Erica Joyner, Author at In The States

Alabama

The Alabama Medicaid Agency (Medicaid) provides full Medicaid benefits for eligible pregnant individuals during pregnancy and 12 months postpartum. Medicaid does not require positive confirmatory pregnancy testing for maternity Medicaid coverage.

Pregnant individuals may apply for Medicaid programs using the single streamlined Medicaid application.

Online application (fast service),
Paper application (mailed to Medicaid),
Phone application by calling the Recipient Call Center at 1-800-362-1504 (toll-free), Monday through Friday, 8:00 am until 4:30 pm or
In-person application at a local county health department, a federally qualified health care center (FQHC), the regional Alabama Coordinated Health Network (ACHN) or some local hospitals.

For questions related to maternity Medicaid eligibility, providers may contact Gainwell Technologies at 1-800-688-7989.

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

Erica Joyner2025-03-13T16:00:21-04:00March 13, 2025|Alabama|

Arkansas

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) announced the Grocery Tax Relief Act, SB 377, sponsored by Senate President Bart Hester (R) and Rep. Kendon Underwood (R), would eliminate the state’s grocery tax by January 1, 2026. Referred to as the Good Neighbor Act, the bill seeks to expand legal protections for food bank donors, including churches, restaurants, farmers, grocery stores and wholesalers. It is estimated that it will return nearly $10.9 million to taxpayers annually.

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

Erica Joyner2025-03-13T15:59:46-04:00March 13, 2025|Arkansas|

California

In conjunction with the Joint Sunset Review Oversight Hearing on March 11, NACDS submitted a letter to both the Assembly Business & Professions Committee and the Senate Committee on Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee emphasizing the importance of modernizing pharmacy laws to authorize pharmacists to practice at the top of their education and training; to allow pharmacies to optimize the pharmacy technician workforce to enhance pharmacies’ capacity to meet patient demand for pharmacy care services; and to enable pharmacies to deploy new practice models and technologies to deliver care to their patients.

Also in California, the Department of Health Care Services posted the following weekly notice on the Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal: Medi-Cal Rx Weekly Wrap-up for February 28-March 6.

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

Erica Joyner2025-03-13T15:58:46-04:00March 13, 2025|California|

District of Columbia

The Department of Health Care Finance (DCHF) published a final rule permitting billing for MTM services. The rule was effective February 24, 2025.

Also, in the District of Columbia, the DCHF is hosting the next Pharmacy Provider Forum on March 18 and 19. The content is identical for both sessions. The invitation provides more detail and information to RSVP no later than March 17.

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

Erica Joyner2025-03-13T15:56:00-04:00March 13, 2025|District of Columbia|

Georgia

The Board of Pharmacy will hold a public hearing on adoption of proposed new rules at its meeting on April 9 at 9:00 am at the South University School of Pharmacy, 709 Mall Blvd., Savannah, Georgia 31406.

Proposed Adoptions:

480-5-.03	Code of Professional Conduct
480-7C-.01	Definitions
480-7C-.02	Third-Party Logistics Provider Licensing Requirements
480-11-.10	Exceptions
480-15-.02	Registration of Pharmacy Technicians and Continuing Education Requirements
480-15-.04	Duties of the Pharmacist in Charge Related to Registered Pharmacy Technicians
480-24-.02	Personnel
480-24-.03	Physical Requirements
480-24-.04	Drug Distribution
480-24-.05	Duties of Consultant Pharmacist
480-4-.06	Destruction of Drugs

Notices of Public Hearing regarding the above listed rules are available on the Board of Pharmacy website; see Press Releases (georgia.gov).

If you have any questions regarding this matter or any other matter related to the practice of pharmacy in the state, please contact the Board of Pharmacy staff at 404-651-8000.

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

Erica Joyner2025-03-13T15:55:25-04:00March 13, 2025|Georgia|

Hawaii

NACDS submitted a letter of support for SB1509_SD1, PBM reform legislation, to the House Committee on Health. SB1509_SD1 includes important reforms creating a reimbursement rate floor equating to NADAC plus the state’s Medicaid Fee-For-Service Professional Dispensing Fee and prohibiting a PBM from offering reimbursement rates or incentives to a non-affiliated pharmacy in an amount less than those offered to an affiliated pharmacy for providing the same prescription drug.

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

Erica Joyner2025-03-13T15:54:29-04:00March 13, 2025|Hawaii|

Illinois

The Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) will post its updated Preferred Drug List (PDL) on March 13. This update will include all changes that have been made during the past 12 months. While the Pharmacy Benefit Management System (PBMS) prior authorization system is pending restoration. HFS’ PDL is available online.

Also, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services’ (HFS) new Preferred Drug List (PDL) will be posted March 13. Starting immediately, HFS has changed the covered preferred blood glucose monitoring and testing supplies. The preferred products for all fee-for-service (FFS) and managed care organization (MCO) members are the Ascensia items below:

NDC 00193758450 Item: Contour Plus Blood Glucose Test Strips and
NDC 00193703601 Item: Contour Plus Blue Blood Glucose Monitoring System.

These products will be updated accordingly on the PDL on March 13. Providers should check with the respective MCOs for details on their transition timelines.

For additional information, please contact a pharmacy billing representative in the Bureau of Professional and Ancillary Services at 877-782-5565, or the applicable MCO.

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

Erica Joyner2025-03-13T15:53:56-04:00March 13, 2025|Illinois|

Iowa

Both Iowa HF 852/SF 383, PBM reform legislation, successfully passed the first important hurdle by advancing out of the House Committee on Commerce and the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services, respectively. These bills include significant reforms permitting patient choice of pharmacy; prohibiting a PBM from reimbursing a pharmacy in an amount less than NADAC plus a professional dispensing fee in the amount of $10.60; requiring a process for pharmacies to appeal a reimbursement rate for a specific prescription; and requiring a pass-through pricing model to help ensure that payments received by the PBM for providing services are used or distributed pursuant to the PBM’s contract with the payor or with the pharmacy.

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

Erica Joyner2025-03-13T15:53:19-04:00March 13, 2025|Iowa|

Nevada

Senator Rochelle Nguyen (D) filed SB 316, a broad PBM reform bill that includes enforcement provisions and pass-thru rebates, was filed this week and referred to the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee.

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

Erica Joyner2025-03-13T15:52:47-04:00March 13, 2025|Nevada|

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