About Erica Joyner

This author has not yet filled in any details.
So far Erica Joyner has created 377 blog entries.

Mississippi

The Mississippi Division of Medicaid (DOM) is in the process of implementing a new Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS) – which will include a new Provider Portal – known as MESA: Medicaid Enterprise System Assistance. The new system, going live at the beginning of October, is being developed by Gainwell Technologies.

Before switching over to the new system, every Medicaid-enrolled provider, clearing house or billing services vendor that currently submits electronic data transactions (for example, filing claims) to DOM must undergo Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) registration and testing with Gainwell Technologies. This process for ensuring the secure transmission of electronic information is required of all states when implementing a new system.

Medicaid providers are asked to identify their designated staff member, someone who is already involved in the submission of claims or other electronic transactions within the current provider portal, and direct them to this page on DOM’s website:

This also applies to any trading partner or billing services vendor that submits claims on behalf of a provider.

The website provides step-by-step instructions and supporting materials on how to register as a trading partner through an online portal and test electronic transactions. Providers are asked to begin this process as soon as time allows.

If providers have any questions about which representatives should be designated to follow these steps, please contact Gainwell’s Help Desk at MS_EDI_Helpdesk@dxc.com.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.

2022-08-05T09:39:18-04:00August 5, 2022|Mississippi|

Nebraska

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) announced the next COVID-19 Medicaid Provider call will take place on September 7 at noon (Central).  Call details will be posted at this website one week before the call. Also, a recording of the August 3 COVID-19 provider call is now available.

Also in Nebraska, the DHHS (Department of Health and Human Services) posted the COVID-19 Fee Schedule July 2022 (Revised 7.28.22).

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

2022-08-05T09:37:30-04:00August 5, 2022|Nebraska|

New York

Governor Kathy Hochul (D) issued an executive order that declares a state of emergency due to the spread of the monkeypox virus and directs all relevant state agencies to assist local governments in responding to the outbreak.

The executive order grants healthcare providers, including pharmacists, emergency permission to administer monkeypox vaccines through August 28, 2022.

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.

2022-08-05T09:36:04-04:00August 5, 2022|New York|

South Carolina

Don’t miss the FREE module on preventing Type 2 Diabetes in South Carolina. This course is designed to help you use the South Carolina Provider Toolkit to evaluate, test, treat and refer patients with prediabetes to an in-person or online evidence-based diabetes prevention program. To learn more, click here to view the flyer.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.

2022-08-05T09:31:47-04:00August 5, 2022|South Carolina|

Tennessee

TennCare is abandoning plans to set limits on some prescription drugs. This change comes after advocacy groups voiced concerns for low-income patients whose medication access may be limited.

Also in Tennessee, the Tennessee Pharmacy Association (TPA) wants to hear from you! If you are a pharmacist or pharmacy technician, please take their 2022 Needs Assessment to share your educational needs and your interest in diverse types of educational programming.

TPA’s “COVID-19 Updates: Paxlovid Prescribing and Best Practices for Vaccinating under 5” Webinar on Wednesday, August 10, 12-1pm CT, will provide the most current COVID updates.

Finally in Tennessee, updated versions of the PDL (Preferred Drug List), criteria PDL, and interim criteria PDL as well as the monthly provider notice for August 2022 can be found here.

The updates below became effective 8/1/2022:

  • Vimpat moved from preferred to non-preferred
  • ciprofloxacin/dexamethasone otic suspension moved from non-preferred to preferred
  • Sirturo was added to as non-preferred

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.

2022-08-05T09:30:48-04:00August 5, 2022|Tennessee|

Texas

The Board of Pharmacy posted new guidelines clarifying the Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) mandatory lookup requirements in integrated health records for pharmacists checking a patient’s controlled substance history before dispensing opioids, benzodiazepines, barbiturates or carisoprodol.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.

2022-08-05T09:28:44-04:00August 5, 2022|Texas|

Alabama

Alabama Pharmacy Association (APA) has been working with the Department of Insurance as they create a way for pharmacists/pharmacies as well as patients/consumers to file complaints regarding PBMs (Pharmacy Benefits Managers). APA has created two QR codes that can be printed out for easy access. One is for pharmacists/pharmacies and will take you directly to a page on the Department of Insurance website specifically for the purpose of filing a PBM complaint. The other is for patient use. You may find it useful to print this out and place it where patients can easily access it with the camera on their smart phone.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.

2022-07-29T10:09:18-04:00July 29, 2022|Alabama|

California

The Board of Pharmacy, Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) and the Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) issued a reminder to complete the workforce survey. HCAI, in partnership with the Board of Pharmacy and DCA, developed a workforce survey for individuals to complete during the electronic licensure renewal process. Individuals are asked to contribute to this important data collection effort by completing the survey at the time of licensure renewal. Please feel free to contact HCAI at workforcedata@hcai.ca.gov. Answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the HCAI licensure data collection are also posted on the Board’s website under License Renewal Online.

Also in California, NACDS and the California Retailers Association (CRA) submitted a joint letter to the Board of Pharmacy expressing members’ concerns with recent delays in approvals of licenses and permits by the Board of Pharmacy.  In the letter, we offered to work with the Board on solutions to this issue to ensure demand for critical medications and other pharmacy services are being met.

Also in California, NACDS and CRA submitted a joint letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee to “opposed unless amended” AB 852, legislation that would revise requirements originally enacted under AB 2789 (Wood, Ch. 438, Statutes of 2018) pertaining to e-prescribing.  Of particular concern, AB 852 would require pharmacies to accept electronic prescriptions without advance notice and minus the lead time necessary to build out system capabilities both internally and with external system vendors to accommodate this.  NACDS and CRA urge lawmakers to amend the legislation to clarify that pharmacies do not have to accept electronic prescriptions from software vendors without a mutually agreeable contractual relationship with a pharmacy that includes assurances of interoperability and complies with applicable laws, regulations and industry standards.

Also in California, the Department of Health Care Services posted the following alerts on the Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal.

Finally in California, on July 28, Medi-Cal posted the following:

  • Alert: “Real Time Eligibility Transactions” – Medi-Cal is currently experiencing intermittent technical difficulties with the Point of Service system network for eligibility transactions submitted by Leased Line users.
  • News: “Coming Soon: Laboratory Test CPT Code for the Orthopoxvirus” – New CPT code 87593 created to streamline the reporting of moneypox testing. A notification for claims submission to follow.
  • News: “Update for Paper RADs and No Pay Documents” – The discontinuance of paper RAD, Electronic Fund Transfer and No Pay documents has been extended. No future discontinuance date has been announced.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

2022-07-29T10:08:46-04:00July 29, 2022|California|

© National Association of Chain Drug Stores
All Rights Reserved | Privacy & Disclaimer

Go to Top