Arizona
The Board of Pharmacy posted its August 2026 newsletter.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Arkansas
The Board of Pharmacy voted to suspend enforcement of Act 630 of 2025, a first-in-the-nation law intended to prevent pharmaceutical manufacturers from restricting specialty drugs to limited distribution networks and to expand access for Arkansas pharmacies. The Board’s action follows a federal court ruling by U.S. District Judge Lee Rudofsky, who found that the law likely violates the U.S. Constitution’s Dormant Commerce Clause by discriminating in favor of in-state commerce. Chain, independent and oncology pharmacies in Arkansas that are not part of manufacturer-approved networks will remain unable to dispense certain specialty medications.
Also in Arkansas, the Legislative Council recently approved a proposed rule package updating Board of Pharmacy regulations implementing Acts 637, 938 and 961 of 2025. These changes are primarily technical in nature and align Board rules with legislation enacted during the 2025 legislative session.
- Establish standards for emergency medication kits in licensed alcohol and drug abuse treatment programs.
- Update compounding regulations to allow dispensing of medications from FDA-registered 503B outsourcing facilities.
- Revise Board member qualifications to reflect changes in state law.
- Modernize pharmacy regulations by updating off-site order entry requirements and removing outdated provisions.
Finally in Arkansas, Immunize AR will host its 10th Annual Immunization Summit on August 21 at the Wyndham Riverfront Hotel in North Little Rock. This year’s theme, “The Power of Prevention: Advancing Immunizations in a Changing Landscape,” highlights the importance of staying ahead in the evolving field of immunization. The conference includes 5.75 hours of continuing education for physicians, nurses, pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, as well as breakfast, lunch and refreshments.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
California
The Board of Pharmacy released its August 2026 News Roundup, the latest in its series of monthly updates covering regulatory and board developments.
Also in California, the Board of Pharmacy NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board proposed amendments to Title 16 CCR § 1749, related to Fee Schedules. Any person who wishes to comment on the proposed text may do so by submitting written comments beginning July 31 and ending on September 14 to the following:
Contact Person: Brianna Fujimoto
Agency Name: California State Board of Pharmacy
Address: 2720 Gateway Oaks Drive, Ste 100 Sacramento, CA 95833
Email: PharmacyRulemaking@dca.ca.gov
Fax: (916) 574-8618
Any responses to comments directly concerning the proposed addition of the text of the regulation will be considered and responded to in the Final Statement of Reasons.
All documents related to this regulatory action are available on the Board’s website.
Also in California, the Department of Health Care Services posted the following on the Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal:
- Now Active: Prior Authorization Policy Updates, Effective August 3, 2026
- Update: Basaglar® (Insulin Glargine) Removal from the Medi-Cal Rx Contract Drugs List Postponed Until November 1, 2026
- Medi-Cal Rx Monthly Bulletin for August
- 30-Day Countdown: Prior Authorization Policy Updates, Effective September 1, 2026
- Important: Provider Enrollment Requirement Not Yet Active
- 30-Day Countdown: Updates to the Early Refill Policy
- Mass Adjustment for Vaccines Reimbursement for Members 19 Years of Age and Older for Impacted Claims with a Date of Service July 1, 2024, through September 30, 2024
Finally in California, as a follow-up to the July 30 Town Hall on provider enrollment, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) invites you to participate in a focused discussion on DHCS’ data-informed effort to ensure that providers who order, refer or prescribe are properly enrolled in Medi-Cal.
Details:
- Date: August 26, 2026
- Time: 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
- Link here.
Participants will:
- Receive an overview of provider enrollment requirements.
- Learn about mitigation efforts designed to reduce impacts on members, practitioners and billing providers.
- Hear the proposed approach and timeline for enforcement.
Stakeholder feedback gathered during this discussion will be used to finalize the enforcement timeline and strategic plan, which will be shared at the second Town Hall meeting in late September.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Colorado
The Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) enacted Medicaid reimbursement reductions in 2026, affecting pharmacies through a combination of pharmacy-specific payment changes and broader provider funding cuts. Effective April 1, 2026, Colorado Medicaid implemented a State Plan Amendment that incorporated Maximum Allowable Cost (MAC) pricing into its drug reimbursement methodology and reduced professional dispensing fees for the highest-volume pharmacies, lowering reimbursement for many prescriptions. Effective July 1, 2026, Colorado enacted an additional 2% across-the-board Medicaid provider rate reduction as part of budget-balancing measures, but pharmacies were exempt from this July cut under HCPF guidance.
Also in Colorado, the Commission on Medicaid wants to hear from people who use, provide, pay for or work in the Medicaid program. The Commission will deliver recommendations to the General Assembly and the Governor in December, and this survey is one of the main ways to provide public input.
- Full survey — most questions are optional, and responses are anonymous.
- Brief form
Also in Colorado, the Board of Pharmacy posted the Summer 2026 newsletter.
Finally in Colorado, the Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (HCPF) FY 2026-2027 Performance Plan outlines the agency’s strategic goals and performance measures while highlighting recent progress in reducing certain Medicaid costs, simplifying member renewals and increasing timely prenatal care. HCPF is streamlining its priorities to improve access to care, enhance health care quality, advance programming and operational innovation, modernize eligibility systems, strengthen program integrity and improve partnerships with stakeholders.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Florida
The Board of Pharmacy has two upcoming meetings in August 2026. A Probable Cause Panel is scheduled for August 6 at 9:00 am EDT, followed by a full Board Meeting on August 20 at 8:30 am EDT.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Kansas
The Board of Pharmacy is holding a special meeting on August 10. The agenda will be posted online when it is available.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Louisiana
The Board of Pharmacy is scheduled to meet on August 11 and 12.
Also in Louisiana, the Board of Pharmacy published Bulletin No. 26-01, which summarizes select laws enacted this year that affect pharmacy practice and Board operations, including adding substances to controlled drugs, granting immunity for opioid antagonist use, permitting peptide compounding and dispensing, defining long-term care pharmacies, expanding expedited partner therapy, requiring verbal disclosure for recordings and updating insurance and PBM regulations. Most laws took effect on August 1.
Finally in Louisiana, the Board of Pharmacy adopted a rule amending Chapter 11, Subchapter D, §1139, the definition of “Remote Processing Services,” to add final product verification to the list of included activities and to clarify the definition by adding the phrase “using technology.” The anticipated effective date is October
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Maryland
NACDS continues to advocate for PBM reform through its role as the Maryland Association of Chain Drug Stores (MACDS) representative on the Maryland PBM Workgroup. The workgroup is reviewing specialty pharmacy, anti-steering and pharmacy reimbursement issues. NACDS helped develop comments and state-specific evidence submitted jointly by community pharmacy members urging the Maryland Insurance Administration and Medicaid to narrow Maryland’s specialty drug definition, remove arbitrary cost thresholds and prevent PBMs from using broad specialty classifications to steer patients away from community pharmacies. Past meeting recordings, slide presentations, and written comments are available on the Maryland PBM workgroup page, as well as public links to attend future meetings. The next meeting is scheduled for August 25 and will focus on pharmacy reimbursement, with 3 Axis Advisors expected to present.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Minnesota
NACDS reminds members that the Medicaid Actual Acquisition Cost (MNAAC) surveys are due back by August 12. If your pharmacy received a survey, you are statutorily mandated to respond. The survey will help determine ingredient cost under the new Single PBM program. The statute sets the overall reimbursement rate under the Single PBM at AAC + $11.55. Information is available on the Pharmacy Actual Acquisition Program page; download “MNAAC Survey Stakeholder Presentation_June 2026.pptx”. If you have questions or need assistance with the survey, you can contact the Myers and Stauffer Minnesota Help Desk.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.