Latest Updates

AmerisourceBergen (ABC) and Good Neighbor Pharmacy (GNP) continue to engage with Members of Congress on pharmacy priorities including empowering pharmacists to be able to provide and be reimbursed for COVID-19 testing and vaccination once available.

AmerisourceBergen Government Affairs team members Beth Mitchell (Senior Director, Government Affairs) and Ashley O’Sullivan (Senior Manager, Legislation & Policy) recently recorded a Good Neighbor Pharmacy Connect podcast to discuss all things advocacy for independent pharmacies.

On Wednesday 6/3, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the House passed Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Flexibility Act, which provides key changes to the existing Payment Protection Program (PPP). President Trump signed the PPP Flexibility Act into law on 6/5. AmerisourceBergen and Good Neighbor Pharmacy are very pleased that Congress acted to make necessary changes to PPP.

Recently, the California Department of Consumer Affairs issued an Order to allow approximately 6,500 licensed pharmacies in the state to begin performing COVID19 tests without having to coordinate with a patient’s diagnosing or primary care provider. The Order waives sections of California’s Business and Professions Code that interfere with pharmacists’ ability to authorize tests for COVID 19, including a waiver of provisions that would prevent pharmacists from physically collecting the specimens.

Office of the General Counsel (OGC) whether the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act preempts state licensing laws that restrict the ability of pharmacists to order and administer COVID-19 diagnostic tests where the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has expressly authorized pharmacists, under the PREP Act, to order and administer those tests