A recently enacted New York law aims to ensure that naloxone is available if needed by people who take prescription opioids. Under the law, which took effect last summer, doctors must co-prescribe naloxone to certain patients who are at risk of an overdose when writing the patients’ first opioid prescription each year. Risk factors that would trigger the requirement include taking a high daily dose of an opioid (at least 90 morphine milligram equivalents, or MME); taking certain other drugs, like sedative hypnotics; or having a history of substance use disorder. In every state, including New York, pharmacists are authorized to dispense naloxone, often under “standing orders” that allow dispensing without a prescription. However, the new law aims to remove the lingering stigma of asking for an overdose drug at the pharmacy counter by mandating that doctors prescribe it.

New York Commissioner of Health Dr. Mary T. Bassett announced a standing order for naloxone, which ensures every pharmacy in the state has a steady supply of the life-saving drug. Naloxone is a medication that can be easily administered to block the effects of opioids, allowing a stricken person to regain consciousness and resume normal breathing. The standing order will begin on August 15, authorizing pharmacies to provide naloxone to anyone who requests it, without a patient-specific prescription. Because the standing order applies to all pharmacies in the state, they will not need to apply individually for a standing order to start dispensing naloxone.

Legislators are currently considering a new bill to allow for medication synchronization in New York’s Medicaid program. This bill, A187, would grant New Yorkers coverage for med sync services and provide pharmacists with a better avenue for billing. A187 has passed the Senate and awaits hearings in the State Assembly.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul recently announced the Department of Financial Services’ new Pharmacy Benefits Bureau — the first of its kind in the country. The Pharmacy Benefits Bureau will implement and oversee new licensing and reporting requirements for pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). Previously, PBMs were only partially regulated with requirements relating to network formation. Now, PBMs will face tighter regulations. With the Bureau, Gov. Hochul hopes to lower drug and health insurance costs for New York residents, while providing protection for pharmacies. All PBMs are required to register with the Department of Financial Services by June 1, 2022.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has signed key legislation that is part of the Pharmacy Rescue Package, a group of 3 bills that have received media attention and unrelenting support in recent weeks. Two of the three bills have been signed by the Governor. The 1st bill, S. 3566/A. 5854A, protects patient choice by banning mandatory mail order. The 2nd bill, S.3762/A.1396, will increase regulation and transparency of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) by requiring them to be licensed and registered in the state. The bill also outlines the duties and obligations of these entities and sets up a department to receive complaints of PBM violations, which will bring greater restriction to their actions and much needed oversight to this area of the healthcare system.

Advocates are calling for the governor's approval of a prescription drug access bill that has already passed in both the NY state senate and assembly. This bill aims to give Medicaid patients better access to their prescription drugs by allowing the usage of any pharmacies in the state, not just in-network pharmacies. Especially for patients with conditions such as epilepsy, it can be difficult to drive and get their medications on time with the added restrictions on which pharmacy they can use. This bill also helps ensure independent pharmacies get reimbursed at fair rates.

New legislation signed by New York Governor Kathy Hochul, S.4807-A/A.6476, now expands the scope of immunization for practicing pharmacists in the state. Licensed pharmacists can now administer a wider scope of CDC-recommended vaccinations for patients 18 years and older. These vaccines include those for hepatitis A and B, human papillomavirus (HPV), measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella. This new legislation also makes the authorization to administer COVID-19 vaccines now a permanent part of the law moving forward. This is a great step forward in expanding patient access to a wider variety of vaccinations, and calling on pharmacists to hep do so.

The New York State Pharmacy Rescue Package (Assembly Bill A7598) seeks to refine the prescription drug distribution system in NY. On October 5th, pharmacists, patients and other advocates for the bill gathered outside the State Capital to support the bill's passage and urge Governor Hochul to sign her approval. The Pharmacy Rescue Package has already passed the legislature unanimously, and it seeks to protect small, independent pharmacies from being exploited by pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs).

Two bills, SB 3762 and AB 1396, are currently under consideration in the offices of NewYork legislators and being endorsed by independent pharmacists throughout the state.Both bills call for transparency from PBMs and put measures in place that would ensurepharmacies are properly reimbursed for their services.

SB 4807-A, which recently passed the Senate and Assembly, would grant pharmacists the ability to dispense immunizations to patients 18 years and older, under guidelines from the CDC. HPV immunizations are of particular interest in this bill, as New York is one of only 2 states that does not allow pharmacists to administer it. SB 4807-8 comes in response to the integral role pharmacies have played in COVID-19 vaccines; and now pharmacists have the opportunity to expand their role in vaccinating against other diseases.