Best practices for pharmacy security guidelines have been developed by the New Jersey State Board of Pharmacy and the state’s Attorney General to assist pharmacies in preventing drug theft and diversion. 

Legislation requiring pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) in North Dakota to notify pharmacies about how reimbursements for most prescription drugs are calculated was signed into law by Governor Jack Dalrymple.

United States Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) has a developed a new logo representing the organization’s updated mission statement. 

NABP extends its thanks to the 968 attendees who came by its booth at the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) Annual Meeting and Exposition, March 1-4, 2013, in Los Angeles, CA. 

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) has joined the governance body of the Center for Pharmacy Practice Accreditation (CPPA). 

The Massachusetts Board of Registration in Pharmacy has approved emergency regulations to enhance oversight of compounding pharmacies. The emergency regulations (PDF) will allow the state to track volume and distribution at compounding pharmacies in order to determine if a pharmacy...

FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that samples of two additional recalled New England Compounding Center (NECC) products, preservative-free injectable betamethasone and cardioplegia solution, have tested positive for bacteria. Previously, the fungus Exserohilum rostratum was identified...

FDA announced that Ameridose, LLC, voluntarily recalled all of its unexpired drug products on October 31, 2012. Ameridose, based in Westborough, MA, initiated the recall in response to findings from an FDA inspection that raised concerns about lack of sterility...

As the investigation continues into the multistate outbreak of meningitis due to contaminated methylprednisolone injections compounded by the New England Compounding Center (NECC), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that at least 363 individuals have been affected. Further,...

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have confirmed that the contaminated intrathecal methylprednisolone injections compounded by the New England Compounding Center (NECC) are linked to the multistate outbreak of fungal meningitis and joint...

At least 231 cases of fungal meningitis, including 15 deaths, have been reported to be caused by intrathecal methylprednisolone injections compounded by the New England Compounding Center (NECC). Of the 231 cases reported as of October 16, 2012, a total...

Removing pharmacies’ ability to re-sell drug products to wholesalers would help to prevent medications from being leaked into the gray market, as highlighted in a recent Drug Topics article. NABP Executive Director/Secretary Carmen A. Catizone, MS, RPh, DPh, explained that...

The Center for Pharmacy Practice Accreditation (CPPA) seeks review and comment on the newly released draft standards for community pharmacy practice accreditation. The draft standards will serve as the basis for community pharmacy practice accreditation. They are designed to facilitate...

A new toolset released by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) can assist independent pharmacies with the implementation of e-prescribing and may also provide useful guidance to those pharmacies already using e-prescribing. The toolset for independent pharmacies consists...

Use of e-prescribing rose in 2011, with 570 million prescriptions routed electronically in 2011 compared with 326 million in 2010, a 75% increase according to the latest National Progress Report on E-Prescribing and Interoperable Healthcare, published by Surescripts, operator of...

Aimed to increase patient safety, a new law in New York State will require many pharmacies to provide patient counseling and drug information in a language spoken by the patient, if the patient has limited proficiency in English. The law...

Effective March 1, 2012, a North Carolina law requires recipients of certain CS prescription medications to present an acceptable government-issued photo identification to pharmacy staff prior to receiving the dispensed medication. The law applies to all Schedule II CS and...

The Center for Pharmacy Practice Accreditation (CPPA), a partnership between NABP and the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), has been established to develop and implement comprehensive programs of pharmacy practice site accreditation. CPPA is responsible for developing, maintaining, and ensuring proper...

In response to the shortage of cancer drug Doxil® (doxorubicin hydrochloride liposome injection) and rapidly declining supplies of methotrexate, FDA has taken steps that will increase the available supply of these lifesaving medications to United States patients. For Doxil, there...

A Washington State regulation requiring pharmacists to dispense emergency contraceptives was declared to be unconstitutional by US district court Judge Ronald B. Leighton because it violates pharmacists’ right to conscientious objection. The ruling is part of Leighton’s decision in a...

Published in the November 2009 Alabama State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter 680-X-2-.14 The Role of Technicians in Pharmacies in Alabama (3) It is ruled by the Board of Pharmacy that three (3) technicians, one of which shall be certified through...

Published in the July 2009 South Dakota State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter As of June 1, 2009, there were 227 pharmacies in South Dakota operating with full-time permits. Counties with the most full-time pharmacies are Minnehaha (53) and Pennington (25)....

Published in the January 2009 Washington State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter Last year the Board announced its intent to develop rules addressing standards for the practice of pharmacy in correctional facilities. The Correctional Committee of the Washington Association of Sheriffs...

Reprinted from the July 2008 North Carolina Board of Pharmacy Newsletter. Board staff reminds pharmacist managers that the Pharmacy Practice Act states that the permissible ratio of pharmacists to technicians is 1:2. NCGS §90-85.15A(c). That ratio may be increased if...

Reprinted from the July 2008 New Jersey Board of Pharmacy Newsletter. The application for the registration of out-of-state pharmacies has been posted on the Board of Pharmacy Web site at www.state.nj.us/oag/ca/medical/pharmacy.htm. NJAC 13:39-4.19(a), adopted November 19, 2007, states, “Any pharmacy...

Published in the July 2008 South Dakota State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter As of May 15 there were 229 pharmacies in South Dakota operating with full-time permits. Counties with the most full-time pharmacies are Minnehaha (57) and Pennington (23). Currently...

Published in the January 2008 Washington State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter On July 5, 2007, the board of pharmacy filed a Preproposal Statement of Inquiry announcing its intent to develop rules on standards for pharmacies in correctional facilities. With stakeholder...

Published in the October 2007 Washington State Board of Pharmacy The Board is considering rules to set minimum standards for pharmacies located in correctional facilities. The evaluation and standards for retail pharmacy settings are not always appropriate for the unique...

Published in the September 2007 Vermont Board of Pharmacy Newsletter The Board is very concerned that pharmacies are not adhering to posted “open” hours and closing down without notice due to staffing shortages. This is a matter of public...

Published in the July 2007 Washington State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter The Washington State Board of Pharmacy adopted a new rule in April and amended another rule on pharmacies’ responsibilities. We anticipate that these rules will be in effect mid...

Reprinted from the January 2007 Montana Board of Pharmacy Newsletter. By Bill Sybrant We receive numerous questions at the Montana Board of Pharmacy regarding the conspicuous display of license or registration in the place of business. A review of statute...

Published in the October 2006 Oklahoma State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter OAC 535:25-3-7 requires that the new owner of a pharmacy obtain a new pharmacy license if a pharmacy changes ownership. A change of ownership occurs when: the original owner(s)...

Reprinted from the July 2006 North Carolina Board of Pharmacy Newsletter. An amendment to Rule .2502 permitting “temporary” pharmacist managers took effect on April 1, 2006. This amendment was strongly supported by community pharmacists, who are constantly dealing with the...

Published in the January 2006 South Dakota State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter Pharmacist owners have been given authority by regulations to be temporarily absent from their pharmacy without closing the entire store (ARSD 20:51:06:10). Temporary absence is a short absence...