Colorado
In advance of the September 14 Medical Services Board public hearing, NACDS submitted a comment letter supporting the proposed rule adding pharmacists as providers.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Kansas
The Board of Pharmacy has received a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to expand K-TRACS, the state’s prescription drug monitoring program. The Board of Pharmacy will use the money to develop a public awareness campaign for K-TRACS, to conduct an audit of K-TRACS records and to hire a special investigator who will use K-TRACS data to identify suspicious and harmful prescribing patterns.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Louisiana
Beginning September 14, the Medicaid Fee-for-Service Pharmacy Program began to reimburse enrolled pharmacies for influenza vaccines and administration of the vaccines for Medicaid recipients who are nineteen years of age and older when the administering pharmacist is an enrolled Medicaid provider.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Oklahoma
Earlier this month, the Health Care Authority approved an across-the-board Sooner-Care (Medicaid) provider reimbursement rate increase effective Monday, October 1. The three percent increase, or 32-cent increase in the dispensing fee to $10.87 for pharmacies, is effective Monday, October 1.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
California
Gov. Jerry Brown (D) signed into law AB 2789. Effective January 1, 2022, this newly enacted law will require healthcare practitioners authorized to issue prescriptions to have the capability to e-prescribe and would require pharmacies to have the capability to receive these electronic prescriptions. The bill also requires those healthcare practitioners to transmit prescriptions electronically, unless specified exemptions are met. The bill does not require the pharmacy to verify that a written, oral, or faxed prescription satisfies the specified exemptions. Please also see the article in the main body of CEO Issue Update.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Georgia
The Department of Community Health has contracted with Myers & Stauffer LC to conduct a cost of dispensing survey. The survey will be distributed on Thursday, October 11 to all pharmacies participating in the Medicaid fee-for-service program. The survey must be completed by Friday, November 16.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
North Carolina
This week, effective September 19, North Carolina transitioned to the new Controlled Substance Reporting System (CSRS), the state’s electronic prescription drug monitoring program. To assist you with any questions regarding how you interface with this new platform you can call Technical Support at 855-962-4767 (24-hours a day seven-days a week) or email CSRS.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Pennsylvania
The Pharmaceutical Contract for the Elderly (PACE) Program has issued a Provider Bulletin that outlines changes to its policy on coverage of opioids, effective Wednesday, October 10. Please contact Amy Brewer of Magellan Medicaid Administration with any questions.
Virginia
Beginning Wednesday, October 3, pharmacies will have to report any Schedule V drug requiring a prescription and any naloxone dispensed to the Prescription Monitoring Program. The change is the result of a Board of Pharmacy final rule published in the VA Register.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.