Issue #13

This Week's Updates



2022 Convention Registration Is Open; Early Bird Savings End on April 15th!
Registration for NCAP’s 2022 Annual Convention at the Benton Convention Center in Winston-Salem, NC, June 9 - 10, is OPEN! We look forward to seeing as many of your smiling faces as possible. Click here for more information and to register! Our Social Gala is Casino Royale! We have so much fun planned for Thursday evening, June 9th with this event. You don’t want to miss it! Register today! P.S. Early bird registration savings in effect until April 15th!

NCAP Annual Meeting to Hold Its 7th Annual Poster Session! Deadline to Submit, April 8th!
The deadline to submit a poster abstract is fast approaching! Our 7th Annual Poster Session to be held at the 2022 Annual Convention, June 9th - 10th in Winston-Salem, NC at the Benton Convention Center. The actual date for the Scientific Poster Presentations will be June 10th. Click here for details, deadlines and where to submit your abstract

NCAP To Hold Roundtable Discussions at 2022 Convention! Deadline to Submit is April 8th!
NCAP is looking for facilitators for our upcoming Roundtable Session during our Convention, June 9 - 10, at the Benton Convention Center. The roundtable discussions will take place on June10th. Interested in sharing a topic? Click here for details.

Updated Editions of NC MPJE Study Guide and the Online Course Are Ready!
Soon to be 2022 pharmacy school graduates, you’re in the final stretch! Are you ready to sit for the pharmacy law exam for your license? NCAP has two options to help you prepare. The new editions of the NC MPJE Study Guide and NC MPJE Online Course are ready now! Click herefor details and a link to purchase.

FREE CE TONIGHT: NCAP Presents: B.U.P.E: Buprenorphine Understanding in the Pharmacy Environment Thursday, April 7th, 7-8:30 PM
If you missed the March sessions, there’s still time to register for this highly coveted event. NCAP is hosting its fourth session tonight from 7-8:30 PM. Join Trish Mashburn as she covers buprenorphine’s role in treating patients with Opioid Use Disorder, addressing challenges and solutions to common barriers pharmacists face in acquiring buprenorphine. For registration and more details, click here.

Looking for Innovative and Progressive Community Pharmacies To Host 4th Year APPE Student Elective in Opioid Stewardship for the 2023-2024 Academic Year!
Would you like to have a pharmacy student help you develop and implement harm reduction services in your practice? NCAP is seeking community pharmacies to host an APPE experience for 4th year pharmacy students centered around implementing harm reduction clinical services to address opioid or substance use disorders. To express interest and receive more information, click here.

Calling ALL Community Pharmacists for Participation in a Short Survey Regarding Fentanyl Test Strips
This survey is confidential and focuses on pharmacists' awareness of fentanyl test strips. It should take no longer than 10 minutes to complete and will aid in developing future training materials. Participants will also earn the chance to win 1 of 10 $100 Amazon gift cards. To participate, please click the following link: HERE Or copy and paste the URL below into your internet browser:https://unc.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eP1VCUwb97RZUZU

Latest On HRSA Funding / Federal COVID-19 Vaccination Program

Due to the lack of supplemental funding from Congress, HRSA will stop accepting claims for reimbursement of costs associated with administering COVID-19 vaccines to uninsured and underinsured individuals as of 11:59 PM ET on April 5, 2022. On a call with pharmacy stakeholders this week, CDC strongly encouraged providers to stay in the CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Program and CDC expects participating providers will continue to administer these life-saving vaccines at no cost to patients to ensure equitable access for all individuals. Where CDC becomes aware of a provider engaging in any of the following, CDC will consider taking any and all appropriate measures, including the possibility of rescinding the CDC provider agreement:

 

  • Administering COVID-19 Vaccine at any out-of-pocket cost to the recipient

  • Denying anyone vaccination, or differentially reducing appointment access, based on the vaccine recipient’s coverage status or network status

  • Charging an office visit or other fee if COVID-19 vaccination is the sole medical service provided

  • Requiring additional medical services to receive COVID-19 vaccination

  • Seeking any reimbursement, including through balance billing, from the vaccine recipient

 

For further information please see CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Program Provider Requirements and Support.

Meanwhile, national and state pharmacy associations are continuing to push for additional funding, particularly since pharmacists/pharmacies are administering a majority of COVID-19 vaccines and we are facing a wave of 2nd boosters for older and immunocompromised individuals.

FDA Suspends Use of Sotrovimab for COVID
Earlier this week, the FDA amended the EUA for the monoclonal antibody, sotrovimab, stating it is no longer authorized to treat COVID-19 due to ineffectiveness against the Omicron BA.2 sub-variant, which now represents >50% of COVID-19 infections in the United States.

FDA VRBPAC Begins Important Scope of Work
There are many unknowns regarding the SARS-CoV-2 immunology and the ongoing pandemic’s path, giving rise to a number of scientific and policy questions, including considerations for optimal use and further development of COVID-19 vaccines. Yesterday, the FDA Vaccine Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) met to begin their work to address considerations related to vaccine booster doses and the process for COVID-19 vaccine strain selection for current and emerging variants.
Healthcare IT Today Features Segment Pharmacy Technology Needs
Our members may find this Healthcare IT Today interview with Tara Pfund, PharmD, and Product Manager for AssureCare to be spot on with regards to both the technology challenges and tech needs for our rapidly developing profession.