Michael Angeloni – Page 30

California

NACDS and representatives from members operating in California met virtually with the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) Medi-Cal team and the Department of Public Health (CDPH) Immunization Branch to discuss the ways that pharmacies can expedite expanded access to flu and COVID vaccines this fall. Chain members advocated for the use of trained pharmacy technicians to help administer the vaccines, requested that the state’s PPE stockpile be accessible to pharmacies, and identified some potential challenges on reimbursement that should be streamlined. The state pledged to work closely with chain pharmacies to resolve these issues.

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

Michael Angeloni2020-08-21T08:55:13-04:00August 21, 2020|California|

Colorado

The final rule approved by the Board of Pharmacy that suspends certain requirements regarding closure and minimum hours of operation of prescription drug outlets, consultant pharmacist inspections, and drug therapy management will become effective August 30, 2020. The rule removes certain requirements for sterile compounding and shortages around garbing supplies, eliminates certain requirements for remote practice and hospital satellite pharmacies, and allows pharmacists to administer COVID-19 tests authorized by the FDA.

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

Michael Angeloni2020-08-21T08:53:11-04:00August 21, 2020|Colorado|

District of Columbia

Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) has signed legislation allowing pharmacists to substitute interchangeable biological products. The bill includes prescriber notification language that is aligned with the model language supported by NACDS in other states. The measure will now be sent to Congress for the standard 30-day review period as required by DC regulation.

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

Michael Angeloni2020-08-21T08:50:51-04:00August 21, 2020|District of Columbia|

Florida

The Florida Department of Health announced a notice of change to a May 15th proposed rule that would adopt regulations under FAC 64B-3 to provide a form and procedure to request a waiver of electronic prescribing requirements for prescribers facing economic hardship or technological limitations. The changes revise the form to require the location of the waiver site, a detailed description of the need for the waiver, a description of the practitioner’s current electronic prescribing capabilities, and the expected date the practitioner will be fully operational.

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

Michael Angeloni2020-08-21T08:45:47-04:00August 21, 2020|Florida|

Kentucky

The Department for Public Health published an order relating to the COVID-19 public health emergency. The order specifies that a clinician’s order is not required for a laboratory services provider to perform and bill for a molecular diagnostic test, that insurers will not require an order as a precondition for coverage, and that clinicians are not required to have established a formal clinician-patient relationship unless professional medical advice beyond providing this testing service is otherwise explicitly provided. The order also addresses cost sharing and in vitro diagnostic products.

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

Michael Angeloni2020-08-21T08:43:25-04:00August 21, 2020|Kentucky|

Louisiana

NACDS, alongside with the Public Health Department’s Immunization Director Stacy Hall, presented to public health officers around the country on the importance of flu and COVID vaccines. This presentation focused on the ways in which community pharmacies can be ready to expedite expanded access to flu and COVID vaccines, when available

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

Michael Angeloni2020-08-21T08:41:55-04:00August 21, 2020|Louisiana|

Maryland

The Board of Pharmacy, by a vote of 8-3, approved a draft regulation allowing Technician Product Verification in the community pharmacy setting. Prior to the vote, an amendment was adopted to clarify that the same technician could not do both verification’s. The regulation will now go to the Secretary of Health for approval prior to being published for public comment. NACDS will share an amended draft as soon as it become available.

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

Michael Angeloni2020-08-21T08:40:11-04:00August 21, 2020|Maryland|

Pennsylvania

Under new policy changes, pharmacists can now provide and bill tobacco cessation services under Medicaid’s UnitedHealth/Optum plan. For more information click here.

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

Michael Angeloni2020-08-21T08:38:15-04:00August 21, 2020|Pennsylvania|

South Carolina

The South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) plans to transition its pharmacy reimbursement methodology to include an average acquisition cost (AAC) component. Per SCDHHS, the goal of this transition is to ensure that pharmacy reimbursement rates are responsive to drug pricing fluctuations in the South Carolina market. To support the development and maintenance of AAC rates, SCDHHS has contracted with Mercer Government Health Consulting to establish and maintain the AAC program. Starting September 2020, pharmacy providers will receive a survey requesting copies of pharmacy invoice records to be sent to SCDHHS. Per SCDHHS, this survey will allow the agency to measure the drug acquisition costs incurred by Healthy Connections Medicaid pharmacy providers. A pharmacy stakeholder information session to discuss the AAC survey process and project timeline will be held via webinar Tuesday, August 25, 2020, at 3 p.m. (EST). Providers and stakeholders can register for the webinar here.

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

Michael Angeloni2020-08-21T08:36:00-04:00August 21, 2020|South Carolina|

About Michael Angeloni