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So far Erica Joyner has created 542 blog entries.

Washington

The Department of Health’s Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission (PQAC) filed a rulemaking inquiry to consider possible amending language on prescription transfers requested by the patient.

Also in Washington, the Health Care Authority (HCA) published a new Medicaid program integrity training for providers which includes pharmacy, COVID-related issues and general program integrity overview and activities. The information provided in this educational intervention is not intended to be a comprehensive detailed account of all legal requirements relevant to compliance with Medicaid program integrity laws and regulations and satisfies the law requiring annual training in RCW 74.09.195.

Also in Washington, the HCA updated the Prescription Drug Program Billing Guide, effective for dates of service on and after December 1, 2023. Revisions include added vaccines that can be billed through the point-of-sale pharmacy system, updated pharmacy billing information for vaccines and vaccine administration, and updated professional dispensing fee allowances for pharmacies to align with recently filed emergency rules.

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

2023-12-08T09:43:44-05:00December 8, 2023|Washington|

Alaska

Effective July 15, 2023, there is no longer a requirement for facilities or pharmacies to submit an application for changes to ownership, location or names.

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

2023-10-06T10:11:51-04:00October 6, 2023|Alaska|

Arizona

The Board of Pharmacy’s final rule to permanently authorize pharmacy technicians to administer vaccines under the delegation and supervision of a pharmacist was published in the Arizona Administrative Register, Volume 29, Issue 38 (see pages 2191-2195) with an effective date of September 6, 2023.

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

2023-10-06T10:11:04-04:00October 6, 2023|Arizona|

California

The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) posted the following alerts and monthly bulleting on the Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal:

Also in California, NACDS submitted a letter of support to Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) urging him to sign AB 1341. The governor subsequently signed AB 1341 (Chapter 276, Statutes of 2023) on September 30. The newly bill enacted permits pharmacists to provide COVID-19 medication as well as offer broader options of substance use disorder treatments as specified in the bill.

Also in California, NACDS submitted a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) urging him to veto AB 1286, legislation that would impose arbitrary staffing limits and impede pharmacies’ ability to optimize the use of pharmacy technicians to assist with technical duties that do not require a pharmacist’s professional judgement.

Finally in California, NACDS submitted a letter of support to Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) urging him to sign AB 317, legislation helping to support patient access to essential healthcare services provided by pharmacists by requiring healthcare service plans that cover care that is otherwise within pharmacists’ scope of practice to reimbursement pharmacy providers for delivering those services.

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

2023-10-06T10:10:26-04:00October 6, 2023|California|

Connecticut

The Department of Consumer Protection urges pharmacists to continue to offer to prescribe naloxone for patients, when appropriate. This includes when filling prescriptions for:

  1. Medications within the opioid class of drugs;
  2. Patients with a history of opioid use disorder;
  3. Family members and friends of individuals with a history of opioid use disorder and
  4. Upon request by a patient.

As some insurance providers, including Medicaid, may continue to cover Narcan and ReVive, pharmacists should continue to submit claims when dispensing naloxone prescribed by a pharmacist or other authorized prescriber. Patients whose insurance providers do not cover these medications should contact their insurance provider for more information. Additional information can be found on the Drug Control Division website.

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Mike Sargent at 207-272-6435.

2023-10-06T10:07:55-04:00October 6, 2023|Connecticut|

Florida

Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and members of the Florida Cabinet approved rules to implement several provisions of the Prescription Drug Reform Act (SB 1550). The rules increase accountability among pharmaceutical middlemen known as pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). As signed by the Governor earlier this year, SB 1550 institutes the most comprehensive reforms to Florida’s prescription drug market in state history. Additional information on the bill can be found here.

Also in Florida, the Agency for Health Care Administration (Agency), along with its fiscal agent, Gainwell Technologies, is introducing enhancements implemented as part of the new NPI initiative. A new Taxonomy Master List (TML) Tip Sheet, an updated Provider Master List (PML) Tip Sheet and an updated Pending Provider List (PPL) Tip Sheet is now available. The updated PML and PPL test examples are now available. The release of the updated PML and PPL changes will occur on October 26, 2023. After the release, a copy of the former version of the PML and PPL will remain archived on the Registration page of the Managed Care section of the Florida Medicaid Public Web Portal for reference. The release of the updated TML changes occurred on September 28, 2023. The release will replace the current version of the TML on the Florida Medicaid Public Web Portal. To access a copy of the new TML Tip Sheet and the updated PML and PPL Tip Sheets, please visit the Florida Medicaid Public Web Portal at mymedicaid-florida.com, navigate to the Agency Initiatives tab, and select NPI Initiative.

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

2023-10-06T10:06:20-04:00October 6, 2023|Florida|

Indiana

The Department of Health issued the standing order and protocol for pharmacists to provide without a prescription self-administered hormonal contraceptives products.

Also in Indiana, the state’s Health Coverage Programs (IHCP) Medicaid issued several bulletins:

IHCP removes cost-sharing obligations for pharmacist-administered adult vaccines

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

2023-10-06T10:05:23-04:00October 6, 2023|Indiana|

Kansas

The Board of Pharmacy announced that the Collaborative Drug Therapy Management Committee adopted several protocols for testing and initiation of therapy for:
– Suspected Influenza in Adult Patients
– Suspected Influenza in Patients under 18 years of age
– Suspected Acute Group A Streptococcal Pharyngitis in Adult Patients
– Suspected Acute Group A Streptococcal Pharyngitis in Patients under 18 years of age
– Suspected Acute Uncomplicated Lower Urinary Tract Infection in Women

Also in Kansas, the Board of Pharmacy approved a new emergency opioid antagonist (EOA) protocol adding an opioid antagonist drug ready-to-use nasal spray device to the drugs that may be dispensed.

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

2023-10-06T10:03:50-04:00October 6, 2023|Kansas|
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