Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

About Erica Joyner

This author has not yet filled in any details.
So far Erica Joyner has created 554 blog entries.

Wisconsin

The Department of Health Services (DHS) is forming a Rural Health Advisory Council to provide strategic guidance and input as the state advances its rural health implementation efforts. The advisory council will help inform how Wisconsin sets rural health priorities, designs programs and incorporates real-world provider and community perspectives into implementation strategies. Applications are due February 27.

DHS is seeking applicants from the following groups:

1. Individuals or Organizations Involved in Rural Health Service Delivery

This includes those who:

  • Provide services in rural hospitals, rural health clinics, community health centers, long-term care facilities, local or Tribal health departments or county human services agencies
  • Practice as individual providers in rural communities, including primary care and behavioral health providers, physicians, nurses, pharmacists, EMS professionals, community health workers and peer support specialists
  • Represent organizations that support health care providers

2. Individuals With Lived Rural Health Experience

This includes individuals who receive care in rural Wisconsin through rural hospitals, rural health clinics, community health centers, long-term care facilities, local or Tribal health departments or county human services agencies.

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

2026-03-10T15:12:43-04:00February 12, 2026|Wisconsin|

Wyoming

Gov. Mark Gordon (R) announced that, last month, the state submitted a SNAP [Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program] Food Restriction Demonstration Waiver to the US Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service, marking a significant step toward strengthening nutrition outcomes for Wyoming families. Approved under Executive Order 2025-07, the waiver proposes a phased approach to limiting the purchase of certain non-nutritive items with SNAP benefits, beginning with sweetened, carbonated beverages in the first year, followed by candy in the second.

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

2026-02-12T17:47:37-05:00February 12, 2026|Wyoming|

Alaska

The Department of Health Commissioner Hedi Hedberg announced Alaska received the second highest amount of money awarded by the federal government to spend on its Rural Healthcare projects in 2026. Pharmacies interested in learning more about how they can participate in the program need to pre-register for a virtual webinar on January 14 from 9:30 am-11:30 am AKT. You will learn about the Rural Health Transformation Program, including the state’s vision, approved initiative areas, anticipated timelines, what we know to date about the funding process and explore how your community can participate in regional health transformation efforts.

Also in Alaska, the state was awarded the second most discretionary Rural Healthcare Transformation Funds (RHTF) by the federal government – $272,174,856 – to help states redesign rural healthcare systems. The funding is discretionary and tied, in part, to each state’s pharmacist’s scope-of-practice score. Having the legislature pass SB 147B / HB 195A would increase the state’s score to access more federal dollars—supporting hospitals, rural health clinics and behavioral health initiatives statewide. Pharmacies are working closely with the Department of Health Commissioner and the Board of Pharmacy to advance this legislation in 2026.

Finally in Alaska, the Board of Pharmacy currently has one pharmacist vacancy and is anticipating another pharmacist vacancy in March 2026. Please consider applying online to serve on the Board of Pharmacy.

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

2026-03-10T14:43:31-04:00January 8, 2026|Alaska|

Arkansas

Gov. Sara Huckaby Sanders (R) recently appointed Jimmy Harris to serve as the new Commissioner of the Insurance Department (AID). Harris is expected to be more aggressive on enforcement of complaints against PBM’s violating the laws and rules.

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

2026-01-08T16:58:01-05:00January 8, 2026|Arkansas|

California

On December 29, 2025, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) became aware of a preliminary injunction issued by the US District Court in Maine blocking the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) from implementing the 340B Rebate Model Pilot Program, which was set to begin on January 1, 2026, pending further legal action. The preliminary injunction applies to the implementation of the 340B Rebate Model Pilot Program in the state. In light of the issuance of the preliminary injunction, DHCS will not implement the policy guidance previously provided specific to the drugs that are part of the 340B Rebate Model Pilot Program until further notice. Accordingly, providers should continue submitting Medi-Cal Rx and medical claims, as applicable, consistent with all existing Medi-Cal 340B billing policies.

Also in California, required system upgrades to the Medicaid Management Information System (CA-MMIS) are scheduled to take place on January 11. The upgrade may go into an extended maintenance period, which begins at midnight on January 11 and may continue through 10:00 am on January 11. During the extended window, the Medi-Cal Point of Service (POS), Automated Eligibility Verification System (AEVS), Leased Line vendors, Case Management Information and Payrolling System (CMIPS) and certain Transactions Services on the Medi-Cal Providers website applications may experience intermittent issues.

Also in California, as announced last year, CalRx partnered with Civica to make insulin more affordable and accessible statewide. Beginning January 1, 2026, CalRx/Civica Insulin Glargine pens will be available to California pharmacies at a cost of $45 per 5-pack of 3 mL pens, with a suggested maximum retail price of no more than $55 for consumers. To help patients locate pharmacies that plan to carry CalRx insulin, CalRx intends to publicly post participating pharmacy locations; see CalRx Pharmacy Survey to provide input. For more information, see resources listed below. For additional questions, please contact CalRx (info@calrx.ca.gov) or Civica (insulinquestions@civicarx.org).

Also in California, the Board of Pharmacy published its Board of Pharmacy News Roundup (January 2026). Please review the news in its entirety for important updates and information.

Finally in California, the Board of Pharmacy seeks to remind affected licensees about Proposition 34, a ballot initiative that was approved by the voters in November 2024. Proposition 34 added the Protect Patients Now Act of 2024 (Act) to the Welfare and Institutions Code (see sections 14124.39-14124.52). Among its provisions, the Act establishes requirements for a “Prescription Drug Price Manipulator” (as defined in subdivision (l) of WIC section 14124.48) to report specified information to certain agencies, including the Board, by no later than April 30, 2026. Public comments related to the Act, and information relating to entities that qualify as Prescription Drug Price Manipulators, may be submitted to Prop34@dca.ca.gov.

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

2026-01-08T16:57:31-05:00January 8, 2026|California|

Colorado

The Legislature will convene on January 14 and adjourn on or before May 13.

Also in Colorado, the Attorney General’s Office and the Colorado Opioid Abatement Council (COAC) announced up to $23 million in new statewide opioid abatement funding available through grant opportunities. Round 4 Infrastructure Funding Opportunity prioritizes capital or operational investments in rural, underserved or disproportionately impacted communities, and encourages collaborative or multi-organization proposals.

Also in Colorado, the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) and Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) are currently developing a Prospective Payment System (PPS) Guardrails Plan and seeking feedback from our partners. PPS is a flexible, advanced reimbursement model tying payment to daily encounters instead of to individual services. It is provider-specific and based on each provider’s unique cost structure, designed to cover a safety net provider’s actual cost of services. The Guardrails Plan will detail the structure of the PPS payment, financial and data reporting requirements and quality requirements. It will also explain the monitoring and oversight processes, and potential impacts of noncompliance. The first stakeholder session is scheduled for January 23 from 11:00 am to 12:00 noon. Please register in advance in Zoom. Contact hcpf_bhbenefits@state.co.us with any questions.

Finally in Colorado, the Board of Pharmacy voted unanimously to make permanent rules regarding pharmacists’ authority to provide immunizations. The emergency rule changes from September 5, 2025, delink pharmacists’ immunizations authority from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines, and grant authority for pharmacists to independently prescribe any vaccine under their own license/NPI (National Provider Identifier), and got rid of the need for a physician authorization protocol. These rules were sent to the Secretary of State to be published in the Colorado Register and take effect no later than January 14.

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

2026-01-08T16:56:47-05:00January 8, 2026|Colorado|

Delaware

CMS awarded the state $157 million as part of a national program aimed at bolstering rural health care across all 50 states. The initial award represents the first batch of funding the state hopes to receive over the next five years. The full award amount for the state remains unclear at this time, but the state will receive at least $500 million from the federal program. Delaware officials said they plan to use those funds to invest heavily into health infrastructure in Kent and Sussex counties, including building the state’s first medical school and two new homeless service shelters in the lower counties. State leaders also hope to fund 13 additional programs, including additional preventative care, financial assistance for medical students that commit to working in Delaware for five years after graduation and robust nutritional education.

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

2026-01-08T16:56:11-05:00January 8, 2026|Delaware|

Florida

The Department of Revenue has launched its new eFile and Pay system for quarterly, semiannual and annual filers. Please take a moment to review the latest Department of Revenue Tax Information Publication (TIP) link online.

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

2026-01-08T16:55:41-05:00January 8, 2026|Florida|
Go to Top