On September 26, NACDS participated in a Medicaid meeting/conference call, during which the agency discussed potential pharmacy reimbursement modifications. In accordance with current market evidence, the agency proposed modifying the default reimbursement methodology from WAC + 0% to WAC – 4%, if no AAC exits for a drug product. Medicaid asked for all stakeholders to submit comments; those comments and responses, along with all other items discussed that day, may be found on the website. On November 15, the agency announced its plan to move forward with a State Plan Amendment (SPA) for the proposed change.
Also in Alabama… A reminder that gabapentin became a Schedule V medication on November 18. You may recall on May 15, the State Committee of Public Health voted to change gabapentin to a Schedule V medication, effective November 18, 2019. This was at the request of the Board of Medical Examiners. Pharmacies should have completed the necessary changes required when moving a legend medication to a scheduled medication. These changes may include software requirement changes, increases in physical space to store scheduled medications and changes in procedures for prescribing/dispensing a controlled substance. Questions can be directed to Nancy Bishop, State Pharmacy Director, Department of Public Health.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.