COVID-19 Resources
During this COVID-19 pandemic, IPA recognizes and appreciates the dedication and professionalism of our members who are selflessly serving on the front lines of this public health emergency. From all of us at IPA, thank you for all that you do.
IPA COVID-19 Webinars
Your Questions Answered
Iowa Pharmacy Workforce & Volunteers
Patient Care/Practice Guidelines
Government Activity
IPA Communications
Additional Resources
Connecting with IPA Staff
In an effort to address your immediate questions and concerns regarding COVID-19, updates on IPA activities/events, and any other concerns, IPA staff and the Iowa Board of Pharmacy will continue hosting bi-weekly webinars. Slides, recordings, and Q&A from previous webinars will be made available to you.
Upcoming Webinars:
Your Questions Answered
Questions have been collected from previous COVID-19 webinars and emails received by IPA staff. IPA strives to find answers to all of your pharmacy-specific questions regarding COVID-19. Questions and answers will be updated with future webinars and as changes arise.
Current topics include:
Association/State Related
Workforce Safety
Pharmacy Operations
PBM/Billing Concerns
Professional Licensing
Clinical Questions
Iowa Pharmacy Workforce & Volunteers
IPA is very concerned about staffing shortages in the event of widespread illness at your practice site and we want to take care of our members.
As a pharmacist, pharmacy technician, or student pharmacist, please complete the appropriate sign-up below if you are willing to work temporarily to help another practice site in Iowa. By providing us your information, you agree to have your name, city, and phone number listed on a Members Only page for help in the event of an emergency.
If you are not an IPA member, contact ipa@iarx.org for this information.
Sign-Up:
Pharmacist
Pharmacy Technician
A message from IPA’s partner, PharmServ Staffing:
“PharmServ Staffing is actively monitoring COVID-19 to determine how we can best support you. Moving forward, until this crisis is over, we will discount our hourly rate for temporary coverage by five percent (5%). You can contact us directly at 515-334-4293 or visit us at www.PharmServstaffing.com.”
Patient Care/Practice Guidelines
Iowa Board of Pharmacy's Statement on Enforcement Discretion
The Board recognizes that there are myriad other challenges posed to pharmacies by this pandemic. The Board has issued this Statement on Enforcement Discretion to provide guidance to pharmacies about the Board’s enforcement of certain administrative rules during this period of public health disaster emergency. Pharmacists as Front-Line Responders for COVID-19 Patient Care
Major pharmacy organizations, representing the interests of pharmacists in the United States, have released a joint set of policy recommendations critical to addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. This document was released on March 20, 2020.
FIP Releases Significant Update to COVID-19 Guidelines for Pharmacists Around the World
The International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) released updated guidance for pharmacists in community, hospital, and clinical biology on COVID-19. The new guidance replaces their first COVID-19 guidance issued in February since the situation has continued to develop rapidly.
The updated guidance takes into account new evidence and recommendations on -
- Modes of transmission and incubation period
- Pharmacy operations and facilities
- Ensuring safety and continuity of service
- Preventive measures – including the use of masks
- Pharmacy interventions and patient counseling
- Treatment guidelines and medicines that may need to be stocked Progress in medicines and vaccine development
- Laboratory testing for COVID-19 in suspected human cases
- Cleaning and disinfection products and procedures
- Travel advice
FIP also issued a position statement that includes opinions on the safety of the use of ibuprofen, ACE inhibitors, ARBs, and corticosteroids during the COVID-19 pandemic.
DEA Guidance on Early Refills
The DEA has issued new guidance on early refills of controlled substances. This document, along with other resources, is available on the DEA’s COVID-19 website.
- Federal
- State
- Easing Workforce Challenges (Click for more details)
- Recommendation 1: Utilize a Statewide Standing Order (SSO) to allow pharmacists to:
- Order and administer flu, strep, and COVID-19 tests (ordering authority may help with insurance coverage even if some of these tests are available direct-to-consumer);
- Dispense antivirals pursuant to SSO to patients who test positive for flu and to people who live with patients who test positive for flu; and
- Dispense appropriate antibiotics pursuant to SSO for patients who test positive for strep.
- Recommendation 2: Allow pharmacists who are licensed in other states to practice in Iowa on a voluntary basis (155A.7).
- Recommendation 3: Allow pharmacy technicians to administer flu, strep, and COVID-19 tests. Specify that pharmacists trained to administer these tests can train pharmacy technicians to administer them with or without virtual training supplementation.
- Recommendation 4: Authorize pharmacists to dispense emergency 30-day supply prescription refills—even if there are no authorized refills remaining on the prescription.
- Recommendation 5: Designate pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and other pharmacy employees as essential/emergency workers to ensure no disruption in the workforce.
- Recommendation 6: For both Iowa Medicaid beneficiaries and members of private plans, extend all existing prior authorizations (PA) and lower the refill tolerance to 50%.
- Recommendation 1: Utilize a Statewide Standing Order (SSO) to allow pharmacists to:
- Easing Workforce Challenges (Click for more details)
IPA Communications
- CMS Minimizing Face-to-Face Contact for Medication Delivery or Dispensing
- Board of Pharmacy Guidance on Shortages of Personal Protective Gear: Guidance on how to still adhere to USP 795, 797, and 800 standards.
- FDA Guidance on Temporary Compounding of Hand Sanitizer Products: Provides FDA’s current recommendation to resolve shortage of hand sanitizer products.
- Common FAQs for Healthcare Professionals from the CDC – Answers to common questions such as: who’s at risk, can you be re-infected, and how we protect ourselves as providers.
- National Pharmacy Association COVID-19 Webpages: APhA, ASHP, NCPA, NACDS, and ASCP
- Decision Tree & Flyers for Your Pharmacy: FIP’s Decision Tree for Pharmacists to Guide Patients, CDC’s Practicing Good Hygiene, and CDC’s Symptoms to Watch
- Curbside pick-up operations example
The IPA staff team will be primarily working remote for the upcoming weeks ahead. We can still be reached by phone (515-270-0713), but encourage email as the primary form of communication. We are equipped to provide the same high level of member-service during this time. Look for our social media posts (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram) and Top 5 emails for the most up-to-date information.
IPA remains in close communication with the Board of Pharmacy, the Iowa Department of Public Health, and other state agencies to address the spread of coronavirus. IPA will advocate for utilization of the expertise of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and student pharmacists during the execution of emergency preparedness policies and procedures across the state.
