Preference for State to practice pharmacy?

[Jabberwocky12]

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So I saw an old thread about some differences in the states for pharmacy, but what would be your top 3 states to go practice pharmacy and why?

I would like to go to North Dakota since most pharmacies there aren't national chains since they have to be owned/majority share of pharmacists in the state. However that is the only state that comes to mind right now.

I think PA just recently started revamping some pharmacy/doctor collaborations as well but that is still in the works I believe.

Any more? I'm trying to see what states look appealing to work after pharmacy school, and it might help to make a tie-breaker between a few schools I'm applying to as well.

Thanks a ton for the input guys, it's kinda hard to find out some of these things without doing a lot of reading in law books...

 

[1TB4RKSB4CK]

Florida- I live here and most of my family and friends are here; nice state I must admit even though S. Florida is going downhill.
Illinois- My other family lives there and I like the state very laid back in the rural areas.
California- So much to say but the only downside for me is the higher cost of living.
This is if I were graduating from Pharm School. Sadly I'm only in Pre-pharm. :/

 

[MountainPharmD]

I would do some research and move to a state that has a BOP pharmacy that doesn't have thier head up thier ass. Ones I can think off the top of my head are California, North Dakota, and North Carolina.

 

[Pinser555]

Mass - No coupons, and mandatory generic law. Cuts out a lot of bull....

Also Boston is awesome (minus the winter :-/)

 

[owlegrad]

Mass - No coupons, and mandatory generic law. Cuts out a lot of bull....

Also Boston is awesome (minus the winter :-/)

At the risk of sounding simple, what is mandatory generic law?

 

[Pinser555]

At the risk of sounding simple, what is mandatory generic law?

No DAW 2 at all. The only DAW code allowed is 1... makes like simple... I think its basically that insurance is mandated by law; hence they see no need for coupons, and to keep premiums low they require generics...

 

[owlegrad]

No DAW 2 at all. The only DAW code allowed is 1... makes like simple... I think its basically that insurance is mandated by law; hence they see no need for coupons, and to keep premiums low they require generics...

Interesting. Thanks for the explanation. I wonder if yall get more DAW1 because of this?

I often wonder why people who want DAW2 don't just ask their doctor for DAW1. How hard is it to say to your doctor, "can you write for brand only? Generic doesn't work for me."? Maybe because I am behind the pharmacy counter my perception is skewed but it seems like it would be easier on the patient to get the doctor to write for brand than it is to get the brand after the fact. Won't many insurances cover DAW1 anyway (maybe with prior auth)? Just one of those things that I always found humorous.

 

[Pinser555]

We do get a bit more DAW 1's, but not significantly more. Mostly because they can't double bill with a Solydon or Clobex trail card 🙂... Also physicians have no incentives to write for brand medications from reps..

 

[Jabberwocky12]

Aren't there certain states that allow limited prescriptive authority? Like swapping out in the same class or adjusting the sig if the prescription was messed up? My pharmacist mentioned a little bit about it before he moved but he never told me what state it was...

 

[Kumura]

California all of the way; pharmacists can do many things here that they cant do in other states.

 

[rxlea]

North Carolina, Minnesota, New Mexico.

 

[Jabberwocky12]

North Carolina, Minnesota, New Mexico.

California all of the way; pharmacists can do many things here that they cant do in other states.

So what about CA, MN, NM, and NC make them so appealing for pharmacy? I live in NC so maybe I am taking it for granted but what is the difference? I'm mainly talking about state law rather than location or weather, since I don't really care where I practice since it's going to be MY profession and I want to see who will be working with me the most ^_^

 

[njac]

NC and NM both have advanced practice opportunities for pharmacists to have prescriptive authority.

 

[Dalteparin]

Work for the VA - pharmacists there do a lot of collaborating with MDs and have limited prescribing authority, and since the VA is part of the Federal government, it won't matter what state you're in.

 

[aboveliquidice]

Dod civilian trumps all... Can work in any state. Opportunity to open specialty clinics should you have the expertise and know how, provider status (beyond corroborative practice agreements, no insurance or cash transactions... Only negative is the lower initial pay.

 

[Jabberwocky12]

Dod civilian trumps all... Can work in any state. Opportunity to open specialty clinics should you have the expertise and know how, provider status (beyond corroborative practice agreements, no insurance or cash transactions... Only negative is the lower initial pay.

What is the difference between doing that vs working in a VA hospital vs USPHSC as a commissioned officer? I'm honestly looking at doing USPHSC working with Indian Health Services or FDA or CDC but I'm still looking around for that...

 

[KARM12]

Mass - No coupons, and mandatory generic law. Cuts out a lot of bull....

Also Boston is awesome (minus the winter :-/)

Are you kidding? MA is one of the least progressive states as far as pharmacy practice is concerned.

 

[pandapharmer]

California all of the way; pharmacists can do many things here that they cant do in other states.

can you elaborate? what kinds of freedoms do pharmacists in cali have that they don't in other states?