Erica Joyner – Page 24 – In The States

California

The Medi-Cal Rx Monthly Bulletin for December has been posted. Below is an outline of this month’s updates. As a reminder, Medi-Cal Rx is schedule to be implemented effective January 1, 2021.

Changes to the Contract Drugs List (CDL), Effective December 1, 2021
Changes to the Contract Drugs List (CDL) – Over the Counter Drugs, Effective December 1, 2021
Changes to the Family PACT Pharmacy Formulary, Effective December 1, 2021
Medi-Cal Rx Medical Supplies Updates
Reimbursement for COVID-19 Vaccine Administration Claims
Updates to the Medi-Cal Rx Provider Manual
Adult Vaccination Administration Fee: Pharmacy Claims and Reimbursement
Maximum Allowable Ingredient Cost (MAIC) 30-Day Pharmacy Provider Notice
45-Day Pharmacy Provider Notice
Contract Drugs List (CDL) Flyer
Medi-Cal Rx Provider Training Details
Registering Multiple NPIs in UAC
UAC Registration and Sign-In Troubleshooting
UAC Registration Reminders and Helpful Tips
Introducing the Medi-Cal Rx Education and Outreach Team
Prescriber Training Checklist
Pharmacy Training Checklist

Also in California, NACDS submitted comments to the Board of Pharmacy in support of the proposed rule revising 16 CCR §1746.4 pertaining to requirements for notification to patients’ primary care provider following vaccine administration. In modifying the notification provisions of the rule to apply only when requested by a patient, the proposed rule change would reduce the administrative burden of preparing and forwarding potentially redundant information that is not always needed or desired by every primary care provider, especially considering that pharmacies also report administered vaccines to the California Immunization Registry. Considering pharmacist and pharmacy workload demands having amplified during the COVID-19 pandemic, eliminating unnecessary administrative requirements free up pharmacy personnel to focus on meeting public demand for increased pharmacy services.

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

Erica Joyner2021-12-03T12:15:42-05:00December 3, 2021|California|

Colorado

The Department of Regulatory agencies (DORA) announced that the Board of Pharmacy, Medical Board, and Board of Nursing will hold a virtual Joint Stakeholder Meeting on December 20^th seeking input on whether to develop a new statewide protocol for Statin Therapy within the scope of Collaborative Pharmacy Practice Agreements, as allowed per section 12-280-601(1), C.R.S., and Rule 17.00.00. This proposed protocol would allow pharmacists to provide evidence-based health-care services to increase access to a well-established medical standard of care. Written comments must be submitted by December 17, 2021. Oral comments will be taken from participants who are present via webinar.

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

Erica Joyner2021-12-03T09:37:09-05:00December 3, 2021|Colorado|

Florida

Governor Ron DeSantis joined by Florida Speaker Chris Sprowls and Senate President Wilton Simpson to sign legislation that will protect Floridians from losing their jobs due to COVID-19 vaccine mandates and protect parents’ rights to make healthcare decisions for students. The bills were passed through a Special Session of the Florida Legislature and are effective upon the Governor’s signature. The legislation signed today is the strongest anti-mandate action taken by any state in the nation. Read about the legislation HERE.

Also in Florida, Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Simone Marstiller issued the following statement in support of Florida’s challenge against the Biden Administration’s Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) rule mandating that health care workers receive the COVID-19 vaccine:

“The recent CMS rule issued by Biden Administration will not only damage our stretched health care industry but impact our most vulnerable and their ability to receive the health care they need,” said Secretary Simone Marstiller. “Tying Medicare and Medicaid funding to a vaccination mandate – funding that pays for medical care for elderly, disabled, and low-income individuals – is a blatant overreach of power that must be challenged. Thanks to the leadership of Governor DeSantis and Attorney General Moody, Florida is doing just that, to protect Florida jobs, ensure access to care, and empower individuals in making personal health care decisions for themselves and their families.”

Finally in Florida, the Florida HIE will be hosting a webinar on Tuesday, December 7^th at 12:00pm EST. Learn about how the Encounter Notification Service (ENS) provides benefits to providers and patients across Florida. You may register here.

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

Erica Joyner2021-12-03T12:17:54-05:00December 3, 2021|Florida|

Iowa

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) posted the following, including new clinical materials related to recent ACIP recommendations for a COVID-19 vaccine for children 5 through 11 years of age:

Also in Iowa, the Board of Pharmacy has posted the meeting minutes from the August 31, 2021 meeting.

Finally in Iowa, NACDS submitted comments to the Board of Pharmacy concerning ARC 6012C related to Collaborative Pharmacy Practice Agreements and recommended the Board consider including physician assistants in the practitioner definition to include all licensed professionals duly authorized to prescribe to ensure all relevant pharmacy collaborations with prescribers can be leveraged to extend and improve care.

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

Erica Joyner2021-12-03T09:34:09-05:00December 3, 2021|Iowa|

Louisiana

The Department of Health (LDH) held its monthly COVID-19 Vaccine Partners virtual webinar providing the latest statistics on vaccines administered, LDH also did a one-year look-back highlighting equitable distribution across the state’s nine healthcare regions. More information is available at La.Immunization@La.gov.

Also in Louisiana, in addition to electing new officers at the November 17^th Board meeting, the board approved to move forward on adopting fee increases Regulatory Proposal 2021-G. They also discussed proposed New PPM.I.A.35, Emergency Prescriptions for Durable Medical Equipment (Draft #1) State of Emergency authorizing pharmacists to dispense emergency prescriptions of prescribed medications during a state of emergency. Finally, they approved Proposed Revision of PPM.I.D.28 ~ COVID-19 Public Health Emergency: Guidance for Licensees re PREP Act Declaration by HHS (Draft #1), which is a guidance document.

Finally in Louisiana, the Board of Pharmacy scheduled an in-person Public Hearing on December 28, 2021, on a proposed rule on medication administration that would make permanent pharmacy technicians and interns administering immunizations. Pharmacies are encouraged to email written supportive comments to the Board in advance of the hearing. info@pharmacy.la.gov

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

Erica Joyner2021-12-03T09:32:49-05:00December 3, 2021|Louisiana|

Maine

The Notice of Agency Rulemaking Proposal regarding Joint Rule Between the Maine Board of Pharmacy and Maine Board of Nursing on Collaborative Drug Therapy Management (CDT) has been posted to the Maine Board of Pharmacy website. The comment deadline is January 3, 2022, at 5:00 pm. EST. Written comments may be sent to Geraldine.L.Betts@maine.gov using the subject line: CDT Proposed Rule Comment.

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

Erica Joyner2021-12-03T09:30:57-05:00December 3, 2021|Maine|

Mississippi

Join MPhA for a virtual Last Chance Seminar! This seminar will offer two (2) live CE hours. These hours satisfy the opioid/drugs of abuse required by the Board of Pharmacy. December 12, 2021, 4:00pm – 6:00pm. Click here to register.

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

Erica Joyner2021-12-03T09:29:31-05:00December 3, 2021|Mississippi|

New York

The Board of Pharmacy met this week. The Executive Secretary Dina Jazrawi reported that the Board is continuing to accept applications to fill the two openings for registered pharmacy technicians to serve on the Board. Individuals must be registered and working in an Article 28 facility. In addition, there is still a pharmacist opening for a Downstate Office of Professional Discipline.

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

Erica Joyner2021-12-03T09:28:07-05:00December 3, 2021|New York|

Ohio

Dr. John M. Weigand, a central Ohio physician who has served as a leader in the state’s COVID-19 pandemic response, has been appointed Medical Director at the Ohio Department of Health and the Ohio Department of Aging. Since early in the pandemic, Dr. Weigand has served as Chief Medical Officer of the Department of Aging’s Regional Rapid Response Assistance Program (R³AP) and as Medical Director of the Post-Acute Regional Rapid Testing (PARRT) partnership.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.

Erica Joyner2021-12-03T09:26:18-05:00December 3, 2021|Ohio|

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