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The Arkansas Insurance Department issued Bulletin No. 4-2023 in response to the recent severe storms taking place in Cross, Lonoke, and Pulaski counties.  Please see the links below. The Department has issued a 60-day moratorium on the cancellation and non-renewal of personal lines policies for the non-payment of premiums. This shall apply to all personal lines policies issued that cover risks in the above-mentioned counties.

Click here to view the 2022 Annual Report.

Ask any healthcare professional why they entered their field; the answer will likely be to help people. You probably will encounter few, if any, that will tell you it was to spend extra time charting. However, this documentation is crucial to the care we provide. There are three aspects when providing services in which accurate documentation is imperative.

Pharmacists Mutual cares very much about the well-being of our members.  We support the rights of people to assemble and protest injustice peaceably.  We stand opposed to any violence and destruction that is perpetrated by groups in the cities and towns that we serve.  We know that you are concerned about the civil unrest that has impacted numerous areas of our nation these past years.  It is essential to know that you have a trusted partner in Pharmacists Mutual during times like these.  You can be confident that we stand ready to respond to any hardship faced by you or your business.  As you are aware, Memphis officials will be releasing video surrounding the beating of Tyre Nichols sometime this evening. While we cannot predict the results of this matter, we can expect that tensions will be high.

Tropical Storm Nicole formed this (Monday) morning in the Atlantic Ocean. This storm’s projected path could reach Florida’s east coast by Wednesday evening/night near hurricane strength.

The recently enacted Massachusetts law that expanded protections for reproductive and gender-affirming care primarily applies to health insurance. Still, a section of the law pertains to medical malpractice insurance that does impact pharmacists. Under the law, pharmacists may dispense emergency contraception, which is considered reproductive health care services. If a pharmacist dispenses emergency contraception, the pharmacist must provide an annual report to the Department of Public Health disclosing the number of times such emergency contraception was dispensed. Emergency contraception is defined as any drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a contraceptive method for use after sexual intercourse, whether provided over-the-counter or by prescription.

Tropical Depression Nine currently moving in the Caribbean could approach Florida next week as a major Category 3 hurricane. This storm, soon to be named Hermine, is expected to increase in intensity to hurricane strength as it approaches warmer Gulf water.

School has started, and the air is getting chilly. In the pharmacy world, that means it is flu shot time! While pharmacy has been in immunization mode with COVID-19 for the past couple of years, this is a great time to review your policies and procedures for providing vaccines. The public health emergency declaration is still in effect, meaning there are fewer restrictions on who can provide immunizations. Over the past year, some states have updated laws to reflect opportunities provided to pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in the immunization and testing space. Reviewing the rules in your practice state is vital to ensure compliance.

The U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, overturning Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pa. v. Casey. The ruling means laws regarding abortion revert back to the states. As practitioners who may encounter prescriptions for medication abortion that you understand the law and how it applies in your state. Some of you may not have any changes to your practice based on state law. Still, other practitioners may be required to provide additional documentation on prescriptions dispensed or even turn patients away who are requesting these medications for the purpose of abortion.