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.