Effective June 19, the Board of Pharmacy had published a final rule amending regulations under OAR 855-019 to allow any person, having once lawfully obtained naloxone, to possess, distribute or administer it for the purpose of reversing an opiate overdose. The rule also requires oral counseling on the use of naloxone be offered by pharmacists rather than require that such counseling be provided.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Beginning Sunday, July 1, there will no longer be a pharmacy technician to pharmacist ratio. This rule change has been approved by the State Board of Pharmacy and the state legislature.
Also in Idaho… Starting Sunday, July 1, qualified pharmacists in Idaho will be able to prescribe medications for select common conditions, including seasonal influenza, strep throat and urinary tract infections, as well as statins for patients with diabetes. The new prescribing ability results from a State Board of Pharmacy rule approved by the state legislature.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
The New York State legislature passed legislation (A02857D/S1043D) authorizing pharmacy interns to administer immunizations.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.
The Department of Health and Environment and Medicaid announced the selection of three managed care organizations that will serve the Medicaid program, known as KanCare. The companies include Sunflower State Health Plan, UnitedHealthcare of the Midwest Inc. and Aetna Better Health of Kansas, Inc.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Medicaid conducted an information session on June 13 regarding its proposed “Pivot Entity” (Alabama Coordinated Health Network) Initiative that builds off the Agency’s current case management program structure. A copy of the slides and the video presentation by Medicaid Medical Director Robert Moon has been posted on the Agency’s website. The webpage also includes a summary of the proposed project, which is subject to approval by CMS, and an email address to submit questions or comments. Important note: The proposed “Pivot Entity” program is designed to create a single care coordination delivery system that effectively links patients, providers and community resources in each of seven newly-defined regions. Delivery of medical services is not part of this program.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Senate Pro Tem Toni Atkins (D) announced the following committee changes:
Also in California… Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr. (D) announced the appointment of Diana Dooley as Executive Secretary in the Office of Governor. She has served as Secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency since 2011. Michael Wilkening was appointed Secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency, where he has served as Undersecretary since 2008.
Also in California… Assemblymember Kevin McCarty’s (D) opioid rebate bill (AB 2486) was significantly amended and is now an opioid tax. Chain pharmacies would be included in the definition of wholesaler and would be subject to the tax. The language also includes taxing intracompany transfers of opioids, which means intracompany transfers from a pharmacy warehouse to its own pharmacy would be subject to the tax.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
The Department of Health announce that the annual open enrollment for Healthy Louisiana Medicaid Managed Care program began on June 15 and will continue until Tuesday, July 31. During this time, Louisianans can choose a new health plan or do nothing and remain with their current plan. There are five health plans that deliver physical and behavioral health care services to the nearly 1.5 million Healthy Louisiana enrollees. Enrollment changes made during this time will go into effect on Saturday, September 1.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
In a meeting this week, the MassHealth (Medicaid) announced that it will not be pursuing a proposed $1.00 reduction in the Medicaid fee-for-service professional dispensing fee. The fee will remain $10.02.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.
This week, the Senate unanimously passed the pharmacy technician registration and certification proposal (NY-SB 5584). The bill will now be sent to the Assembly for its consideration.
Also in New York… NACDS joined the Chain Pharmacy Association of New York State and the New York pharmacy coalition in a meeting with the acting Medicaid Director Donna Frescatore to discuss the expanded roles that pharmacies can play in providing healthcare to the state’s Medicaid recipients.
Also in New York… This week, both the Senate and the Assembly passed NY S9100 / NY A9576-B, legislation that would require drug manufacturers to pay for public education, collection, transport and destruction of leftover drugs. It would also require mail-order pharmacies and pharmacy chains of 10 or more stores to provide on-site collection, vouchers for prepaid mail-back envelopes or other U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration-approved methods of drug disposal. The legislation also includes language pre-empting county/local ordinances. The Governor has until the end of the calendar year to sign the legislation into law.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.