New Jersey
The New Jersey Board of Pharmacy recently released a letter on its determination to extend the Remote Processing Pilot Program.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.
New York
As you are aware, late in 2021 several PBM legislative packages were signed into law. Now as the NYS Department of Financial Services is developing regulations, the Department is seeking public comment on a series of issues. Those requests for comments can be found on the Department of Financial Services website: www.dfs.ny.gov/pbm.
The most recent Department request is for public comments about the applicability of the Pharmacy Benefit Manager (“PBM”) laws set forth in New York Insurance Law Article 29, as well as the need for rules to be promulgated thereunder, on PBM conduct while credentialing and re-credentialing pharmacies into a PBM network. View the Request for Public Comments (PDF)
Responses should be emailed to PBM@dfs.ny.gov, with “PBM2022-05” included in the subject line. Failure to include “PBM2022-05” in the subject line may result in your comment not being considered. The deadline for responses is September 9, 2022.
Also in New York, NYS Medicaid recently held a pharmacy sector meeting and discussed the work being done to ensure a smooth transition for pharmacy benefits from Medicaid Managed Care to Fee for Service (FFS). Here are the NYSDOH Pharmacy Benefit transition slides presented at the July 20th Medicaid meeting.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.
North Carolina
All immunizing pharmacists who vaccinate NC Medicaid beneficiaries, NC Medicaid wants to hear from you on how you bill for vaccine and vaccine administration to NC Medicaid. Please take 1 minute to answer three simple questions to help us determine if we can help make claims processing an easier process for you. Please respond by August 1, 2022.
Also in North Carolina, the Board of Pharmacy has been made aware that a pharmacy has implemented a policy whereby its prescription processing system will not allow an NP- or PA-issued prescription to be processed without the supervising physician’s name and other information.
A supervising physician’s information is not required on NP (Nurse Practitioners)- or PA-issued prescriptions. On February 1, 2021, the NC Medical Board amended the prescribing authority rule for physicians’ assistants by removing the supervising physician information requirement for prescriptions written by physicians’ assistants.
On August 1, 2021, the NC Medical Board amended the prescribing authority rule for nurse practitioners by removing the supervising physician information requirement for prescriptions written by nurse practitioners.
Prior to the Medical Board’s 2021 rule amendments (as detailed in long-standing Board guidance, see Item 2403), the absence of a supervising physician’s name and telephone number did not render a PA- or NP-issued prescription “invalid,” “illegal,” or otherwise ineligible for dispensing under the North Carolina Food Drug and Cosmetic Act or the North Carolina Pharmacy Practice Act.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Pennsylvania
The Wolf Administration issued a press release announcing they have amended the Physician General’s Naloxone Standing Order to include ZIMHI. The announcement encouraged state residents to print the standing order and bring it to pharmacies to request the prescription. NACDS reminds members that PA has a program to reimburse pharmacies for Naloxone copays when the customer is reluctant to fill a script due to the copay cost. This federally funded program runs on the current PACE adjudication platform but is open to any Pennsylvanian regardless of whether they have state or private/commercial insurance.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Texas
The Board of Pharmacy quarterly meeting is Tuesday, August 2. Included on the agenda for possible ultimate action on the adopting of the pharmacy counseling waiver and non-sterile compound rules.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Utah
The Board of Pharmacy posted the following:
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Virginia
The Department of Health (VDH) has updated the COVID-19 Vaccine Standing Order to reflect the recent EUA (Emergency Use Authorization) of Novavax. For pharmacies enrolled in VaxMax, Novavax will become available for ordering beginning August 4th. You can view the COVID-19 Vaccine Standing Order on the VDH website. The Summary of Authorities for Pharmacists to Administer COVID Vaccines has also been updated.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Washington
The Health Care Authority announced that the University of Washington Pain and Opioid Provider Consultation Hotline is a free telephone consultation service for health care providers caring for patients with chronic pain issues. Any health care provider in Washington State can receive consultation and recommendations from a pharmacist or physician with specialized expertise in chronic pain care.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Arkansas
Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) announced that the Secretary of Health Dr. Jose Romero is resigning on May 6th to take a job with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.