President`s Message
Transcription
President`s Message
“In Unity There is Strength” President Andrew Stein Birds Hill Pharmacy, Needham (781) 449-0550 1st Vice-President Oleg Urim Flag Pharmacy, Lynn (781) 599-5900 2nd Vice-President Delilah Barnes Sullivan’s Pharmacy, Roslindale (617) 323-6544 Legal Counsel Paul Garbarini PO Box 1551 Northampton, MA 01061 (413) 727-8191 www.paulgarbarinilaw.com Chairman of the Board Derrick Anderson J.E. Pierce Apothecary, Brookline Executive Director Todd Brown, Stoughton Treasurer Mark Yorra, Brookline Trustees of the Permanent Fund Saad Dinno, Acton Tim Fensky, Roslindale Newton Trevens, Brighton Board of Directors Delilah Barnes, Mansfield Richard Brisson, New Bedford Raied Dinno, Newton Phillip Falzarano , N. Dartmouth Thomas Libby, Quincy Kelly Nippins, Quincy Lisa Rogers, Waltham Legislative Chairman Tom Cory Standard Pharmacy, Fall River Massachusetts Independent Pharmacists Association 20 Paul David Way Stoughton, MA 02072 Phone (781) 297-0965 Fax (866) 475-6284 Volume XXXII, Issue 9 October 2013 President’s Message Dear Colleagues, Thank you to all who participated in last month’s meeting. It was nice to see a few new faces there. One of the items discussed was the issue of pharmacy safety. It appears that there is a resurgence of pharmacy robberies. In light of this, MIPA will be looking to host Rx Patrol and a DEA representative at our November meeting. Rx Patrol was established by Purdue Pharma and their goal is to collect and analyze information about robberies and distribute this information to law enforcement across the country. They have a presentation which will focus on different policies and protocols we can implement to better protect our staff and patients. October is a big month for open enrollment with insurance companies. For those of us engaged in compounding, now is a good time to inform our Harvard Pilgrim patients that they can have easier coverage of their medication by switching plans. It is surprising how many patients don’t realize they have a choice when it comes to changing insurers. The rumor has it that Harvard Pilgrim, while being rated the top insurer, is struggling. Losing plan sponsors and clients would show other insurers that their policy towards compounded medication is callous and not effective. Continue to encourage patients to voice displeasure through Facebook and Twitter. Also, any patient willing to speak with the media about how the lack of coverage has been a hardship should contact me or Todd Brown. We are trying to continue having stories published in local media outlets, and the best way to convey the message is to have a person with a compelling situation. (Continued on page 3) In this Issue Page President’s Message 1 Legal Counsel Message 2 And Much More! For more information visit www.mipanet.org 1 MIPA Newsletter Legal Counsel’s Message “Honesty is the best policy- when there is money in it”. Mark Twain, American author/humorist/misanthrope (1835-1910) Mr. Twain once again provides both insight and humor into a place that rarely receives or perceives itAmerican health care and privacy laws. The above-quoted adage could have the following line added to it - “honesty is the best policy- and it may save you money and heartache”. Many MIPA members have contacted my office over the years with questions regarding privacy laws, HIPAA, the HITECH Act, the MA Data Security Act and other rules and regulations controlling the use of protected health information. Most pharmacists realize that they, or more appropriately the business entity they own or represent, should rightfully be considered a repository of protected health information for each and every patient we care for. Numerous instances happen throughout the daily lives of independent pharmacists regarding the permitted use of protected health information, and for most intents and purposes, pharmacists do a tremendous job in safeguarding this vital information. In the past few years, however, pharmacists have been required (not asked) to play a bigger role in tracking the dispensing and use of controlled substances. No longer are pharmacists merely required to maintain records of the disposition of controlled substances received and dispensed (by the usual means- prescription files, records of transfer between practitioners, 222 Forms, CSOS forms, Schedule III -IV invoices, records of reverse distribution, etc.). The role of the pharmacist is now under much greater scrutiny since pharmacists in nearly every state (Missouri is the sole remaining holdout) must report, in one timely fashion or another, records of the dispensing of controlled substances to their patients to their respective state by means of a Prescription Monitoring Program (hereinafter PMP). So big deal Paul, we've been doing this for years- why write a newsletter about the PMP now, so long after the fact? My concern is for the pharmacist who may not entirely understand the role he or she plays in obtaining, reporting and safeguarding access to the information reported and indeed compiled by the PMP. Once a pharmacist is presented with a prescription for a controlled substance, and he or she determines that said prescription appears to be legitimately issued and in turn dispenses the controlled substance in question, they must, pursuant to 247 CMR 5.04(1)(2) and 105 CMR 700.012(A)(5), transmit said dispensing data to the PMP at least once every seven days and no later than 10 days after dispensing as mandated by the PMP. Some pharmacists view their obligations to the PMP as nothing more than that- once the information is obtained and transmitted to the PMP there no longer is any continuous duty. But what about the continuing obligations of a pharmacist licensed in Massachusetts to the safeguard the information transmitted to the PMP and to prevent unauthorized access to the information contained in the PMP? I daresay that there is no greater concentrated combined source of both controlled substance dispensing information and protected health information. What must a pharmacist do to prevent themselves from incurring legal liability for use or disclosure of information to and from the PMP? To paraphrase Mark Twain- Is honesty the best policy and the least expensive for a dispensing pharmacist? Let's take a look. To participate in the PMP, a pharmacist must agree to basic terms- that you are a duly registered practitioner, that you are duly enrolled in the PMP, that you will only use your credentials to access the system, and that you will not allow anyone else to use your credentials to access the system. (Continued on page 5) 2 MIPA Newsletter Technician Competency Exam Available MIPA has available to any “Store or “Owner Manager” member a new series of Board of Pharmacy approved technician competency exams. The exams are designed to be utilized as a minimum competency exam requirement for technician registration. Individuals who order the exams receive goals and objectives covered by the exam, three versions of the exam, and answer keys and exam maps to interpret exam results. The Association invested a great deal of time in preparing these exams for the benefit of our members. These exams may be photocopied and used as many times as needed. The exams are valid until December 31, 2014. The Association is making this exam available to members for $30. This covers the cost of preparing the exam as well as postage and handling. Exam Order Form Pharmacist Name:________________________________Pharmacist’s Lic#________________ Pharmacy Name___________________________________ Tel#(Daytime)_________________ Street Address:_________________________________________________________________ City:______________________________State:_____________Zip_____________________ Credit Card (circle one) Mastercard Visa American Express Name on Credit Card:___________________________________________________________ Credit Card#____________________________________Exp Date_______________________ Street Address______________________________________Security Code________________ Make check payable to: Massachusetts Independent Pharmacists Association (MIPA), or include credit card information above and send to: MIPA 20 Paul David Way Stoughton, MA 02072 or fax to (866) 475-6284. The cost for MIPA Members is $30, For nonmembers $60. President’s Message (Continued) Also, be advised that the audit bill and compounding bills are moving through the State legislature. Any pharmacy that has had difficulty with an audit should inform Todd of the scenario. State legislators want to know about PBM abuses and how these audits have affected local businesses. We are small businesses in someone’s district and we need to leverage this to our advantage. We are vote wielding citizens who make significant contributions to the local economy. Alone we are not great in number; but, as whole we are a strong voice. Sincerely, Andrew Stein President 3 MIPA Newsletter MIPA Meeting The next MIPA meeting will be held on Tuesday October 8th at the Chateau Restaurant in Natick. Meetings are also scheduled for November 13th, December 10th, and January 8th. All members are invited. The meetings will start at 7:15pm and includes dinner (attendees are charged $20 toward the dinner). To reserve space for the next meeting please call, fax, or email the Association by October 7th. Chateau Restaurant 404 Providence Highway (Route #1) Norwood, MA 02062 (781) 762-5335 From I-95 (north or south) take the US-1 SOUTH (exit 15B), towards Norwood. Proceed on Route #1 through one set of traffic lights. Take a right on the ramp approximately ½ mile after the light (toward Norwood Center). Proceed completely around the rotary so that you are traveling on Route 1 in the opposite direction. The Chateau is approximately 200 yards on the right side. A Thought For the Day “Autumn is a second spring where every leaf is a flower” Albert Camus 4 MIPA MIPANewsletter Newsletter Legal Counsel’s Message (Continued) The use of the Online PMP by a pharmacist is multi-purposed- to prevent the dispensing of controlled substances to the same individual from multiple sources, to prevent the unlawful, illicit diversion of controlled substances and to safeguard the information contained in the PMP from being used in any way other than the legally authorized manner permitted by the PMP. Assume you receive a prescription for a controlled substance from a patient. You determine, based on the totality of the circumstances that the prescription appears legitimate and you then check the online PMP to ascertain whether the patient has obtained similar medications from other prescribers for this or a similar controlled substance. Assume that your query of the online PMP reveals nothing unusual and that the patient has not received controlled substance medication from any other prescriber in a fairly long time. You decide to fill the prescription, it is dispensed and you then submit the required data for this (and other controlled substance prescriptions) to the PMP in the time frame required. Imagine, if you would, that a fellow pharmacist working at another site tells his chief certified technician to contact your pharmacy and she asks if you have any suspicions about a patient you have dispensed controlled substances to in the past. Assume that you do not have a prescription presented to you for this specific patient at this time. To satisfy your own curiosity you decide to access the online PMP to review the aforementioned patient's controlled substance history. You do and the patient appears to have visited every independent pharmacy in eastern Massachusetts in the last 3 months and obtained a slew of medications, all from different prescribers. Upon learning this you tell the certified technician what you have discovered, you become enraged and contact my office asking what you can do to “shut this guy off”. (Continued on page 7) Compounding Legislation Set to Pass in the Massachusetts House of Representatives The Massachusetts House of Representatives is expected to pass legislation that would provide additional oversight and safeguards for compounding pharmacies. Included in this legislation is training for Board of Pharmacy Inspectors, regular inspections, the ability of the Board to fine pharmacies for violations (commensurate with the violation), and new license category for sterile compounders. The legislation maintains the Board of Pharmacy would be comprised of a majority of pharmacists (this was changed from Governor Patrick’s original proposal) and would also increase the continuing education requirement for all pharmacists from 15 hours to 20 hours annually. Overall the Association is extremely pleased with the legislation as most of it is reasonable and will enable community pharmacy to deal with the compounding tragedy and move onto other issues. Once the legislation passes the House of Representatives it will go to the Senate. There we expect additional modifications. The Association has and will continue to work with the senate to ensure future changes continue to provide access to compounded prescriptions in a safe manner. We hope the legislation will be passed and enacted later this year. 5 MIPA Newsletter 6 MIPA Newsletter MIPA MIPA Newsletter Newsletter Legal Counsel’s Message (Continued) My first question for you is- did you have a prescription presented by the patient or his agent at the time you queried the database? And you reply no, I did it only after another pharmacist “tipped” me off. I then tell you some bad news- that your query of the database is a violation of the terms of the PMP as you essentially went on a “fishing expedition” to see if you could uncover any unsavory data about the patient. Under the terms on the Online PMP a pharmacist may not query the database unless he or she has been presented with a prescription. Each and every log-in, or access, to the online PMP is monitored. If this unauthorized access becomes known to Health and Human Services (and it probably will, in all likelihood), your right to use the system may be revoked, your controlled substance registration may be suspended or terminated (pursuant to 105 CMR 700.004(L)(1)), possibly saying goodbye to your facilities license, and a referral for criminal prosecution or disciplinary action by the Board of Pharmacy (or a combination of the two) may be made. All because you decided it was worthwhile to go on a fishing expedition. Please remember that you can only access the online PMP when you have a prescription in hand and need to review that patient's controlled substance history. Use outside of this narrow exception may be hazardous to your livelihood- again honesty is best policy, especially when it saves you money! To illustrate what I have attempted to describe above I give to you the recent case law decision, Brumley v. City of Cleveland, Tenn. Ct. App., No. E2012-00002-COA-R3-CV (2013). In this matter a narcotics unit detective for the Cleveland (TN) Police Department conducted an investigation to determine if a director of a drug task force was abusing prescription medications. His actions, to say the least, appear unorthodox and the detective was terminated from his position. The case really involves matters of employment law, but the matter which caused his termination has everything to do with how an online PMP should be treated- with a great deal of deference and respect for the information it contains and why this information should not be accessed for “fishing expeditions”. The detective in question was an officer for 14 years. One day he was approached by two members of a drug task force unit who suspected that the task force director was abusing prescription medications. In fact a criminal court judge later told the detective that the task force director seemed to be “under the influence” while obtaining warrants in the judge’s chambers. The detective obtained the task force directors social security number and date of birth illicitly and then approached a friend, who happened to be a pharmacist and asked for his assistance in accessing the online PMP to continue his investigation. The friend did not personally have access to the online PMP but he contacted two other pharmacists who checked the task force director's prescription history and both concluded that their review did not raise any suspicion of illegal activity. The actions of the pharmacists in accessing the database without subsequently processing a prescription raised a red flag for the individuals entrusted with monitoring the online PMP. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation investigated the breach of the online PMP and determined that the detective had “illegally instigated a search of the PMP”. The Attorney General contacted the police unit the detective was employed at and the Internal Affairs unit conducted an investigation of the detective's conduct. The police department concluded that the detective had, in part, violated the state law regarding confidentiality of the database. The detective was terminated and sued to get his job back. The City manager denied his request, and on appeal, the appellate court agreed that his termination was proper, considering the acts that he stood accused of. (Continued on page 9) 7 MIPA Newsletter MIPA MIPA Newsletter Newsletter House of Representatives Approves Compounding, Track-and-Trace Bill, Senate Poised to Vote This legislation is significantly better than previous versions and is achieves a balance between federal and state oversight of compounding. The balance was struck in the new legislation, H.R. 3204, by: Requiring FDA to engage in two-way communications with state pharmacy boards, an element that was lacking in FDA's response to NECC's activities. Preserving and protecting the practice of traditional pharmacy compounding that occurs in community pharmacies. Permitting entities engaged in sterile compounding to voluntarily register as "outsourcing facilities" subject to good manufacturing practices, risked-based inspections, and other new standards. Here is what the compromise does not do (as previous versions did): Exempt entire classes of trade (such as hospital pharmacies), while subjecting community pharmacies to broad federal oversight, even though they had no role in the tragic meningitis outbreak. Allow the FDA to create a "do not compound" list of specific types of drugs it deemed too difficult to compound. Require pharmacies to report to the FDA every time they compound a drug because of shortages. At this moment it is not clear when the Senate will vote (due to the federal shutdown) 8 MIPA Newsletter Legal Counsel’s Message (Continued) At appeal the detective pressed for the appellate court to recognize that his actions were proper. The appellate court quoted the attorney employed by the Tennessee Board of Pharmacy who stated “you cannot ask a pharmacist or initiate conversation with a pharmacist to indulge or look at the database. It must be done by a court order signed by the district Attorney and the judge”. Here the court clearly viewed the detective's actions as unlawful and upheld his termination. What about the three pharmacists who so willfully entertained the detective's request? I am not in possession of what the Board of Pharmacy in Tennessee has or may do to these pharmacists, but I am fairly certain that it will be a severe sanction against their livelihood. All because they did something that they knew, or should have known, that they could not do- give access to law enforcement to the online PMP. The police are well aware that if they do wish to obtain information from the online PMP that they can only obtain it from the system itself, once a warrant/subpoena has been issued by a court of competent jurisdiction. To avoid liability, what pharmacists should always do is act reasonably under the circumstances. Was it reasonable for the pharmacists to supply this information- no it was not. The agreement to provide confidential online PMP information to law enforcement acting under the color of authority alone would support an indictment for conspiracy to violate the privacy laws and possibly the Controlled Substance Act. Your ability to utilize the online PMP is based, in large part, upon your conduct. If you observe the rules surrounding the online PMP you can utilize it as a tool to reduce the risk of diversion of controlled substances. To willfully violate the terms of the online PMP is to invite tremendous legal, political, administrative and regulatory pressure upon your license to practice. As noted above, honesty is best policy- it will save you money and heartache in the long run. Ask yourself if you would want just anybody out there who has access to the PMP to obtain your information, or that of your loved ones without an officially sanctioned reason for doing so. And always remember that Big Brother is watching-- if this case does not underscore that notion, I don't know what does. Do you have a question regarding pharmacy practice that you would like answered? MIPA members can call anytime and the first 15 minutes of any consultation are free. If you've got a question call me and I will (hopefully) have an answer. This month's newsletter is intended for purposes of informing MIPA members of a recent pharmacy case law decision that may be important to them. While I do endeavor to address the concerns of MIPA members, this newsletter is not intended to replace legal advice already received or to serve as legal advice to any specific reader. No attorney-client relationship is created by publication of this message. For specific legal advice regarding this or any other matter, please contact my office at 413.727.8191 or my new website at www.paulgarbarinilaw.com Sincerely, Paul M. Garbarini, R. Ph., Esq. Legal Counsel 9 MIPA Newsletter 10 MIPA Newsletter The Customer Satisfaction Gap Continues to Widen between Brick and Mortar and Mail-Order Pharmacies Mail-order pharmacies once held a customer satisfaction advantage over brick and mortar pharmacies mainly due to perceived cost competitiveness, satisfaction with brick and mortar pharmacies continues to increase at a faster pace, according to the J.D. Power 2013 U.S. Pharmacy Studies' released recently. KEY FINDINGS Although customer satisfaction with mail-order pharmacies improves to 797 index points on a 1,000point scale in 2013, up from 792 in 2012, satisfaction with brick and mortar pharmacies increases by 23 points during the same time period, now averaging 837 points. While mail order had a seven-point advantage in perceived cost competitiveness over brick and mortar in 2011, in 2013 it is at a 20-point disadvantage in the cost factor. The percentage of customers who indicate refilling prescriptions at a brick and mortar pharmacy has increased to 61 percent in 2013--up from 58 percent three years ago. In the brick and mortar segment, Good Neighbor Pharmacy ranks highest among chain drug store pharmacies; Target ranks highest among mass merchandiser pharmacies; and Publix ranks highest among supermarket pharmacies. The 2013 U.S. Pharmacy Study is based on responses from more than 13,500 pharmacy customers who filled a new prescription or refilled a prescription during the three months prior to the survey period. Customer satisfaction with brick and mortar pharmacies is measured across five key factors: prescription ordering; store; cost; non-pharmacist staff; and pharmacist. Four factors are examined in the mail-order segment: cost; prescription delivery; prescription ordering process; and customer service experience. The study, now in its seventh year, was fielded between July and August 2013. Pharmacy coalition endorses PBM reform legislation A coalition that includes pharmacy-advocacy groups has endorsed legislation it says will bring fairness and integrity to the Medicare Part D pharmacy program. The PBM Reform Coalition sent a letter of support to backers of U.S. Senate legislation that addresses standards for basic pharmacy audits, further transparency of payment methodology to pharmacies, and recoupment of funds to Medicare by pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). Members of the coalition include the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS), the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA), the Food Marketing Institute, GeriMed, H-E-B, MHA, Omnicare, PCAN, PharMerica, and Walgreens. For more information visit www.rxchoiceandaccess.com/ 11 MIPA Newsletter Classified Advertisements Classified Advertisements are free to members. Members are encouraged to take advantage of this benefit. Individuals interested in placing classified advertisements should contact the Association. MIPA is updating its fax and distribution list. Store members and owner/manager members can receive timely information and updates by fax and are eligible for this service at no extra charge. Members must have a dedicated fax line. To be added to this list send your name and fax number to the Association. MIPA is updating its email distribution list. All members can receive timely information from the Association. To be added to this list send your email address to Todd Brown at [email protected] Two Positive Changes for Medicare D Plans Two Medicare Part D policy changes that will promote meaningful adherence and reduce medication waste will take effect in the 2014 plan year. The new edition of the Medicare & You handbook mailed to all Medicare beneficiaries last month addresses both automatic mail order refills and prorated copays. The key sections state: "...some automatic delivery services were creating waste and unnecessary costs for people with Medicare and the Part D program. By January 2014, to make sure you still need a prescription before they send you a refill, prescription drug plans should get your approval to deliver a prescription, new or refill, before each delivery, except when you ask for the refill or request a new prescription… The plan won't automatically ship your refills unless you confirm you still want to get the order. This new policy won't affect refill reminder programs where you go in person to pick-up the prescription and it won't apply to long-term care pharmacies that give out and deliver drugs." "Usually, the amount you pay for a covered prescription is for a one-month supply of a drug. However, starting in 2014, you can request less than a one-month supply for most types of drugs. You might do this if you're trying a new medication that's known to have significant side effects or you want to synchronize the refills for all your medications. If you do this, the amount you pay is reduced based on the quantity you actually get. Talk with your prescriber to get a prescription for less than a one-month supply." Purdue Hands California List of Risky OxyContin Prescribers Purdue Pharma spokesman Jim Heins said that his company has recently complied with a request from the Medical Board of California to turn over the names of 49 doctors in the state who are suspected of prescribing OxyContin in a reckless fashion. Heins added that since Purdue provided the names of the doctors, the Medical Board has made a new request that covers a longer period of time. 12