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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Gov. Butch Otter (R) signed HB 354 (Session Law Chapter 10) adding opioid antagonists to the list of drugs required to be reported electronically to the Board of Pharmacy’s Prescription Monitoring Program database. The reporting requirement takes effect Sunday, July 1.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
The Iowa Medicaid Enterprise (IME) mailed its 2018 cost of dispensing surveys to pharmacies this week with a deadline for response of Friday, March 30. The determined dispensing fee will take effect Wednesday, August 1. More information is available in the IME Informational Letter NO. 1875-MC-FFS.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) requirement that Managed Care Organization (MCO) typical providers be enrolled in CHAMPS by March 1, 2018, has been delayed. Additional communication will be issued when a date has been finalized. More information can be found on the Provider Enrollment web page.
Also in Michigan. NACDS attended the Michigan Pharmacists Association (MPA) Annual Convention in Detroit, where MPA honored State Reps. Henry (Hank) Vaupel (R), Scott Dianda (D), Abdullah Hammoud (D) and Bronna Kahle (R) for their contributions to supporting community pharmacy.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.