Friday, January 20, 2023

ASSOCIATION NEWS

The Texas Pharmacy Association and TPA Independent Pharmacy Academy Boards of Directors met Thursday to discuss pharmacy legislation introduced to date for the 88th Legislature, which began last week. TPA priority legislation on expanded immunization authority, test and treat, and Medicaid managed care reimbursement floor has been filed, and we expect PBM reform legislation to be introduced soon. The filing of legislation is just the beginning of the process, and TPA's lobbyist team will be working diligently to move the legislation along.

With increasing amounts and types of inhalers on the market, it can be hard to keep up with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). This presentation will review the substantial changes in the GOLD 2023 Guidelines, as well as discuss how to practically apply these recommendations to patients in practice. Join us for a live CE webinar on Thursday, February 2, to learn more. The webinar will also be available on demand following the event if your schedule does not allow for live viewing.

The American Pharmacists Association’s annual meeting is open for registration! APhA2023 will be held March 24–27 in Phoenix. If you’re interested in attending, APhA is offering an exclusive discount of $75 to our members! Save $75 off the full pharmacist early-bird registration rate, good through next Thursday, January 26. To apply the $75 discount, simply register now and enter the promo code STATE75 at checkout. We hope our members will take advantage of this exclusive offer and join your friends and colleagues in Phoenix in March!

KYTK-TV (January 17, 2023) Jayswal, Nirali

STATE NEWS

On March 21, Texas Medicaid will revise the Lovaza prior authorization criteria. The title of the prior authorization criteria guide will change from Lovaza to Omega-3 Fatty Acids, the criteria will change by adding manual steps to check for the severity of hypertriglyceridemia, Lovaza will be approved for patients diagnosed with severe hypertriglyceridemia, and Vascepa will be approved for patients diagnosed with severe or elevated triglycerides.

Texas Health and Human Services (January 19, 2023) Vendor Drug Program

Gov. Greg Abbott, in his third inaugural address Tuesday, emphasized that the legislative session would be centered on the historic budget surplus, “parental rights” in schools and public safety. Notably, he pitched a focus on infrastructure that included the power grid. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick Patrick was also sworn in for a third term Tuesday morning on the north steps of the Texas Capitol in Austin, on a stage below a massive Texas flag.

Texas Tribune (January 17, 2023) Svitek, Patrick

NATIONAL NEWS

The weekly rate of emergency department visits and hospitalizations for flu, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus peaked in early December, new CDC data shows. The CDC unveiled two data dashboards Jan. 17 that track emergency department visits and hospitalizations for COVID-19, flu and RSV.

Becker’s Hospital Review (January 18, 2023) Bean, Mackenzie

Congressional Medicare advisers said that recently enacted legislation that allows Medicare to negotiate drug prices may actually raise prices for some new drugs. This is because the Inflation Reduction Act includes measures that make it easier for companies to raise prices when they launch drugs. Furthermore, companies may sell drugs for several years before they become eligible for Medicare negotiation.

Stat (January 13, 2023) Wilkerson, John

Overall vaccination rates among kindergartners remain high, but coverage has dropped 2 percentage points from 95 percent in the pre-pandemic 2019–20 school year to 93 percent in 2021–22, according to new data from the CDC. Coverage for the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine was the lowest in a decade. There were declines in vaccines such as diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis, polio and chickenpox.

The Hill (January 12, 2023) Weixel, Nathaniel

The FDA released draft guidance to help drug developers identify the optimal dosage for cancer drugs during clinical development. The guidance urges drug developers to gather and interpret clinical pharmacogenomic, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data, compare multiple dosages and enroll broad patient populations in clinical trials when selecting the optimal dose, among other recommendations.

Regulatory Focus (January 17, 2023) Eglovitch, Joanne

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that a preliminary COVID-19 vaccine "safety signal" has been identified and is investigating whether the Bivalent Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine creates an increased risk of ischemic stroke in people 65 and older. In the Friday statement, the CDC said that the preliminary signal hasn't been identified with the Bivalent Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (January 13, 2023)

HHS has released key dates for the initial year of the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program, which will allow Medicare to negotiate prices for certain drugs. The agency will disclose the first 10 Part D prescription drugs that will be subject to pricing negotiations by Sept. 1 and their negotiated maximum fair prices by Sept. 1, 2024, with prices taking effect in 2026.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (January 11, 2023)

The Biden administration this month will begin spot audits of nursing home use of antipsychotic drugs in an effort to cut down on inappropriate prescriptions. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will conduct "targeted, off-site audits" to check whether nursing home patients who are prescribed the drugs have a schizophrenia diagnosis.

USA Today (January 18, 2023) Alltucker, Ken

Regulatory changes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic made it easier for patients to get controlled substances through telehealth. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has proposed rules for telehealth opioid treatment programs, but some pharmacies stopped filling telehealth prescriptions for controlled substances after signs of improper prescribing arose, and the Drug Enforcement Agency has yet to issue its own rules.

Kaiser Health News (January 11, 2023) Tahir, Darius

The FDA released new draft guidance focusing on the dosage and administration labeling section of prescription drugs. According to the guidance, language in this section "should be presented in a clear, concise manner, using active voice and command language whenever possible" and "should be presented in a manner that is pertinent and understandable to health care practitioners, which can help reduce medication errors."

Regulatory Focus (January 13, 2023) Eglovitch, Joanne

A review by the HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) identified a small number of inconsistencies in how average sale prices (ASPs) for Medicare Part B drugs are calculated. In addition, the review identified nine areas where manufacturers would like additional guidance from CMS to ensure more accurate and consistent ASP calculations industry-wide.

HHS Office of Inspector General (December 2022) Maxwell, Ann

TRENDING NEWS

A new coronavirus variant is circulating, the most transmissible one yet. And older adults represent nearly 90% of U.S. deaths from covid-19 in recent months. What does that mean for people 65 and older catching covid for the first time or those experiencing a repeat infection? The message from infectious disease experts and geriatricians is clear: Seek treatment with antiviral therapy, which remains effective against new covid variants.

Kaiser Health News (January 18, 2023) Graham, Judith

People who have been both previously infected and vaccinated against Covid-19 get long-lasting protection against severe disease and hospitalization, a large international study found. The combination prevented more than 97% of severe disease or hospitalization for up to 12 months after infection or initial immunization, whichever was most recent, according to a report from the World Health Organization.

Fortune Well (January 18, 2023) Prater, Erin

Moderna Inc. said on Tuesday that its experimental messenger RNA vaccine for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was 83.7% effective in a late-stage trial at preventing at least two symptoms, such as cough and fever, in adults aged 60 and older. RSV, which produces symptoms similar to a cold but can be fatal for young children and older adults, causes about 14,000 deaths annually in adults aged 65 and older.

Reuters (January 17, 2023) Wingrove, Patrick and Leo, Leroy

Heading into the winter months when COVID-19 cases spike, the Biden administration knew they had a problem. Less than half of nursing home residents across the country, who are at higher risk of seriousness illness and death from COVID, were up to date on their vaccines. In the five worst states—Arizona, Florida, Nevada, Texas and Mississippi—less than 37% are.

USA Today (January 19, 2023) Groppe, Maureen and Fraser, Jayme

The COVID-19 pandemic expanded the roles of pharmacists who now face increased risk of burnout. Strategies such as establishing a self-care or exercise routine, developing social connections, and finding a mentor may help build resilience. The Pharmacy Workplace and Well-being Reporting portal allows pharmacists to anonymously report their workplace experiences, which are reviewed by the Alliance for Patient Medication Safety.

Drug Topics (January 10, 2023) Gershman, Jennifer

Pharmacy chain Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc said on Monday it has removed online-only purchase limits for its over-the-counter pediatric fever-reducing products, as supply conditions improve. Pharmacy chains including CVS Health Corp and Walgreens as well as U.S. grocer Kroger Co had last month limited purchases of children's pain and cold medicines at a time when the country was experiencing one of the worst flu seasons in a decade.

Reuters (January 16, 2023) Kumar, Arunima

A Mayo Clinic–led meta-analysis suggests that transfusion of COVID-19 convalescent plasma improves survival in hospitalized, infected patients who have impaired immune systems. The antibody-rich plasma, donated by COVID-19 survivors, may help prevent the reinfections to which these high-risk patients are susceptible, the researchers said.

CIDRAP (January 13, 2023) Van Beusekom, Mary

Retail pharmacy’s foray into clinical trial services is a no-brainer given their enhanced focus on improving patient outcomes in the communities they serve. There is an increased need by pharmaceutical companies to develop and bring new drugs and vaccines to market amid increased regulatory efforts to promote clinical trial invitation and participation among diverse adults. Branching out into this space is a win-win-win for retailers, patients and pharma.

Drug Store News (January 13, 2023) Levy, Sandra

There was a nationwide increase in consumers receiving vaccines at pharmacies compared with physician practices in 2020 and 2021. Across all vaccines for adults, irrespective of gender, location, or income, a major portion of vaccine administrations occurred at the pharmacy level. These vaccines most frequently comprised COVID-19, shingles, and influenza doses. Pneumococcal and adult HPV vaccinations at pharmacy are also on the rise.

IQVIA (January 13, 2023) Global Healthy Living Foundation

At least a dozen websites that specialize in a class of protein-related products called peptides now list semaglutide and tirzepatide. Though they say their chemicals should only be used for lab research purposes and not for human use, individuals have been ordering from the websites to make their own injections at home.

Stat (January 18, 2023) Chen, Elaine

Pharmacists Mutual continue to enhance policy coverages for members with their Business Package policy, known as VISTA. Under VISTA, you will have access to commercial liability, professional liability, commercial property, employment practices liability, cyber liability/data compromise, coverage enhancements, and other coverages you have grown to expect. Coverage is tailored to your unique needs with the VISTA policy. To learn more, visit phmic.com or call (800) 247-5930.

Texas Pharmacy Today
Editor: Brian Sparks, Division Director, Communications and Marketing
(512) 615-9140 • bsparks@texaspharmacy.org

Texas Pharmacy Association
Debbie Garza, R.Ph., Chief Executive Officer
(512) 615-9170