NPLEx Information (Electronic Pseudoephedrine log)

Pharmacies that sell pseudoephedrine-containing products must begin reporting all sales via an electronic reporting system (NPLEx) by January 1, 2013.  Pharmacies are encouraged to begin reporting to the system now to ensure compliance by the turn of the year.

NOTE: the NPLEx program and training should be made available to pharmacies AT NO CHARGE.  If you are experience any charges with accessing the program or training, please let us know at vpha@virginiapharmacists.org.

If you have not yet registered your pharmacy for NPLEx access, please visit: https://nplex.appriss.com/retail/pharmacy/loginRegister.do

Steps to Register:

1.  You will be prompted to enter store information.
1. A verification email will be sent to the email address you provide.
2. Make sure this email address is valid and accessible
2. Click the link provided in the email to continue registering.
3. You will be prompted to create an Account ID and password for the store. Click Continue.
4. You will be prompted to create an Administrative User and a PIN for the store. Click Save. This will complete registration.

EXEMPTION TO REPORTING:
Pursuant to § 18.2-265.8(B) of the Code of Virginia, a pharmacy or retail distributor which lacks broadband access or maintains a sales volume of less than 72 grams of ephedrine or related compounds in a 30-day period may be temporarily exempt from the requirement to report transactions to the electronic system, if an exemption is granted by the Department of State Police, pursuant to § 18.2-265.8(C) and § 19VAC30-220-20 of the Virginia Administrative Code.

To request an exemption from electronic reporting, a pharmacy or retail distributor must complete the entire form, provide any supporting documentation, and submit the form and supporting documents to:

Virginia Department of State Police
VAMPIS
PO Box 27472
North Chesterfield, Virginia 23261-7472

Questions may be directed to the Virginia State Police VAMPIS Coordinator at 804-674-2809.

BOARD OF PHARMACY OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: Working conditions for pharmacists

A public comment period is currently in progress to receive public comments for the Board of Pharmacy to consider addressing hours of continuous work by pharmacists.

"The purpose of the planned regulatory action is to address a petition for rulemaking requesting amendments that will specify a limitation of excessive hours of work without any breaks for pharmacists. Regulation is necessary to prevent, to the extent possible, prescription errors due to fatigue and lack of concentration by pharmacists in the important task of assuring the accuracy and integrity of controlled substances. The action is the result of a petition for rulemaking (notice originally published in the March 30th VPhA E-News) by a pharmacist and was strongly supported in comment on the petition."

Following receipt of all comments, the Regulation Committee of the Board will review regulations from other states and any comments received from the open public comment period. Draft regulations would then be proposed to the full Board.
 
The public comment period is open until October 10th to provide feedback on the potential regulations.

• Details can be found at: http://www.townhall.virginia.gov/L/viewaction.cfm?actionid=3755&display=general
• To submit comments to the Virginia Board of Pharmacy, please visit: http://www.townhall.virginia.gov/L/entercomment.cfm?stageid=6265

Vote & Vax 2012 Offers Flu Vaccinations and Preventive Services on Election Day

Only 34.7 percent of women and 29.3 percent of men in Virginia are up to date with a combination of select clinical preventive services, such as influenza vaccination, colorectal cancer screening and breast and cervical cancer screenings according to the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors. Thanks to a Health Aging grant from the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors, Virginia is taking action this fall to improve delivery of clinical preventive services and offer seasonal flu vaccine through a national initiative titled “Vote & Vax” (www.voteandvax.org). 

Vote & Vax Virginia 2012 builds on a decade of experience by Project Immunize Virginia by offering flu vaccines at polling locations in the following health districts: Central Shenandoah, Cumberland Plateau, Hampton, Peninsula, Prince William, and Richmond City.  This year, pharmacist-staffed clinics located at polling sites will offer insurance billing and collect co-pays or out-of-pocket payment for vaccines. 

In addition to vaccinations, activities such as education and referral for cancer and hypertension screening will be offered at each site by local coalitions.  Led by volunteers from the Medical Reserve Corps, these coalitions include area agencies on aging, nursing students, and other stakeholder groups, such as the Cancer Action Coalition of Virginia, AARP Virginia, and the Baptist General Convention of Virginia.

By lending your time and skills to a local coalition, you can help protect your community from the flu and play a role in the delivery of important preventative health services.  Please contact Joseph Hoyle, Clinical Preventive Services Coordinator, Virginia Department of Health at joseph.hoyle@vdh.virginia.gov for more information.

New Video, Website Help Health Plan Sponsors, Patients and Policymakers Maximize Prescription Drug Benefits, Reduce Wasteful Spending

A new video and website offer health plan sponsors (i.e., employers, unions, government programs, etc.), policymakers and patients resources to get the most out of their prescription drug benefit and to reduce unnecessary spending, the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) announced. At the website www.whorunsmydrugplan.com, visitors can learn about common practices of giant pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), who are hired to administer drug plans and negotiate prices for payers, but drive up health insurance costs and restrict patient choice. There they can also watch "The Third Wheel," a video that takes a humorous look at how prescription middlemen affect consumers' prescription benefit by inserting themselves into the relationship between patients, doctors and pharmacists.

For the complete press release from NCPA, please click here.