Regulations Archives - PRS Pharmacy Services

HIPAA Access to Records

August 9, 2021

In this blog, we will discuss one of the “rights” that HIPAA gives individuals concerning their medical records. HIPAA provides the individual with the right to access their records in a “timely” fashion. While not the most cumbersome act in many Pharmacies, the request from patients to access their records is something Pharmacies must respond to in a quick and timely fashion. The Officer of Civil Rights (OCR), the agency responsible for the enforcement of HIPAA, believes that a Patient…

Pharmacy Self-Audits: Preventing PBMs From Taking Back Monies

May 25, 2021

How do you prevent a PBM auditor from clawing back monies? Pharmacies deal with the threat of PBMs clawing back money daily. Fortunately, many audits resulting in the clawback of monies can be prevented by proactive activities, training, and overall employee understanding. These activities start before the prescription is filled and dispensed and continue after the patient walks out the door. These activities mean more work, but it is work that you and your employees need to be considering as…

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Common HIPAA Issues – Part 3: Policies and Procedures

April 2, 2021

HIPAA Policies and Procedures are the foundation of your Pharmacy’s overall HIPAA Compliance and employee Training. Policies and Procedures also happen to be one of the items most often found to be missing, incomplete, or not up-to-date during investigations conducted by the Office of Civil Rights (OCR). What does HIPAA say about Policies and Procedures? HIPAA clearly states you need to have Policies and Procedures. If we look at 45 C.F.R. § 164.530(i), we find that it states the following: “covered entity…

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Pharmacy Technician Immunization Administration

December 30, 2020

After our last blog on PRS Partners with NPTA to Expand Independent Pharmacies Role in Delivering COVID-19 Vaccines and Testing Services (12/14/2020), we wanted to go over the general requirements outlined in the Department of Health and Human Services Guidance. On October 20th, the Department of Health and Human Services released the Guidance for PREP Act Coverage for Qualified Pharmacy Technicians and State-Authorized Pharmacy Interns for Childhood Vaccines, COVID-19 Vaccines, and COVID-19 Testing. As the title suggests, this guidance lays…

USP <800> | The Independent Pharmacist’s Guide – Part 2: Does My Pharmacy Need to Comply?

December 12, 2019

If you own or manage a pharmacy, you’ve probably heard about USP <800>, the newest chapter issued by the United States Pharmacopoeial Convention. Although USP guidelines typically apply to compounding pharmacies and drug manufacturers, USP <800> guidelines apply to any facility which handles hazardous drugs; if you own or operate a pharmacy, that means YOU. However, there is a common misconception spreading through the independent pharmacy space when it comes to USP <800> compliance. In part 2 of the Independent…