I’m Just a Bill: Current Pharmacy Legislation in Michigan

by Benjamin Daunais, 2016 Pharm.D. Candidate, Ferris State University College of Pharmacy

As a student pharmacist, it has become apparent to me how important it is to stay current in the profession. The world of pharmacy rapidly changes and evolves and we must do everything in our power to adapt lest we become obsolete. One of the things that pharmacists should stay current with is legislation in their state. For your convenience, I have provided summaries of some bills that are currently in our legislature that will affect the practice of pharmacy in Michigan.

Summary of Current Bills

       Senate Bill No. 778 – Statewide Protocol for Naloxone. This bill would allow for the Chief Medical Executive of Michigan to issue a statewide standing order, which does not identify a specific patient, for the purpose of dispensing an opioid antagonist. This would allow pharmacists to dispense Naloxone to any individual, without the need for a prescription. This bill also dissolves the pharmacist of any liability for Naloxone that was properly stored and dispensed but was the proximate cause of harm due to the administration or failure to administer Naloxone. This bill was introduced to the Senate on February 10, 2016, and was then referred to the Health Policy Committee where it currently is today. With this issue being a top priority, we expect this bill to gain traction before the end of the legislative session.

       House Bill No. 4812 - Biologic Product Substitution. Interchangeable biologic products are defined in this proposed amendment to the public health code. HB 4812 would allow pharmacists upon the receipt of a prescription for a brand name biologic product to substitute it for an interchangeable biologic product  (if one is available – without the intervention of a physician). Essentially, it would treat interchangeable biologics the same in the Michigan Public Health Code as current substitution practices exist for other drugs. There would also be a requirement for pharmacists to keep an electronic record of interchangeable products dispensed for a period of two years. HB 4812 was introduced in the House on August 8, 2015, was revised by the Health Policy Committee and is currently still in committee.

Senate Bill No. 769 – Requirements for Prescribers to Check MAPS. SB 769 would require prescribers who hold controlled substance licenses to obtain a MAPS report before dispensing controlled substances to a new patient, starting in January 2019. This requirement would not apply, however, if the prescriber was dispensing a controlled substance in the emergency department, hospice or oncology department. SB 769 was introduced in the Senate on February 9, 2016, and was referred to the Health Policy Committee where it currently stands today.

Newly Enacted Legislation

      Senate Bill No. 150 – Medication Synchronization. SB 150 was recently passed and will require health plans that provide prescription drug coverage to provide a program for synchronizing multiple maintenance medications for patients. Patients should benefit from the convenience of only having to stop by the pharmacy once to receive all of their medications. Additionally, this will help to ensure adherence for the patient as he/she will receive all of their long-term medications at once, and it is more likely he/she will be taking their medications if said medications are available to him/her. In order to qualify for the medication synchronization program the following must occur:

• The patient’s pharmacist and physician must agree that medication synchronization is in the best interest for the management of the patient’s chronic long-term conditions.
• Medications have to be covered by the insurance.
• Medications must have refills.
•  Medications must be used to treat chronic conditions.
•  Medications cannot be controlled substances.
• Medications must meet prior authorization requirements at the time of initiation.
• Medications must be in a formulation that may be split to achieve synchronization.
• Insurers or health management organizations will also be required to offer prorated daily cost-sharing rates for medications for the purpose of synchronization

I hope that you found the above summaries informative. There are some exciting possibilities that will come to light if the above bills pass. If you feel strongly about any of the above bills, by all means please contact your legislator to advocate for pharmacists.

Online Resources:

·        To view the bills, visit https://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(pfdmgn0w22dnjutgqfqrsu4h))/mileg.aspx?page=Bills

    

            For more information on advocacy, visit the MPA website at MichiganPharmacists.org/Advocacy/WhoAreMyLegislators

For further questions contact: 

Amanda Lick, M.A., MPA manager of advocacy, governmental and regulatory affairs, at (517) 377-0254 orAmanda@MichiganPharmacists.org 

or

Eric Roath, Pharm.D., MPA director of professional practice, at (517) 377-0224 or Eric@MichiganPharmacists.org