Montana State Regulatory Update April 2019
SB 83 Establishment of allowable and prohibited practices for pharmacy benefit managers. Establishes rules for allowable fees, copay limitations, and the rights of pharmacies. Effective 1/1/2020.
HB 86 General Revisions of Pharmacy Drug Laws Establishes rule that every pharmacist, at initial licensure or license renewal, must register to use the Prescription Drug Registry.
What does this mean for pharmacists practicing in the state of Montana?
- All pharmacists must register to use the Prescription Drug Registry and refer to this registry before dispensing controlled substances. All pharmacy supervisors must ensure that all pharmacists at their site are compliant.
Montana State Regulatory Summary- 2018
The following laws, summarized below, were enacted by the Montana legislature during the 2017 session (the legislative session meets every two years on odd numbered years):
HB 177 Revision of Immunization Allowance for Pharmacist Administration effective immediately
Amended the current immunization law to allow pharmacists to administer all pneumococcal vaccines pursuant to a valid collaborative practice agreement.
HB 233 Montana Drug Product Selection Act
Amended to include the provision to provide a generic or interchangeable biologic product if a less expensive one is available to the patient.
If an interchangeable product is dispensed, the pharmacist must provide notification to the prescribing physician within 5 days of dispensing, either by electronic or other means.
All recordkeeping must be maintained for a period of 2 years.
HB 276 Revision of Reimbursement for Pharmacies
Amended to update terminology to include health insurance issuer, for inclusiveness, and adds the revision that all insurers must provide pharmacy with up to date pricing lists to show accurate MAC and reimbursement rates of dispensed products.
HB 333 Adoption of Help Save Lives Overdose Act
Enacts policy around opioid-antagonist prescribing and dispensing, patient designation and instruction on use of opioid antagonist products, professional immunity, good Samaritan laws around administering, and protection from criminal liability.
*Full legislature documents can be found at the Montana legislative site at the Montana Legislature website.
What do these new regulations mean for pharmacists practicing within the state of Montana?
- Pharmacists can now provide all forms of pneumococcal vaccine recommended by the CDC/ACIP guidelines.
- Pharmacists can use professional judgment to provide approved, interchangeable biological products if that interchange provides a cost saving to the patient and the patient requests it. If an interchangeable product is provided, the prescriber must be notified, and proper documentation must occur.
- Pharmacists will now be provided more up-to-date information by insurers around drug pricing, allowing them to make better decisions to improved and patient care and business sustainability.
- Montana has adopted a comprehensive act to help combat the state and national opioid crisis, including allowances for pharmacists and caregivers to provide methods to reverse overdose events without fear of liability.
For full regulatory language, refer to the Montana Board of Pharmacy.
