It's now easier to apply for licensure transfer

Pharmacists who want to transfer their licenses to another state can now download the application directly from the Web site of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy.

The six-page Electronic Licensure Transfer Program (ELTP) application can be downloaded in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format from http://www.nabp.net/. Applicants can then complete the downloaded form on their computer or by hand and then print it out and mail it off to NABP.

One major change that should appeal to pharmacists is the elimination of the section where they had to write down that they had not been convicted, fined, disciplined, or had their license revoked. The on-line criminal and disciplinary history section now consists of six questions with check boxes for yes or no answers.

The ELTP application still must be sent in via snail mail, but NABP is working to make the process totally electronic. "This is the first phase of a major infrastructure overhaul," said NABP executive director Carmen Catizone. "The end result will very shortly be to create an interactive database of real-time information so candidates will no longer file paper forms with NABP or the boards; their information will be generated almost in real time to the states for approval, cutting the processing time for licensure transfer applications."

For more information, contact NABP Customer Service Department at (847) 391-4406, or by e-mail at custserv@nabp.net
. The application form can be downloaded by going to http://www.nabp.net/, clicking on the "Licensure Transfer" button, then selecting "Licensure Transfer Application" and scrolling to the bottom of the page.

TECHNOLOGY UPDATEHow to obtain a National Provider Indentifier Pharmacists and other healthcare providers can begin applying for a National Provider Identifier (NPI) beginning May 23. Another HIPAA mandate, the NPI will be required for all healthcare providers who submit electronic transactions. It will replace other provider numbers. All covered providers must have NPIs by May 23, 2007, but small health plans were given until 2008 to comply. Information is at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/hipaa/hipaa2.

Smart, very smart Fujitsu Transaction Solutions is putting wireless computing power in the hands of consumers, offering store information and scan-as-you-shop convenience with a small unit bolted to a shopping cart. With the U-Scan Shopper, customers can download shopping lists for in-store reference, get offers tied to loyalty cards, and place in-store orders at the pharmacy. There's more at http://www.ftxs.fujitsu.com/; or phone (800) 340-4425.

Summit talks The National Association of Chain Drug Stores and the Healthcare Distribution Management Association will host an RFID Health Care Industry Adoption Summit on Nov. 13-16 in Arlington, Va. The summit will focus on adoption of RFID across the Rx supply chain to boost efficiencies and to prevent drug tampering. For more info, phone (703) 837-4300 or go to http://www.RFIDHealthCare.org/.

Rubber meets the road Pharmacists and institutions that need to know the latex content of pharmaceutical products can pay $300 for an annual subscription to LatexDrugs, a firm led by pharmacists. With information directly from drug manufacturer documentation, the database covers more than 90% of all U.S. injectables. The upgraded Web site http://www.latexdrugs.com/ allows guests to see examples from the database by clicking on "guest entry."