NJSHP

STATE LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS

Session 2006-2007

Bill A1025:

1/10/2006	Introduced and referred to Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee

1/30/2006	Reported Assembly Committee Amendments 2nd Reading

Pharmacy Quality Improvement and Error Prevention Act

The amended bill establishes a 24 member Medication Error Prevention Task Force to provide guidelines for the New Jersey State Board of Pharmacy to utilize in implementing medication error prevention, pharmacy quality improvement, and consumer education programs on this topic. The guidelines provided by the task force are required to address topics including, but not limited to:


•	The type of situations in which a pharmacist should be required to report that a medication- related error may have occurred. In examining this issue, the task force is required to consider what constitutes serious or significant harm and the types of medication related errors which may cause or contribute to such harm
•	Information which should be included in such a report
•	Appropriate time frames in which such a report should be filed
•	Circumstances which should result in pharmacy personnel having to satisfactorily complete education courses aimed at reducing medication- related error; and
•	Elements to be included in required education courses, and acceptable timeframes in which they should be completed.

The bill requires pharmacies doing business in this State to establish a continuous quality improvement program within six months of the adoption of relevant rules and regulations by the New Jersey Board of Pharmacy.

Bill A1426:

1/10/2006	Introduced and referred to Assembly Regulated Professions and Independent Authorities Committee

1/30/2006	Reported 2nd Reading

Regulates Internet Pharmacies and Electronic Prescriptions

This bill regulates Internet pharmacies which dispense or deliver prescription drugs to patients living in New Jersey. The bill requires Internet pharmacies to obtain a pharmacy permit from the Board of Pharmacy of the State of New Jersey prior to dispensing or delivering prescription drugs in New Jersey and to provide the board with certain information, as specified in the bill, in order to qualify for a permit.

An Internet pharmacy must have its corporate headquarters in the United States to receive a permit under the bill’s provisions. The bill prohibits Internet pharmacies from disclaiming: any liability to which a retail pharmacy in New Jersey is subject; jurisdiction of the courts of New Jersey; or application of the laws of the State of New Jersey.

FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS

Enrollment for Medicare Part D Begins; ASHP’s Medicare Resource Center Updated to Provide Guidance for Pharmacists About Plan Offerings and Tools for Enrollment

•	Enrollment began on November 15, 2005 and runs through May 15, 2006.
•	Medicare beneficiaries will begin to receive coverage on January 1, 2006, or on the first day of the month after they enroll.
•	Visit the resource center at www.ashp.org/medicare.
Medicaid Reform Update
•	November 18, 2005 - the House voted 217-215 to approve a five-year budget plan (H.R. 4241) that would reduce government spending by nearly $50 billion over 5 years, $12 billion of which would come from the Medicaid program.
	•	Included in this proposal is a change to pharmacy’s Medicaid drug reimbursement formula.
		•	HR proposal would change the formula used for brand drug product reimbursement from average wholesale price (AWP) to one based on retail average manufacturers price (RAMP).

•	ASHP wrote a letter to House and Senate offices urging them to ensure fair and reasonable pharmacy reimbursement to cover the cost of the medication, the cost of dispensing and providing professional pharmacist services.

ASHP Urges Congress to Include 340B Provision in Budget Reconciliation Act

•	ASHP sent a letter to Senate offices urging them to vote in favor of an amendment that supporters of the 340B program hoped to offer to require manufacturers to extend 340B discounts to inpatient pharmaceuticals and to critical access and children’s hospitals.
•	With the leadership of the Public Hospital Pharmacy Coalition, who is spearheading this legislative effort, ASHP will continue to build support for freestanding legislation, the Safety Net Inpatient Drug Affordability Act (S. 1840 and H.R. 3547), which was introduced earlier this year.

Congress Clears FDA Funding Bill

•	President George Bush is expected to sign legislation worked out in a conference agreement between the House and Senate that provides funding for FDA for fiscal year (FY) 2006.
	•	The bill provides FDA with $1.489 billion, approximately $90 million more than FY 2005, but $10 million less than the Administration requested.
		•	Includes $5 million for the Office of Drug Safety
		•	$5 million for drug safety activities within the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER)
		•	$884,000 for activities related to direct-to-consumer advertising
	•	FDA is expected to use the extra $10 million in drug safety funds to pay for high priority activities, such as hiring more scientists or improving databases for tracking adverse events.
•	The conference agreement also fully funds the FDA’s budget request for influenza preparedness activities.
•	For a third straight year, lawmakers dropped a House proposal that would have blocked FDA from enforcing a ban on importing prescription drugs from foreign countries. Problem

House Committee Investigates Counterfeit Drug

•	The House Government Reform Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy, and Human Resources held a hearing entitled, “Sick Crime: Counterfeit Drugs in the United States.”

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