SB 47, authored by Pharmacist-Legislator Ron Grooms (R), has unanimously passed the Senate and has been referred to the House for consideration. The legislation would permanently allow pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to administer COVID vaccines to persons aged 11 and older, the current statutory age limitation for other vaccines.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
The Louisiana Department of Health’s Medical Director of the Office of Behavioral Health, Dr. James Hussey, renewed the Naloxone Standing Order for calendar year 2021. More information can be found here.
Also in Louisiana. Effective December 23, 2020, the Louisiana Medicaid Fee for Service (FFS) Pharmacy Program and Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) announced that they are paying an administration fee of $15.92 for the first dose and $26.68 for the second dose for the COVID-19 vaccines. More information can be found here.
Lastly in Louisiana. The Board of Pharmacy is soliciting stakeholder comments and will hold a public hearing on February 25, 2021h on two rules of interest to pharmacies.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
The Department of Insurance posted a notice to announce Bulletin 2021-02 to require all health insurers to cover the administration of coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccinations and forego any cost-sharing such as copayments, deductibles, or coinsurance.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
The Board of Pharmacy issued a final rule effective December 29 revising the standards for electronic transmission of prescriptions. The rule adds provisions on exemption certificates, defines “technologic or electronic failure,” and removes references to the transmission of controlled substance prescriptions via fax.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
The Board of Pharmacy issued a final rule effective December 15 allowing the transfer of an original unfilled noncontrolled substance prescription and prescription adaptation permitting changes to quantity and dosage. The rule also requires the electronic prescribing of controlled substances.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
As of January 17, pharmacists can enroll as providers in Ohio and obtain a Medicaid ID number for billing purposes. The final rule on payment for certain pharmacy-based services can be found here.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Gov. Wolf (D) has granted a waiver to broaden eligible supervisors of pharmacy interns administering COVID–19 vaccines to include other licensed and trained healthcare professionals whose current scope of practice allows them to immunize. Specifically, appropriate supervisors include other licensed healthcare professionals who are trained in the administration of immunizations and emergency care of patients. The waiver applies solely to COVID-19 vaccines and shall be valid for the duration of the Governor’s disaster emergency declaration plus an additional 90 days thereafter unless terminated sooner.
Also in Pennsylvania. At NACDS’ request, a State Interagency call was held with staff from the Pennsylvania Medicaid, and the Departments of Insurance, State, and Health to discuss barriers pharmacies are experiencing in billing for administration fees for COVID-19 vaccines. As a result, Medicaid verbally announced a modification of current guidance for billing of COVID-19 vaccines by pharmacies. For Fee For Service, claims must still be processed on the medical side, however, they are now accepting pharmacist NPIs in the ordering provider field. Additionally, Medicaid stated that all eight MCOs are billing through the patient’s pharmacy benefit and will accept the pharmacist NPI in the prescriber ID field. If the claim is rejected because the NPI is not on file, the NCPDP override code 42 can be used (SCC=42).
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
HB 2079, sponsored by Del. Sam Rasoul (D) has passed the House. The bill would allow pharmacists to prescribe HIV Pep and PreP treatment; CDC immunizations to adults; tuberculin purified protein derivative for tuberculosis testing; and drugs, devices, controlled paraphernalia, and other supplies and equipment available over-the-counter, covered by the patient’s health carrier when the patient’s out-of-pocket cost is lower than the out-of-pocket cost to purchase the over-the-counter equivalent. A joint workgroup of the Boards of Pharmacy and Medicine would be charged with developing protocols for each. NACDS filed a letter of support for the bill which is an extension of legislation we were instrumental in passing in 2020 that allowed pharmacists to prescribe contraceptives and offer other therapies. The bill now goes to the Senate.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
The Board of Pharmacy has published a proposed rule to amend regulations under AAC 680-X-2 to clarify the penalty for late payment of the annual permit fee for manufacturers, wholesale drug distributors, private label distributors, repackagers, third-party logistics providers, outsourcers, and reverse distributors. A hearing is scheduled for March 17, 2021, in Birmingham. Comments are due March 6, 2021.
Also in Alabama. All previously published expiration dates related to the COVID-19 emergency have once again been extended by the Alabama Medicaid Agency (Medicaid). The new expiration date is the earlier of February 28, 2021, the conclusion of the COVID-19 national emergency, or any expiration date noticed by the Alabama Medicaid Agency through a subsequent ALERT. A listing of previous Provider ALERTs and notices related to the health emergency is available by selecting the Agency’s COVID-19 page in the bottom section at the following website: https://medicaid.alabama.gov/news_detail.aspx?ID=13729.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.