In addition to signing Senate Bill 219, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer put her signature on House Bills 4495 and 4496 Wednesday, July 19, which aim to streamline and increase access to the Healthy Michigan Plan, a Medicaid program provided through the state Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and authorized under the federal Affordable Care Act. Created by the Michigan Legislature in 2014, the Healthy Michigan Plan now covers about one million people in the state. Available to those who don’t meet the requirements for other Medicaid programs, Healthy Michigan is open to Michiganders ages 19 to 64 who earn an income at or below 138% of the federal poverty level – $18,754 for an individual or $36,908 for a family of four. [...]

LANSING — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed Senate Bill (SB) 219 into law today, quickly approving an MPA-priority measure that was introduced earlier this year. SB 219 authorizes pharmacists to independently prescribe and administer Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices-indicated (ACIP) vaccines to patients ages 3 and up. Additionally, it allows for pharmacists to independently administer Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments-waived (CLIA) tests for influenza and COVID-19. In the event of a positive test, the legislation allows pharmacists to dispense appropriate antiviral therapies to the patient. The final version of the bill includes the following provisions: Pharmacists may independently order an immunization recommended by ACIP to individuals 3 years of age and up provided they have completed a board-approved training program. Requires pharmacists [...]

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a birth control pill to be sold without a prescription for the first time in the United States, a milestone that could significantly expand access to contraception. The medication, called Opill, will become the most effective birth control method available over the counter — more effective at preventing pregnancy than condoms, spermicides and other nonprescription methods. Experts in reproductive health said its availability could be especially useful for young women, teenagers and those who have difficulty dealing with the time, costs or logistical hurdles involved in visiting a doctor to obtain a prescription. The pill’s manufacturer, Perrigo Company, based in Dublin, said Opill would most likely become available from stores and online retailers in [...]

State regulators are moving to eliminate a certification requirement to become a licensed pharmacist in the state. However, the elimination of the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Exam, which assesses competency in state and federal drug distribution laws, is controversial. The Michigan Pharmacists Association opposes the wholesale removal of the requirement. "Pharmacists are far more likely to be brought before the pharmacy board for potential legal violations than any other provider," MPA Director of Government Affairs Eric Roath said. "Physician cases are usually due to a clinical error. Pharmacy is the highest-regulated field in health care. To say there are no better solutions to ensuring practice competency than to just remove the exam is wrong. The competency assessment is actually effective in [...]

The Michigan Legislature passed Senate Bill (SB) 219 Tuesday, June 27, after the House of Representatives voted 96-12 in favor of the measure. The Senate, which previously passed the bill 36-1 in March, concurred and approved the final version in a 35-1 vote. The bill now heads to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's desk to be signed into law. SB 219 authorizes pharmacists to independently prescribe and administer ACIP indicated vaccines to patients ages 3 and up. Additionally, it allows for pharmacists to independently administer CLIA-waived tests for influenza and COVID-19. In the event of a positive test, the legislation allows pharmacists to dispense appropriate antiviral therapies to the patient.