IN THIS ISSUE
AUGUST 26, 2022

  • COVID-19 Updates
  • Upcoming Events
  • IPA Announces Name Change
  • Clinical Pharmacists Impacting Patient Outcomes with MedWise
  • Monkeypox Updates
  • Indiana Regulatory Update
  • Federal Regulatory Update
COVID-19 UPDATES
Novavax Files for Authorization for Use of COVID-19 Vaccine as Booster
On August 15, Novavax filed an application with the FDA for approval of its vaccine as a booster shot.

Read story here.
HHS Plans to Extend COVID-19 Emergency Declaration in October
HHS is required to issue a notice 60 days in advance of terminating the COVID-19 emergency declaration. The latest timeline has passed signaling that HHS intends to extend the deadline again once it expires in October.

Read full story here.
CDC Issues New COVID-19 Guidance
On August 11, the CDC issued update guidance on COVID-19 public safety protocols. These included updated recommendations on quarantine, testing and screening.

The updated list of new recommendations can be found here.
Upcoming Events
All times ET

Are you an independent pharmacist interested in learning about collaborative practice agreements?

Join IAIP for their Town Hall on August 28 at 6:30 p.m. where they will have a presentation and discussion on this topic.

Register here.
IPA Fall Meeting
Empowering Pharmacy Forward
CPE awarded

Registration ends
September 9th
______________
September 23, 2022
Embassy Theatre
Ft. Wayne, IN

IPA Residency Showcase

Programs & Students
______________
October 21, 2022
Ritz Charles, Carmel, IN
1-4 p.m.
IPA Announces Name Change
You may have noticed in our communications, on social media or on our website that IPA's name is no longer the Indiana Pharmacists Association. The IPA Board of Directors voted to officially change the name to the Indiana Pharmacy Association.

IPA has had different names over its 140 plus year history, including the Indiana Pharmaceutical Association and the Indiana Pharmacists Alliance. Just as the profession of pharmacy has evolved over 140 years, IPA continues to evolve too.

Indiana Pharmacy Association was chosen to reflect that the practice of pharmacy, and the association, includes not just pharmacists and students pharmacists, but also pharmacy technicians.

Immediate Past President Dawn Moore, who championed the name change had this to say: “The name change to Indiana Pharmacy Association represents the inclusion of one of our closest partners in patient care, pharmacy technicians. We want IPA to be the pronounced home for pharmacy technician practice in the State of Indiana. Having the Association’s name changed is just one way of many that reflects their value and how we view and appreciate our pharmacy technicians.”

IPA has made it a strategic priority to provide increased value specific to pharmacy technicians and is currently forming a technician council to accomplish this goal. Look for more updates on this in the coming year.
Clinical Pharmacists Impacting Patient Outcomes with MedWise
Healthcare costs are rising in the U.S. According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), National Health Expenditure increased 4.6% in 2019, reaching $3.8 trillion, with Medicare spending climbing 6.7% to $799.4 billion.

Meanwhile, U.S. Census Bureau estimates show a growing 65-and-older age group, which increased 34.2% between 2010 and 2019. Among this group, the Lown Institute reports that 42% take at least five prescription medications.

Rising healthcare costs and a growing elderly population could have significant
implications when it comes to adverse drug events (ADEs). ADEs occur when an
individual is harmed by medication, even when that medication is used appropriately.
They are responsible for around 1.3 million emergency department visits a year, and
roughly 350,000 individuals require hospitalization for additional treatment.

Continue reading full article from TRHC, an IPA industry partner.
Monkeypox Updates
On August 4, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra declared the monkeypox outbreak a public health emergency.

As of July 29, the Indiana Department of Health reported 45 cases in Indiana and receipt of over 3,000 doses of the Jynneos vaccine.

The AMA has announced new CPT codes related to monkeypox testing and vaccines.

To learn more about monkeypox, visit www.monkeypox.health.in.gov or the CDC’s monkeypox website. The CDC updates case counts Monday through Friday here.
Indiana Regulatory Update
IHCP Announces Coverage for COVID-19 Vaccine for Children as Young as Six Months
Read full bulletin here.

IHCP Announces Billing Guidance for Paxlovid Pharmacy Claims
Read full bulletin here.
Federal Regulatory Update
DEA Provides Further Clarity Regarding C2 Prescription Adaptations
From DEA Deputy Assistant Administrator:
“In the past few months, DEA has received an increasing number of questions concerning pharmacists’ ability to add or modify information—like a patient’s address—on paper prescriptions. To address these questions, DEA has been reviewing the relevant regulations and working to draft new regulations to address this issue. As an interim measure, pharmacists are permitted to adhere to state regulations or policy regarding those changes that a pharmacist may make to a schedule II prescription after oral consultation with the prescriber." 

FDA Announces New Guidance on Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations
In July, the FDA released a Draft Guidance for Industry: Evaluation of Therapeutic Equivalence. The guidance explains FDA's therapeutic equivalence evaluations and assignment of therapeutic equivalent codes.

The US Food and Drug Administration on August 12 approved a supplemental new drug application for Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil) for the treatment of influenza in children aged 5 to 12 years. The drug, which is manufactured by Genentech, has been used to treat and prevent flu in older populations since 2018. It's the first of its kind to treat pediatric patients.
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