as Chair-elect; 2nd year as Chair; 3rd year as Past Chair). Also, 1 Atlarge position will need to be filled. American Society of HealthSystem Pharmacists (ASHP) Delegates: There will be 2 ASHP positions available.
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Publication Corrections Contact Rhonda at rhonda@ncpharmacists.org
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