In This Issue:

MPA CEO Perspective

MPA News

• Michigan Pharmacist Journal Published
• MSHP Social at High Caliber Set for Sept. 28
• MPF Call for Board of Trustees Nominations
• MPA SWAG Shop Opens!
• Be a Presenter at the 2024 Annual Convention & Exposition
• Registration Open for MSHP Annual Meeting Oct. 27
• Save the Date: UP Division Fall Conference Oct. 7-8
• MPA Now Accepting Award Nominations
• Sign Up Now for 3rd Annual OASIS
• "Free Naloxone" Handouts for Patients

National Association News

• NCPA Asks Pharmacists to Invite Legislators to Pharmacies in PBM Reform Push
• National Immunization Awareness Month

CE Events

• Upcoming CE Opportunities
• Try MPA's Home Studies

Legislative and Regulatory News

• APhA Applauds Introduction of Senate Legislation to Ensure Senior Access to Prompt Pharmacist Care and Services
• MMWR Guidance Use of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccines in Older Adults
• FDA, DEA Address Prescription Stimulant Shortage
• DEA Amends Regulations for Transfer of E-Prescriptions for Controlled Substances
• USP Compendium Revisions Take Effect Nov. 1
• FDA Approves Second OTC Naloxone Spray Product

COVID-19 Updates

• Moderna Expiration Update
• COVID-19 Commercialization Update

One of the requests I hear the most often from members in my travels around Michigan is: When will you offer an online store with MPA logo apparel and merchandise? Well, ask no more!

With the help of MPA Director of Marketing and Communications Bryan Freeman, we’re excited to share the opening of the MPA online SWAG Shop. You can show your support of MPA and the profession of pharmacy with a purchase from a wide selection of t-shirts, polos, sweatshirts, mugs and more. We’ll be making additional items available every day as the shop grows with your favorite items. Don’t see something you’re looking for? Let us know and we’ll add it to our selection.

Our grand opening promotion is 20% off all items in the store. This special offer ends Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023.

Can’t wait to see you with me in a future Where’s Mark? social post with matching MPA shirts!

Michigan Pharmacist Published

The July/August/September edition of the Michigan Pharmacist is now available online! Click the image to the right to read about the following topics:

• 2023 Economic Survey: MPA releases its results from the Economic Survey.
• President's Platform: MPA President Hope Broxterman details how pharmacists can bridge gaps in health care.
• From the Foundation: The Michigan Pharmacy Foundation Golf Classic was a rousing success, helping raise funds for MPF.
• Advocacy Update: SB 219 is signed into law by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer; plus updates on continuing education rules.
• MSHP Focus: A message from MSHP President Michelle Dehoorne, plus a look at how pharmacists are taking a leading role in a multidisciplinary interstitial lung disease program at Henry Ford Hospital.
• MHU Feature: Wayne State University gives an overview of its Mobile Health Unit program aimed at combatting chronic hypertension.
• Free CE Home Study: "Feel the Burn – What is Burnout and How to Combat it; an Update on Burnout for Pharmacy Personnel."

NOTE: The Michigan Pharmacist is available to members in a digital format. MPA has printed copies available, but supplies are limited. Contact MPA@MichiganPharmacists.org to request a printed copy.

MSHP Social at High Caliber Set for Sept. 28

The Michigan Society of Health-System Pharmacists (MSHP) Organizational Affairs Committee will be hosting a social event for pharmacists, technicians and their families at High Caliber Karting and Entertainment. The event will take place in the banquet room of the facility, 1982 W. Grand River Ave., Okemos, MI 48864, from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28.

Attendees will be treated to pizza and unlimited throw bowling for the duration of the event, courtesy of MSHP. For more information about entertainment options available at High Caliber, please visit their website. 

If you are interested in attending, please RSVP to Eric Roath no later than Sept. 22, or fill out this form.

MPF Call for Board of Trustees Nominations

The Michigan Pharmacy Foundation (MPF) is accepting applications for trustee candidates through Aug. 15, 2023.

Nominate yourself or a colleague to serve on this prestigious board to help guide the future of MPF. Multiple positions are opening on the MPF Board of Trustees for three-year terms.

The MPF Board of Trustees serves a critical role in leading the Foundation to achieve its mission "To Foster the Future of Pharmacy." 

If you are interested and would like to learn more about this leadership opportunity, contact MPF Executive Director Rick Drabek.

• Learn more about MPF by clicking here.
• Learn more about the role and responsibilities of an MPF Board Trustee by clicking here. 

View the online nomination form and board responsibilities by clicking below.

MPA SWAG Shop Opens!

The Michigan Pharmacists Association (MPA) is excited to share the opening of its online SWAG shop. Be sure to show your support for the profession of pharmacy every day! You have many options to choose from including T-shirts, polos, sweatshirts, mugs and more.

More items will be made available as the shop grows and MPA will communicate special offers periodically.

The grand opening promotion is 20% off all items in the store. The offer ends Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023.

Be a Presenter at the 2024 MPA Annual Convention & Exposition

The Michigan Pharmacists Association (MPA) is currently accepting Session Proposal Submissions for the 2024 Annual Convention & Exposition (ACE). Submissions are due by Aug. 18.

Taking place Feb. 23-25, 2024, at the Renaissance Center in Detroit, MPA’s ACE is the premier educational experience for pharmacists, residents, pharmacy technicians, students and pharmaceutical partners throughout Michigan.

Below is an abbreviated list of initial topics MPA membership has noted are areas of interest for session proposals.

• Changing landscape of type 2 diabetes
• Value-based health care models vs. fee-for-service
• Dementia/Alzheimer’s disease
• ADHD
• Disease state management
• Heart failure 
• Site of care for health systems
• Balance between inpatient and outpatient
• Medication specific courses
• Manufacturing and marketing practices
• Drug diversion detection
• PBMs and DIR fees for independent pharmacies
• Current drug shortages
• Biologics
• Consequences of the opioid crisis
• Medical marijuana  

Should you have any questions or additional needs, please contact MPA Director of Education and Events Lisa N. Powers, CAE, CTA, at LPowers@MichiganPharmacists.org.

MPA looks forward to receiving your submission soon!

MSHP Annual Meeting Registration Is Open!

Registration is now open for the Michigan Society of Health-System Pharmacists (MSHP) Annual Meeting, which will be held Friday, Oct. 27, at the Crowne Plaza Lansing West, 925 S. Creyts Road in Lansing.

Held each fall, the MSHP Annual Meeting offers up to six hours of live continuing education credit. Programming is geared toward health-system pharmacists, residents, pharmacy technicians and student pharmacists. The MSHP Annual Meeting focuses on clinical, leadership management and residency topics as well as other general areas of pharmacy practice.

In addition to continuing education programs, the event offers the annual MSHP Town Hall Meeting to install new MSHP Board of Directors members into office officially, recognize volunteers and award recipients, a clinical skills competition for students and an exhibit hall to provide attendees with a chance to exchange ideas and learn about new products and services.

MPA Now Accepting Award Nominations

Nominate one of your colleagues for a prestigious award to recognize their professional accomplishments!

Choose from a variety of awards, including eight Michigan Pharmacists Association (MPA) awards, four Michigan Society of Health-System Pharmacists (MSHP) awards, two Michigan Society of Pharmacy Technicians (MSPT) awards, three Michigan Pharmacy PAC awards, three local association awards, the Michigan Society of Community Pharmacists (MSCP) Pharmacist of the Year Award or the Consultant and Specialty Pharmacists of Michigan (CSPM) Pharmacist of the Year Award.

MSHP nominations are due Sept. 1. 

All other award nominations are due Oct. 1. Learn more and submit your award nominations by clicking below.

"Free Naloxone" Handouts for Patients

The Northern Michigan Opioid Response Consortium (NMORC) has a handout available for pharmacy professionals with resources for patients to receive free naloxone to help combat the impacts of the opioid epidemic. NMORC is an 18-county substance use disorder (SUD) collaborative in northern Michigan that has been working with pharmacies to share this resource with patients who can't afford a Narcan prescription. Narcan Nasal Spray is a prescription naloxone medication used to treat a known or suspected opioid overdose emergency.

The handout instructs the patient how to access free Narcan through the mail. The typical patient needing such resources might be one without insurance or one with Medicare, which can require $30-$50 co-pays for Narcan. The small resource card lists websites that will send free Narcan directly to the patient. Multiple pharmacies in the NMORC region are using the cards, but NMORC is providing them for use by pharmacies throughout the state.

Three handouts are printed per page, so they can be cut to a size that makes it easy to place in a patient's prescription bag. The handouts are not copyrighted and can be modified to incorporate other logos or information. Download the handout below.

For questions, please email Dr. David McGreaham, medical director of NMORC.

NCPA Asks Pharmacists to Invite Legislators

to Pharmacies in PBM Reform Push

With Congress' August recess a few weeks away, the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) is asking community and long-term care pharmacists to participate in a "Month of Action" by inviting legislators to visit their pharmacies. 

"We need to keep the pressure on Congress to finish the job and put meaningful PBM reform legislation on the president's desk," the NCPA said. "A visit to a pharmacy in their district helps legislators better understand the issues and the importance of community pharmacies in their local communities."  

NCPA members have testified during committee hearings and key committees are focused on addressing PBM behaviors. Let NCPA know of your interest in hosting a pharmacy visit by completing the interest form below or by emailing Michael Rule.

National Immunization Awareness Month

August is National Immunization Awareness Month and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is urging people to get annual flu shots. Flu viruses are constantly evolving and the viruses that circulate and cause disease in people often change from one year to another.

"The flu vaccine you get at your doctor’s office or pharmacy is the year-round work of highly skilled microbiologists, epidemiologists, physicians and other public health experts," the FDA said. "As we head into the fall, talk to your friends, family and community about getting theirs."

Click the button below to learn more.

Pharmacy Technician Immunization Administration

– Self Study

Aug. 12

3rd Annual Outpatient Antimicrobial Stewardship Innovations Symposium

Noon-4:30 p.m. Aug. 17

MPA Implicit Bias

Home Study

(2 Hours)

Implicit Bias 2.0:

Education, Practice and Teams

10 a.m.-noon Aug. 25

Implicit Bias 2.0:

Education, Practice and Teams

4-6 p.m. Oct. 24

APhA Pharmacy-Based

Immunization Training

9-11 a.m. Dec. 6

Implicit Bias 2.0:

Education, Practice and Teams

4-6 p.m. Dec. 11

Looking for Something Else? Try MPA's Home Studies.

In addition to the above programs, MPA offers home study pharmacy CE that can be accessed 24/7/365 on our website. Click the button below to view our catalog of programs.

APhA Applauds Introduction of Senate Legislation to Ensure Senior Access to Prompt Pharmacist Care and Services

The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) is praising the introduction of S. 2477, the Equitable Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act (ECAPS), by U.S. Sens. Mark Warner, D-Va., and John Thune, R-S.D.

The bipartisan legislation aims to ensure that Medicare beneficiaries can continue to receive prompt care and services from pharmacists to prevent, diagnose and treat common infectious diseases by establishing Medicare Part B direct reimbursement for essential pharmacist services for COVID-19, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus and strep throat.

The measure is a companion to H.R. 1770, introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives in March by Reps. Adrian Smith, R-Neb., Brad Schneider, D-Ill., Larry Bucshon, R-Ind., Doris Matsui, D-Calif., and pharmacists Buddy Carter, R-Ga., and Diana Harshbarger, R-Tenn. 

MMWR Guidance Use of Respiratory Syncytial Virus

Vaccines in Older Adults

In May 2023, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first two vaccines to prevent respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) lower respiratory tract disease for adults ages 60 years and older. On June 21, 2023, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended that persons ages 60 years and older may receive a single dose of RSV vaccine, using shared clinical decision-making. 

On June 29, 2023, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky endorsed the ACIP recommendations.

On July 21, 2023, the CDC published a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) with recommendations for the new adult RSV vaccines Arexvy (GSK) and Abrysvo (Pfizer) titled: Use of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccines in Older Adults: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices — United States, 2023

FDA, DEA Address Prescription Stimulant Shortage

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) have issued a letter to the public outlining steps the organizations are taking to mitigate the ongoing shortage of certain prescription stimulants. The shortage began last fall after one drug company experienced a manufacturing delay. While that delay has been resolved, the effects are still being felt.

In their letter, FDA Commissioner Robert Califf and DEA Administrator Anne Milgram call on drug manufacturers to increase production of prescription stimulants and urge those who do not wish to increase production to relinquish their remaining quota allotment for the year, so it can be redistributed. Drug companies — which are limited in how much of a controlled substance they can produce each year — only sold about 70% of their allotted quota last year and could have produced about 1 billion more doses, according to DEA, which notes data for 2023 seems to be following a similar trend.

The FDA also encourages professional groups and health care providers "to accelerate efforts to support appropriate diagnosis and treatment of ADHD, such as further development of additional clinical guidelines for ADHD in adults," the letter says.

DEA Amends Regulations for Transfer of E-Prescriptions

for Controlled Substances

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced a final rule July 27, 2023, that amends DEA regulations to allow the transfer of electronic prescriptions for controlled substances schedules 2 through 5 between registered retail pharmacies for initial filling, upon request from the patient, on a one-time basis. This rule is effective Aug. 28, 2023.

The final rule requires that the transfer must be communicated directly between two licensed pharmacists, the prescription must remain in its electronic form, and the prescription information required by 21 CFR part 1306 must not be altered during the transmission. The final rule also stipulates that transferring electronic prescriptions for controlled substances (EPCS) for initial filling is permissible only if allowable under existing State or other applicable laws. The final rule also stipulates that transferring electronic prescriptions for controlled substances (EPCS) for initial filling is permissible only if allowable under existing State or other applicable laws.

In addition, the final rule describes the recordkeeping requirements for pharmacies transferring EPCS for initial filling, as well as pharmacies receiving and filling such prescriptions. The final rule only addresses the transfer of EPCS for initial filling and does not address the transfer of EPCS for refill dispensing, outlined in 21 CFR 1306.25.

The final rule does not change the existing requirements for all prescriptions, as outlined in 21 CFR part 1306, nor the requirements for electronic prescription and pharmacy applications, as outlined in 21 CFR part 1311.

USP Compendium Revisions Take Effect Nov. 1

The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) is encouraging the early implementation of the revised standards in chapters 795 and 797 of the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) official compendium that will become official on Nov. 1, 2023.

The pharmacopeial standards for drug substances, dosage forms and compounded preparations, as published in the official USP compendium develop standards for compounding nonsterile and sterile medications to reduce patient risks from contamination, infection, or incorrect dosing. Compounded medications without these standards would expose patients to significant risks and death. 

FDA Approves Second OTC Naloxone Spray Product

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a second opioid overdose reversal agent for over-the-counter, nonprescription use.

ReVive, a 3-milligram naloxone hydrochloric nasal spray from Harm Reduction Therapeutics Inc., was given the green light by the FDA on July 28. The new spray will be available in early 2024 primarily to state governments and harm reduction organizations nationwide at “costs lower than other opioid antagonist nasal sprays,” according to the company. At least 200,000 doses will be made available at no cost.

In March, the FDA approved Narcan, a 4-milligram naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray for over-the-counter use. (Read more – paid subscription required)

Moderna Expiration Update

A shelf life extension request has been made for all Moderna under-6 vaccine lots.

"You may receive doses of this product with less than 3 days to expiration," The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services advised. "Please do not discard any inventory of this product in anticipation of a potential shelf-life extension."

Questions can be emailed to checcimms@michigan.gov.

COVID-19 Commercialization Transition Update

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has provided an update on the transition to commercialized COVID-19 vaccines and upcoming ordering process changes.

Click the button below to read the full update.