COVID-19 Resource Page 

CPS is working hard, as we all are, to try to keep up with COVID19 information. Here we have provided some basic links which can take you to more in-depth information at those sites. We also attempt to post information important to pharmacy practice in context of COVID-19 in Colorado. It is in no way a comprehensive list of information, and please know that we cannot confirm it will always be the latest as things change minute to minute.  

If you have suggestions or items you think should be here, please contact us at [email protected]!

Pharmacist/Technician Vaccination for COVID-19

Technicians

• HHS authorization for pharmacists to provide COVID 19 vaccination (9.9.2020)

Volunteer to Fight COVID-19!
Pharmacy Professional Vaccine Support Form

If you are a pharmacist, technician or intern willing to add your name to a registry of willing professionals to pitch in and work, please complete the form below:

Pharmacist Relief Volunteer Form

If you would like to access this list of volunteers to help your entity or organization, please send an email to [email protected] with your  request.  CPS is committed to sharing this list in meaningful ways to advance the COVID19 effort in CO.

Note for Professionals Seeking Opportunities to Volunteer or Re-Enter Workforce:

Governor Polis has just announced HelpColoradoNow.org as a website for those Coloradans hoping to volunteer or assist in the COVID-19 response in a variety of ways. When considering whether you want to volunteer or re-enter the healthcare field, or the nature of your service, please be aware of CDC guidelines around high risk populations and exposure to the virus.

COVID-19: Implications for Pharmacists Webinar Series

Go to Webinar Series 

Community Forum/Blog 

CPS has an open forum for COVID-19 issues/concerns/questions! We add breaking information here as it comes, but any CPS members are welcome to contribute!

Navigate to the Community Forum:

Log in under your membership information →  Member Center→ Community Forum → From the Board Updates “COVID-19 Open Forum for All”
 

• HHS authorization for pharmacists to provide COVID 19 vaccination (9.9.2020)

 Pharmacist Testing for COVID-19  

• Pharmacy’s Response to COVID-19 (8/12/20)

• HHS Authorization
  
  
• Authorized Tests (EUA) – must be “waived”
  
  
• CDC guidance on appropriate patients

• NCPA

• APhA - Testing Guidance
             - Practice Info
  
  
• Colorado (DORA): DORA Actions to Implement Governor’s Directive
  
  In addition to foregoing existing statutory authority for emergency assistance by healthcare professionals, and in light of the Governor’s directive to take action to expand the healthcare workforce so as to address the Disaster Emergency, DORA has identified the following specific statutes and regulations as preventing, hindering, or delaying necessary action in coping with the Disaster Emergency identified in the Governor’s Executive Order 20-003 and which therefore are temporarily suspended pursuant to § 24-33.5-704(7)(a), C.R.S.:
  
  

  Suspension of Pharmacy Board Rule 6.00.30, which sets forth the qualifications for pharmacists to engage in drug therapy management and thereby restricts pharmacists from conducting screening tests for the Coronavirus, so as to ensure that pharmacists may conduct screening tests in pharmacies and other testing centers.

   
  
  
  
• State Board of Pharmacy Adopts Emergency Rules - Effective 5/1/20 (May 1, 2020) 

COVID-19 Medication Information

• UCHealth / University of Colorado COVID-19 Pharmacotherapy Updates 
         - Update #1 (April 13, 2020)
         - Update #2: (April 20, 2020) 
         - Update #3 (April 29, 2020)
         - Update #4 (June 25, 2020)
  
  
• ASHP Medication Guide
  
  
• NIH COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines

CO State Information

• CDPHE
  
  
• Colorado Pharmacists Society - Pharmacy Recommendations during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic (June 4, 2020)
  
  
• HCPF  - COVID-19 Information for Health First Colorado and CHP+ Providers and Case Managers
              - Health First Colorado Pharmacy Changes Related to COVID-19      
              - Prior Authorization Guidance (April 27, 2020)
              - Updated HCPF Guidelines for Pharmacies (April 7, 2020)
  
  
• COVID-19 Tests and Codes Billable by Pharmacists (June 3, 2020)
  
  
• CO SBOP Emergency Rule 30.00.00 (May 1, 2020) - 
  
  

  Effective 05/01/2020 CO SBOP State Board of Pharmacy adopted Emergency Rule 30.00.00, which expands the workforce of trained medical personnel available to provide healthcare services within inpatient facilities and out-patient pharmacy settings

State Regulatory and Advocacy Issues

Colorado Pharmacists Society – Advocacy and Regulatory Actions

• HCPF Letter in Response to the Request for Additional Medicaid Providers (11.23.2020)
  
  
• Letter to Governor Polis re COVID19 test, treat, vaccinate (8.7.20) 
  
  
• Letter to Governor Polis (3.13.20)
  
  
• Email to Governor Polis’ Office (3.20.20)
  
  
• Letter to US Congress (3.22.20)
  
  
• Letter to HCPF regarding 1135 wavier (3.25.20)
  
  
• Letter to Governor Polis (3.26.20)
  
  
• NCPA pausing DIR fees on pharmacies – Letter to Congress (CPS Supported)
  
  
• CPS Supported Guidance on 503A Pharmacies and Hospitals – Submitted to Board of Pharmacy (May 6, 2020)

Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) / State Board of Pharmacy

• DORA COVID-19 Updates for Licensees and Consumers
  
  
• CO State Boards Draft Guidance for COVID-19 Prescribing (3.26.20)
  
  
• FAQ for Healthcare Professionals Now Available (3.24.20)
  
  
• Personal Protective Equipment Needed for COVID-19 Response (3.23.20)
  
  
• COVID-19 Guidance for Pharmacists (3.18.20)
  
  
• DORA Response to Governor's Directive - Notice to Healthcare Providers (3.18.2020)
  
  
• DORA Notice Regarding Coronavirus Response (3.13.20)
  
  
• Guidance for Healthcare Professionals Not Currently Licensed in Colorado (3.13.20)
  
  
• Pharmacists Guide for Re-entering Workforce
  
  
• Division of Professions and Occupations Emergency Licensing Measures for Healthcare Professionals

National Information

•  APHA - General Information
              - Information on SARS-CoV-2 Testing 

                   Full access:  Username: [email protected]  Password: covid-19

                     - Know the Facts: Telehealth in Your Pharmacy Practice (June 1, 2020)

• CDC  - General Information
            - CDC Considerations for Pharmacies during the COVID-19 Pandemic  (June 28, 2020)
            - Updated Guidance on Providing Adult and Vaccinations during COVID-19 (April 6, 2020)
  
  

• CMS - Partner Toolkit
  
  
  
• DEA - Early Refills and Controlled Substances
•          - General Information
           - How to Prescribe Controlled Substances to Patients During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency        

• FDA - FDA Authorized COVID19 Tests
           - Laboratories and Manufacturers Offering Tests for COVID-19
           - FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) of Hydroxychloroquine Sulfate Supplied from the Strategic National Stockpile for Treatment of COVID-19 in Certain Hospitalized Patients
           - CDER - Compounding Policy Clarifications (April 7, 2020)
           - FDA Cautions Against Use of Hydroxychloroquine or Chloroquine for COVID-19 Outside of the Hospital Setting (April 24, 2020) 
           - FDA Warns of Newly Discovered Potential Drug Interaction That May Reduce Effectiveness of a COVID-19 Treatment
  (Remdesivir interaction with Chloroquine/Hydroxychloroquine) (June 15, 2020)
           - FDA Fact Sheet for HCPs: Emergency Use Authorization of Remdesivir (June 15, 2020) Risk of Reduced Antiviral Activity When Coadministered with Chloroquine or Hydroxychloroquine, and the fact sheet was updated by the FDA accordingly
  
  

• NACDS - General Information   
                - Free Education on COVID-19 Testing
  
  
• NCPA - General Information
             - General Approach 
  
  

• OSHA
  
  

• USP  - USP’s Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic
           - Compounding Resources during COVID-19 Pandemic
  
  
  
• WHO - General Information
            - Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Outbreak: Rights, Roles and Responsibilities of Health Workers, including Key Considerations for Occupational Safety and Health 
   

National Regulatory and Advocacy Issues

• Pharmacy Organization’s Joint Policy Recommendations to Combat the COVID-19 Pandemic
  
  
• Joint Position Statement AMA / APhA / ASHP  on Inappropriate Ordering, Prescribing, or Dispensing of Medications to Treat COVID19 (April 20, 2020)
  
  
• HHS to Governors Letter  (3.24.20)
  
  
• APhA Statement
  
  
• Joint Statement of the AMA, APhA and ASHP on New FDA Action to Remove Emergency Use Authorization of Medications to Treat COVID-19 (June 23, 2020)
  
  
• CMS - Emergency Declaration Fact Sheet (3.12.20)
           - Telehealth
  
  
• Minimizing Face-to-Face Contact for Medication Delivery or Dispensing
  
  
• Best Practice Documentation for Delivery of Prescription Drugs Without a Signature (PCMA)
   

PBM Information

• PBMs Are Taking Action to Promote Patient Access to Prescription Drugs During the COVID-19 Pandemic (April 6, 2020) 
  
  
• CVS Caremark
  
  
• Express Scripts Audits
  
  
• Express Scripts Signatures
  
  
• OptumRx

PPE

• USP Letter to Relax Garbing and PPE  
  
  
• CDC Healthcare Supply of PPE
  
  
• CDC Strategies to Optimize the Supply of PPE and Equipment 
  
  
• FDA Statement on PPE

Hand Sanitizer 

• FDA - Temporary Policy for Manufacture of Alcohol for Incorporation Into Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizer Products During the Public Health Emergency (COVID-19) Guidance for Industry 
          - Temporary Policy for Preparation of Certain Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizer Products During the Public Health Emergency (COVID-19)
  
  
• USP - Compounding Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizer During COVID-19 Pandemic  (3.25.20)
  
  
• WHO - Recommended Handrub Formulations
  
  
• FDA Policy for Temporary Compounding of Certain Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizer Products During the Public Health Emergency

• NASPA - Letter for Regulatory Action 
               - Update on States Regulatory Action
  
  
• NACDS - Letter to Congress
                - Expanding Access to Patient Care and Ensuring Pharmacy Continuity of Operations during COVID-19
  
  
• NCPA - Community Pharmacists’ Recommendations to the President’s Coronavirus Task Force
             - NCPA Member Summary Pharmacy Compounding During COVID-19

Well-Being Resources for Pharmacy Professionals

• APhA Well Being site: Well Being | American Pharmacists Association

• ASHP Well Being site: Workforce Well-Being and Resilience - ASHP

• Well Being during COVID: Well-Being During COVID-19 | American Pharmacists Association

• National Academy of Medicine: Clinician Resilience and Well-Being - National Academy of Medicine (nam.edu)

  o    Example Resource: Factors Affecting Clinician Well-Being and Resilience – Conceptual Model – Clinician Well-Being Knowledge Hub (nam.edu); Systems Approaches to Improve Patient Care by Supporting Clinician Well-Being - National Academy of Medicine (nam.edu)'

•  Pharmacist Burnout: Pharmacist Burnout And What You Can Do About it - Elisabeth Rumley; The Science Behind Pharmacist Burnout Is Scary: Here Is What to Do About It (pharmacytimes.com)
  
  

Study/Treatment for Exposed Pharmacists or Household Contacts