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Ohio

On April 4, the Department of Insurance issued Bulletin 2018-02, prohibiting insurers and Pharmacy Benefit Managers from:

  • Prohibiting any person, directly or indirectly, from informing, by any means, an individual about less expensive ways to purchase prescription drugs that may also be available under any insurance policy or benefit plan.
  • Requiring cost-sharing in an amount, or directing a pharmacy to collect cost-sharing in an amount, greater than the amount an individual would pay for the prescription drug if the drug were purchased without coverage under a health benefit plan.

The bulletin was effective upon release.

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

2018-04-25T10:56:12-04:00April 5, 2018|Ohio|

Wisconsin

SB 575, legislation allowing pharmacists to substitute interchangeable biologic drugs and establishing guidelines for notification, has been signed by Gov. Scott Walker (R) with an effective date of March 30. For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.

Also in Wisconsin… Gov. Walker signed into law AB 681, which will require minors to have a prescription to purchase products containing dextromethorphan, effective Monday, April 1, 2019.

Also in Wisconsin… the Pharmacy Examining Board announced its adopted rules updating standards for sterile and nonsterile compounding to align with USP Chapters <795> and <797> effective Thursday, November 1, 2018.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.

2018-04-25T10:51:23-04:00April 5, 2018|Wisconsin|

Arkansas

As a result of the special session convened last week, Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) signed into law a PBM licensure bill that grants power to the state’s Insurance Department to regulate how PBMs operate in the state.

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

2018-03-23T13:38:22-04:00March 22, 2018|Arkansas|

Florida

The legislature adjourned last week. Of note, HB 21, sponsored by Rep. Jim Boyd (R), was signed by Gov. Rick Scott (R) on March 20. Included in the many provisions of the bill, effective, Sunday, July 1, specific to controlled substances, the bill requires the dispenser check the identification of unknown persons prior to dispensing. Additionally, the bill imposes a three-day supply limit with an exception for a seven-day supply if certain criteria are met, and requires that the prescriber or dispenser must consult the prescription drug monitoring system to review a patient’s controlled substance dispensing history before prescribing or dispensing a controlled substance for a patient age 16 years or older. This requirement does not apply when prescribing or dispensing a nonopioid controlled substance listed in Schedule V in Federal Regulations.

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

2018-03-23T13:37:13-04:00March 22, 2018|Florida|

Indiana

The General Assembly adjourned the 2018 Legislative Session on March 14. Two bills related to opioids that were of concern to pharmacy did not advance. SB 338 would have required the Department of Health to establish a statewide drug takeback program. The bill did not receive a committee hearing. SB 339, which was reported from committee, but not taken up by the full Senate, would have mandated that pharmacists dispense all Schedule II controlled substances in lockable vials. NACDS supported the Indiana Retail Council’s efforts to represent pharmacies’ concerns with both proposals.

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

2018-03-23T13:35:52-04:00March 22, 2018|Indiana|

Louisiana

The Department of Health (LDH) announced that Mercer will be conducting a mandatory cost of dispensing survey in mid-April 2018.

Also in Louisiana…LDH is hosting public forums across the state to solicit input on the Medicaid Managed Care program adopted in 2012.

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

2018-03-23T13:34:28-04:00March 22, 2018|Louisiana|

Mississippi

SB 2296, sponsored by Sen. Dean Kirby(R), was signed by Gov. Phil Bryant (R) on March 5. Effective Tuesday, January 1, 2019, this bill requires any health plan that provides coverage for prescription drugs to permit and apply a pro-rated daily cost-sharing rate to prescriptions dispensed by a network pharmacy for a partial supply if the prescribing provider or pharmacist determines the fill or refill is in the best interest of the enrollee and the enrollee requests or agrees to a partial supply. The bill also prohibits health plans from denying coverage for partial fills as authorized by the measure and prohibits pro-rated dispensing fees.

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

2018-03-23T13:32:35-04:00March 22, 2018|Mississippi|

Washington

Engrossed Substitute—ESHB 1047—has been signed by Gov. Jay Inslee (D), creating a statewide, voluntary, drug take-back program, funded by manufacturers. The newly enacted legislation also includes local pre-emption and sunsets in 2029.

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

2018-03-23T13:31:06-04:00March 22, 2018|Washington|
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