inthenews, Author at In The States

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West Virginia

The West Virginia Legislature adjourned last week, with several bills of interest to pharmacy headed to the Governor’s desk for signature:

HB 4079 authorized a bundle of pharmacy rules, including those related to the Controlled Substance Monitoring Program, pharmacy technician registration, the Uniform Controlled Substances Act, immunizations and centralized and remote prescription processing. This bill was effective on March 9, the date of its passage.

HB 4524 establishes guidelines for the substitution of biologic drugs

HB 4025 allows reciprocity for pharmacy technician licensure.

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

inthenews2018-03-23T13:29:31-04:00March 22, 2018|West Virginia|

California

NACDS and the California Retailers Association are seeking clarification from the Board of Pharmacy on inventory reconciliation reporting requirements scheduled to be implemented on Sunday, April 1.

Also in California…EZIZ is the e-learning and resource website for California’s VFC (Vaccines for Children) Program. It offers an online toolkit with information and resources for pharmacists providing immunization services. The website is operated by the California Department of Public Health and includes a Pharmacy Resources webpage. The link is also on the Vaccinations webpage at the Board of Pharmacy website.

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

inthenews2018-03-16T15:32:40-04:00March 15, 2018|California|

New York

Both the Assembly and the Senate reacted this week to the governor’s budget proposal that would impose a tax on opioids sold in the state. Although characterized as a tax on manufacturers, the proposal would in many cases be a tax on pharmacy since it would require that the establishment that makes the first sale of the product in New York to pay the tax with no ability to pass it on. Given that pharmacies often make the first sale, this proposal would greatly impact pharmacies. Fortunately, while the Assembly’s budget proposal does retain the governor’s opioid tax, it specifies that for calculating the first sale for tax purposes, the state cannot include any sales to pharmacies. The Senate budget proposal totally eliminates the tax proposal. This issue will now go to a conference of the Assembly, Senate and the governor’s office to be resolved before the Sunday, April 1 budget deadline.

Also in New York…After a year of discussions with Medicaid staff, numerous meetings with legislative leadership and key Administration staff, as part of the New York State budget proposal, the Governor recommended an eight-cent increase in the Medicaid fee-for-service professional dispensing fee raising the fee from $10.00 to $10.08. This week, both the Assembly and the Senate concurred with the increase.

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Mike Sargent at 207-272-6435.

inthenews2018-03-29T08:21:25-04:00March 15, 2018|New York|

Oklahoma

HB 2931, legislation NACDS and a broad coalition support that would phase-in a mandate for e-prescribing of all controlled substances, passed the House and was referred to the Senate for consideration.

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

inthenews2018-03-16T15:29:15-04:00March 15, 2018|Oklahoma|

Texas

The Health and Human Services Commission that oversees Medicaid is reminding pharmacies that it is the responsibility of the billing provider to ensure that submitted claims contain the National Provider Identifier (NPI) number of the physician or other professional who ordered, referred or prescribed the items or services. Additionally, all ordering, referring or prescribing providers must be enrolled as participating providers in Texas Medicaid as required. Be advised that claims will be denied if the NPI is missing or invalid and if the provider is not appropriately enrolled. These requirements impact not only the Medicaid program, but also Healthy Texas Women and Children with Special Health Care Needs Services programs only. These requirements do not apply to out-of-network providers that order, refer or prescribe only for managed care members.

Also in Texas…On Monday, April 2, the Health and Human Services Commission will enhance the restriction on the use of opioid cough and cold products for people enrolled in Medicaid fee-for-service and the Children with Special Health Care Needs Services Program to deny coverage of these products for people less than 18 years of age. A list of currently impacted drugs which is subject to change daily is available on the Vendor Drug Program website.

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

inthenews2018-03-16T15:29:54-04:00March 15, 2018|Texas|

Virginia

HB 1556, legislation that will require pharmacies to report naloxone prescriptions to the prescription monitoring program has been signed by Gov. Ralph Northam (D) as Chapter 185. Specifically, the law amends the definition of “covered substances” to include naloxone and Schedule V controlled substances dispensed pursuant to a prescription and requires those drugs to be reported. The bill was an initiative of the Department of Health Professions (DHP) intended to allow practitioners to track whether patients are filling naloxone prescriptions when they are required under current prescribing guidelines. The bill requires that DHP promulgate regulations to implement.

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

inthenews2018-03-16T15:30:17-04:00March 15, 2018|Virginia|

Michigan

Gov. Rick Snyder (R) signed into law HB 4472 pertaining to the substitution of interchangeable biosimilars with various options for pharmacists to communicate the product dispensed to the prescriber effective Tuesday, May 29.

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

inthenews2018-03-13T15:11:19-04:00March 9, 2018|Michigan|

Missouri

On March 5, Gov. Eric Greitens (R) announced a new effort to address the opioid epidemic that includes enforcing physician compliance with the chronic pain treatment guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The initiative directs the Department of Social Services MO HealthNet Division to work collaboratively with the Department of Mental Health and the Department of Health and Senior Services to accelerate the goals of the MO HealthNet Opioid Prescription Intervention Program, which has been in place since 2010.

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

inthenews2018-03-13T15:09:59-04:00March 9, 2018|Missouri|

Virginia

Legislation that will require pharmacies to report naloxone prescriptions to the prescription monitoring program has passed both chambers and been sent to Gov. Ralph Northam (D) for his signature. Specifically, SB 832 amends the definition of “covered substances” to include naloxone and Schedule V drugs dispensed pursuant to a prescription and requires those drugs to be reported. The bill was an initiative of the Department of Health Professions intended to allow practitioners to track whether patients are filling naloxone prescriptions when they are required under current prescribing guidelines.

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

inthenews2018-03-13T15:08:01-04:00March 9, 2018|Virginia|