CMS Seeks Comments on Proposed Hospital Survey of 340B Outpatient Drug Costs
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed surveying hospitals about their acquisition costs for certain covered outpatient drugs under the 340B drug savings program.
Sterile Compounding Standards Deadline Postponed
United States Pharmacopeia (USP) has announced that the Dec. 1 implementation deadline for USP General Chapters 795, 797, and 825 has been delayed because the stakeholder appeal processes will not be finalized by then. CHA will host a webinar Nov. 12 to assist hospitals working to comply with the standards.
Stakeholder Meeting Aug. 30 Will Discuss Clinical Laboratory, Pharmaceutical, Dietetic Services Regulations
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Center for Health Care Quality will host a meeting Aug. 30 from 2-3:30 p.m. to gather stakeholder feedback on acute care hospital clinical laboratory, pharmaceutical, and dietetic services regulations.
CHA Releases Survey on New or Remodeled Pharmacy Clean Room Projects
Last week, CHA sent pharmacy staff at member hospitals a survey about their new or remodeled clean room projects. The information requested in the survey will support CHA’s advocacy with respect to the rapidly approaching Dec. 1 deadline for hospitals to comply with new sterile compounding regulations.
Upcoming Webinar to Explain Medication Profile Process for High-Risk Patients
The California Society of Health-System Pharmacists (CSHP) will host a webinar Aug. 1 to share updates about implementation of a new law — Senate Bill 1254 (Chapter 697, Statutes of 2018) — that requires hospitals to establish criteria for defining high-risk patients and complete a medication profile for those patients.
U.S. Pharmacopeia Publishes New and Revised Compounding Standards
The United States Pharmacopeia (USP) has released newly revised standards to assist health care practitioners in consistently producing high-quality compounded medicines that are the right strength and free of contaminants. The final USP 797, USP 825, and USP 795 and General Chapter 800 standards will take effect Dec. 1.
Volunteers Needed for Quality Improvement Project on Medication Profiles for High-Risk Patients
Under Senate Bill 1254 (Chapter 697, Statutes of 2018), hospitals must establish criteria for high-risk patients and complete a medication profile for those patients. To better understand how this new requirement will impact patient safety, CHA and California Health System Pharmacists members will undertake a six-week, multi-center quality improvement project.
Upcoming Conferences to Focus on Opioid Crisis
The Health Services Advisory Group’s Hospital Improvement Innovation Network will hold conferences over the next two months — June 25 in Pasadena and July 10 in Sacramento — focused on combating the opioid crisis.
CDPH Changes Approval Process for Sterile Compounding Physical Plant Construction Projects
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) earlier this week released All Facilities Letter 19-19, which updates its application process for new or remodeled pharmacy clean rooms and mobile sterile compounding units (MSCUs). Notably, CDPH will no longer accept incomplete applications for pharmacy clean rooms or MSCUs. CDPH states the update is in response to Assembly Bill 2978 (Chapter 992, Statutes of 2018), which requires CDPH to review or deny applications within 100 days of receipt.
Webinars Begin Next Week on New Opioid Safety Designation for Hospitals
Cal Hospital Compare, a nonprofit performance reporting initiative, will launch an opioid safety designation program for hospitals later this month, intended to accelerate improvement and recognize California hospitals’ efforts to combat the opioid epidemic. A series of five no-cost webinars — the first to be held May 9 at 11 a.m. (PT) – will explain a self-assessment tool integral to the new designation, and will feature peer-to-peer learning on a variety of safe opioid practices.