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So far Erica Joyner has created 377 blog entries.

New York

Effective November 29, the New York Department of Health issued updated guidance regarding dispensing of COVID-19 over-the-counter tests at the pharmacy.

NYRx, the New York State Medicaid Pharmacy Benefit Program, sent a release to pharmacy providers on December 6th. The program continues to field questions and concerns from residency program coordinators about pharmacies not able to submit claims to NYRx written by their interns and residents. NYRx asked the following shared regarding submission of claims:

  1. Provider Manuals (emedny.org)
  2. Provider Manuals – Pharmacy Manual (emedny.org)
  3. pdf (emedny.org)
  4. NYRx, the Medicaid Pharmacy Program | Education & Outreach (fhsc.com)

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

2023-12-08T09:55:28-05:00December 8, 2023|New York|

Ohio

The Board of Pharmacy has issued the following communications:

Also in Ohio, the Senate passed SB 144 by a vote of 30-1. This is a priority bill for pharmacy that would permanently authorized pharmacists and both certified and registered technicians to administer all vaccines to patients aged five and older. Action in the House is expected in 2024.

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

2023-12-08T09:54:38-05:00December 8, 2023|Ohio|

Oklahoma

The Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (OBN) alerted the Board of Pharmacy of the ongoing cyberattack regarding Ardent Health Services that is affecting multiple facilities in the state including Hillcrest Health System, Bailey Medical Center, and Utica Park Clinics, among others. The Board issued guidance for pharmacies that receive prescriptions for controlled substances from Ardent Health providers to continue filling the prescriptions received while continuing due diligence in confirming the prescription itself is valid and accurate, regardless of the manner or media received. This is a temporary solution to ensure prescribers can continue patient care until they can obtain OBN prescription pads.

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

2023-12-08T09:53:42-05:00December 8, 2023|Oklahoma|

Oregon

The Board of Pharmacy announced the December 13-15 Board meeting agenda and meeting materials are now available. Please note the consideration of rules for adoption related to vaccines pursuant to the enactment of HB 2486 and HB 2278 this year.

Also in Oregon, the Prescription Drug Affordability Board posted a draft agenda for the December 13 meeting. Board calendar and materials from past meetings are also available online.

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

2023-12-08T09:52:41-05:00December 8, 2023|Oregon|

Tennessee

On December 5, Belmont University will host a free, live webinar providing a one-hour Board of Pharmacy update from 6:30-7:30 pm CT. All pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in Tennessee are welcome to register.

Also in Tennessee, TennCare recently released a notice regarding changes to the TennCare pharmacy program, specifically to the morphine milligram equivalent (MME), which will become effective January 1, 2024.

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

2023-12-08T09:51:23-05:00December 8, 2023|Tennessee|

Texas

United Supermarkets’ pharmacist Tim Purser and his wife Charity who is standing next to Gov. Gregg Abbott (R), accompanied NACDS to a Lubbock fundraiser for the Chair of the House Calendars Committee, Dustin Burrows (R).

Also in Texas, Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar (R) announced the Opioid Abatement Fund Council (OAFC) decisions to approve up to $25 million over the next year of opioid settlement trust funds to be allocated for each grant plan strategy – the distribute Naloxone, the promotion of substance abuse and prevention by raising awareness of students in grades kindergarten through 12th , as well as their parents and caregivers, and bolstering training, recruitment and retention, and certification assistance for the behavioral health workforce. The OAFC had previously approved rules for distribution of $166.7 million of the funds to more than 150 hospital districts over 18 years. Additionally, last March $47.1 million of the Opioid Abatement funds was distributed to political subdivisions.

Also in Texas, the Board of Pharmacy adopted and proposed several new rules at their November meeting.

Also in Texas, the PMP Advisory Committee meeting will be meeting virtually December 14th.

Finally in Texas, Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) is suing Pfizer for “misrepresenting COVID-19 vaccine efficacy and conspiring to censor public discourse, arguing that Pfizer’s claim that the COVID-19 vaccine was 95% effective against infection was “highly misleading.” The lawsuit also charges that Pfizer engaged in a conspiracy to silence dissent by coordinating with social media companies to remove “truth-tellers” from their platforms.

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

2023-12-08T09:45:17-05:00December 8, 2023|Texas|

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|
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