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ISSUES

Collaborative Practice

Collaborative Practice

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Over the last two General Assembly sessions NCAP has introduced legislation designed to modernize statutes governing Collaborative Practice between Physicians and Pharmacists.  We have had legislation introduced during the current session, as well.  House Bill 862 "Improving Access to Patient Care" is our collaborative practice legislation. North Carolina was one of the first states in the nation to enact collaborative practice authority (CPA) for pharmacists. However, our state’s CPA now ranks as one of the most restrictive, imposing extensive and outdated limits on these practice relationships. The proposed changes are in alignment with Collaborative Practice Model Language put forth by the National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations.Each of the proposed changes are designed to provide greater flexibility and to more easily facilitate collaborative care with physicians and pharmacists in all practice settings.

Pharmacy Benefits Manager

Pharmacy Benefits Manager

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Pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) is a third-party administrator of prescription drug programs for commercial health plans, self-insured employer plans, Medicare Part D plans, the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program and state government employee plans. PBM’s often act in ways that have a direct negative impact on pharmacies and patients.  Their activities have contributed to the large decline in the number of  independent pharmacies all across the United States. 

 

Addressing unfair PBM business practices in NC is a TOP PRIORITY for NCAP during the 2021 legislative session.  We will introduce legislation calling for PBMs to be licensed to operate within our state, so that the Department of Insurance and the State Insurance Commissioner can create rules resulting in greater accountability and transparency designed to strengthen existing and provide new consumer and pharmacy protections. 

Pay Parity

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Pay parity ideally means, in accordance with a pharmacist's scope of practice, the pharmacist shall receive equal payment for the provision of the same patient care services, as compared to other paid healthcare professionals. Such services include comprehensive medication management, administering & interpreting CLIA-waived tests, and acute or chronic disease management.  Pay Parity is an NCAP legislative priority for the 2021 legislative session. HB896 "Fair and Equitable Reimbursement/Pharmacists" was introduced on May 5, 2021, and is being sponsored by Rep. Mitch Setzer, and co-sponsored by Representatives Brisson, Cleveland, Humphrey, McNeely, Moffit, Moss and Warren.  In NC, statutes already designate pharmacists as "healthcare providers".  Pharmacists should be paid the same as other healthcare providers when they provide the same patient care services.  H896 is an important companion to other scope-related legislation being run during this session.

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Medication Administration

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Pharmacist Authority to Administer Medications

 

The current COVID-19 crisis has further demonstrated the importance of utilizing all available resources in the effort to provide timely health care to all our citizens. Even before the advent of our current crisis, chronic diseases, increasing health care costs, and primary care and nursing shortages, as well as the shift to value-based, patient-centric care were all pointing to the need to expand the pool of healthcare professionals and to have those professionals practicing to the height of their licenses. 

 

The Centers for Disease Control, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Patient-Centered Primary Care Collaborative, the American Medical Society and many other organizations have recommended greater utilization of pharmacists in patient care and for removing unwarranted barriers or restrictions.

 

Yet, North Carolina is only one of 3 states that has no statutes providing medication administration authority.  NCAP is working to address this during the 2021 session.  House Bill 96 "Allow Pharmacists to Administer Injectable Drugs" was introduced this session by Rep. Wayne Sasser.

Public Health

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North Carolina ranks in the bottom one-half to one-third of the nation on many measures of public health and welfare. Pharmacists can play an important role in improving access to care and patient outcomes. Unfortunately, North Carolina cannot count itself among the states that have authorized their pharmacists to help address public health needs beyond a limited provision of immunizations. NCAP was successful in having S575 "Pharmacists Improve Public Health Needs" introduced.  It is sponsored by Senators Burgin, Krawiec and Perry, and co-sponsored by Senators Britt, Jarvis and Sawyer.   This bill is designed to address the challenges to public health by allowing pharmacists to have limited prescriptive authority for medications pursuant to statewide protocols designed to address a number of public health needs in our state.

ABOUT US

Purpose & Objectives


The North Carolina Association of Pharmacists is the state organization representing the profession of pharmacy, organized to unite, serve and advance the profession of pharmacy for the benefit of society. The organization was formed January 1, 2000 as a unification of the North Carolina Pharmaceutical Association (NCPhA), North Carolina Society of Health-System Pharmacists (NCSHP), North Carolina Chapter of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (NCASCP), and North Carolina Retail Pharmacy Association (NCRPA).

Mission Statement


NCAP exists to unite, serve and advance the profession of pharmacy for the benefit of society.

Vision Statement


NCAP will be recognized as the essential organization representing pharmacy in North Carolina, fostering the advancement of pharmacy practice to improve the health of the people we serve.
Strategies to Accomplish Our Vision.

 

CONTACT US

1101 Slater Rd, Durham, NC 27703

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COVID-19

COVID-19

Covid 19

The NC Department of Health and Human Services, and the NC General Assembly have worked to meet needs generated by the COVID-19 pandemic.  Your NCAP was part of that process, actively participating in discussions, planning and putting forth proposals that would allow pharmacists to help address the crisis.

NCAP was and remains focused on ensuring that pharmacists play key roles in testing, treatment and vaccination.  The result of this work was the passage of H196 "COVID-19 Response and Relief".  The bill expanded the role of pharmacists in managing the crisis, and granted authority for qualified pharmacists to administer long-acting injectable medications. 

Pay Parity
Medication Administration
Public Health
About Us
Contact Us
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