On September 6, 2013, most of the laws the Nebraska State Legislature passed during the 2013 legislative sessions became effective. Among those bills were LB 459 and LB 326. In order to prevent several communicable diseases, LB 459 requires acute hospitals, immediate care facilities, nursing facilities and skilled nursing facilities to offer on-site vaccinations of diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis prior to a patient or resident’s discharge. LB 459 does not require facilities to pay for the cost of the vaccinations; it can be passed onto the resident.
Legislative Bill 326 amended the Automated Medication Systems Act to allow long-term care facilities to register and operate automated medication systems which will be licensed as a separate pharmacy. In order for a nursing home to have an automated medication system, a pharmacist in charge of a licensed pharmacy must annually license the automated medication system. It is the responsibility of the pharmacist to ensure that the automated medication system complies with Federal Drug Enforcement Administration and State Law. The long-term care facility must comply with the policy and procedures that the pharmacist puts in place. If a long-term care facility has an automated medication system the residents are not forced to receive their prescriptions from the automated pharmacy, they still have the choice to choose their pharmacy.
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