New Department of Health regulations for state nursing homes have been approved by Pennsylvania's Independent Regulatory Review Commission. The required number of hours of direct care per day per patient will be increased in July 2023 and again by July 2024. The number of patients that nursing assistants and nurse aides can be required to care for will decrease in July 2023 and again in July 2024. The health department will also begin posting notice of nursing home ownership changes, and regulators will be required to analyze the financial strength and past performance of owners in order to approve license applications.
November 02, 2022
August 31, 2022
Update: pushback on charges against Vermont pharmacies
In June, the Vermont Office of Professional Regulation filed charges against Walgreens pharmacies, alleging that staffing shortages and unplanned closures resulted in medication and vaccination errors that put customers at risk. Walgreens has asked a judge to dismiss the claims, stating that it is an unfair standard during the pandemic and factors outside of their control. They also argue that the statute allowing discipline against one drug outlet in a chain to be imposed on all outlets in the chain is discriminatory and a violation of due process.
August 10, 2022
Canada: concern over corporate ownership
As more corporate chains are buying up owner-operated dentistry, optometry and veterinary clinics, concern has been raised about the varied levels of reaction by the regulatory colleges. Disclosure of ownership is one area of concern, arguing that the patient deserves to know who the majority owner is rather than allowing the corporate owner to maintain the clinic's independent branding. Conflict of interest is another concern if a clinic is owned by a company that also manufactures prescribed medical equipment which may then be prescribed even if a competitor's equipment is more appropriate for the patient. Discussions have stalled about reforms to address regulatory colleges' legislated authority over companies.
July 20, 2022
Vermont charges pharamcies with unsafe working conditions
The Vermont Office of professional Regulation is charging Walgreens pharmacies in the state with creating unsafe conditions for workers. "The allegations include untenable working conditions for pharmacists due to insufficient staff; medication and vaccination errors; stores losing track of controlled substances; and unexpected store closures without notice, leaving patients with no clear way to fill prescriptions for days at a time." The charges call for the Vermont Board of Pharmacy to revoke, suspend or discipline licenses for Walgreens pharmacies. Seventy complaints were filed by Walgreens employees, Walgreens customers, and employees of other pharmacies. The violations fall under a section of the statute added in 2021 - the unprofessional conduct statute for pharmacies.
March 30, 2022
North Carolina: pharmacists can report working conditions to board
Recent reports have highlighted challenges for pharmacists working at understaffed facilities and facing higher demand for services during the COVID-19 pandemic. The North Carolina Board of Pharmacy has created a complaint form for pharmacists "to report working conditions in their pharmacy that they believe are creating a threat to public health and safety." The Board will then investigate these complaints. The form asks about the number of staff, pharmacist to technician ratio, extra hours required to catch up on tasks, vaccination and COVID testing volume and responsibilities, prescription backlog and number of prescription fulfillments required per hour, and support from pharmacy management.
March 17, 2022
Illinois: revised cannabis dispensary licensure process
New proposed rules by Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation will revise the cannabis dispensary licensure lottery process, allowing for online applications for the 55 conditional licenses. The previous lottery process faced challenges, so the revised process specifies that applicants cannot have more than one lottery entry and principal officers cannot be included on more than one entry.
January 26, 2022
Florida Senate considers bill for condo inspections
A bill under consideration by the Florida Senate would establish stricter requirements for inspections of condominiums, following the June 2021 collapse of Champlain Towers South condo. Under the requirements, buildings above certain height, square footage and age would need to be inspected by a licensed architect or engineer, first as a visual inspection and then, as needed, a structural distress inspection. A task force has raised concern that there are not enough structural engineers to meet increased inspection demand. Another proposal would require the Department of Business and Professional Regulation to create a public database of condo management companies and board members and reports from inspections.
January 12, 2022
NABP releases task force reports
The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy's task force on state oversight on drug importation released a report focused on areas of concern for regulating prescription drug importation: supply chain issues, enforcement responsibility, Section 804 Importation Programs, patient safety, and the Drug Supply Chain Security Act. The task force recommends that NABP develop resources for boards to use in educating legislators when an importation bill is being considered, communicate with Canadian pharmacy regulators about NABP programs that can assist with regulatory oversight, and collaborate with other stakeholders to develop consumer education programs as well as educational tools for healthcare providers and regulators.
The Work Group to Consider Extending Waivers [issued during the pandemic] met and recommended changes to the Model State Pharmacy Act to reflect expanded pharmacist scope of practice to administer testing and vaccines, allowed alternatives to in-person counseling, use of remote Automated Pharmacy Systems, and other provisions during unusual public health circumstances or declared emergency.
December 15, 2021
Maine Pharmacy Board reviews reports of closures
The State Pharmacy Board in Maine has met to discuss ongoing issues of pharmacy closures and changes in hours. Pharmacies must notify the Board if they change their hours from what is posted on their schedules, with the Board able to take action if unexpected changes happen four or more times in a month. The reports to the Board indicated staffing problems as the cause of the closures. The pharmacy chain has responded to the Board that they have expanded recruitment efforts to help meet the increased demand for COVID vaccinations, testing and other pharmacy services.
December 09, 2021
Florida again considers bill for regulating pet sales
A bill being introduced in Florida would put stricter requirements on pet sales, with a goal to address concerns over puppy mills. The bill would require retail per stores to be licensed by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. It would also require that stores be inspected twice per week by a licensed veterinarian.
