More Michigan pharmacies may soon carry Narcan, which can reverse opioid overdoses, following federal action to increase access to the drug earlier this year. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration in March approved Narcan (naloxone) for over-the-counter use. Emergent BioSolutions, which manufactures Narcan, has already shipped thousands of kits, which are expected to hit the shelves soon. Narcan is only effective on overdoses caused by opioids such as oxycodone (OxyContin), hydrocodone (Vicodin), morphine, codeine and synthetic fentanyl. Narcan usually takes 2 minutes to 3 minutes to work. Each dose contains 4 milligrams of the medicine, but multiple doses may be needed.  The effects can last for as little as 20 minutes or up to two hours. Read More

LANSING – The Michigan Pharmacists Association (MPA) will host the 13th annual Medication Disposal Event on the south lawn of the Michigan Capitol Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023. The general public is encouraged to drop off their unused, unwanted or expired medications from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the medication disposal tent. Curbside drop-off will also be available on South Capitol Avenue between Michigan Avenue and Allegan Street. Held in conjunction with the MPA’s annual Pharmacy Day at the Capitol, this event allows participants to safely and responsibly dispose of medications, including controlled substances and narcotics. Those attending the event will have the opportunity to learn more about what the state and MPA are doing to curb the opioid epidemic, [...]

Four national pharmacy organizations blasted an Aug. 15 decision by the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals allowing pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to escape certain state regulations in Oklahoma by hiding behind the alleged preemption of that law by federal ERISA and Medicare Part D laws. The National Community Pharmacists Association, the American Pharmacists Association, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, American Pharmacies and the Oklahoma Pharmacists Association jointly signed on as amici to defend Oklahoma’s 2019 law regulating PBMs. The PBM lobby, the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, challenged the law in federal court. In 2022, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma largely upheld the law. PCMA appealed only four of the 13 originally challenged provisions. [...]

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 (subscription required)

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. [...]