On March 23, Gov. Kristi Noem (R) signed HB 1135, PBM legislation including requirements for PBM licensure, prohibiting retroactive fees except in certain situations and the collection of renumeration fees and adding criteria for drugs to be placed on the MAC list.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
TennCare has contracted with Mercer Government Human Services Consulting to conduct a professional cost of dispensing survey and a survey of acquisition cost data. Both surveys will begin on April 3 and must be submitted to Mercer no later than May 12. All network pharmacies will be required to complete the professional cost of dispensing survey; however, only select pharmacies will also be required to complete the biannual AAAC (Average Actual Acquisition Cost) survey. Please direct questions regarding the survey to Lora.Underwood@tn.gov or mercerrxpassage@mercer.com.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
To show legislators that this year pharmacies are a united front on PBM issues, NACDS submitted a support letter to the Texas House Insurance Committee on PBM ERISA reform legislation being led by the Texas Pharmacy Association and the Texas Pharmacy Business Council, HB 2021. A hearing was held on March 21.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Reminder, effective October 1, 2022, the Alabama Medicaid Agency removed the requirement of absence of alcohol and illicit drug use by recipients for the prior approval of antiviral drugs used in the treatment of hepatitis C. A copy of the patient’s drug and alcohol screening lab report is no longer required. All other criteria remain, including the patient consent form with the patient’s and physician’s signature, which must be submitted with requests.
The updated Prior Authorization (PA) request form and criteria booklet should be utilized by the prescriber or the dispensing pharmacy when requesting a PA.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) vetoed SB (Senate Bill) 1248, legislation repealing several components of the sunrise process for scope expansion, including pharmacy.
Also in Arizona, on March 6, SB 1254 (Senate Engrossed), legislation repealing the requirement for a Schedule II opioid prescription that is directly dispensed by a pharmacist and that is not for the immediate administration to the ultimate user to have a red cap, failed to pass the House Health and Human Services Committee by a 3-4 vote.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
HB (House Bill) 1007, legislation establishing a statewide protocol that would allow pharmacists to diagnose and assess conditions for HIV and to dispense PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) and PEP (Post Exposure Prophylaxis), was amended in the House Committee on Public Health, Welfare and Labor.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) posted the following alerts and weekly notices on the Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
SB 23-162, legislation chain pharmacies support that would increase access to pharmacy services by allowing a pharmacist to delegate to a pharmacy technician any task within the practice of pharmacy for which the pharmacy technician has been specifically trained, except for patient counseling, drug regimen review and clinical conflict resolution, was heard in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee on March 9. The bill also removes the pharmacy technician to pharmacist ratio at a central fill pharmacy, and it authorizes reimbursement under the medical assistance program for dispensing or administering vaccines to children under 19 years of age.
Also in Colorado, HB 23-1201, a PBM reform bill that creates transparency and eliminates spread pricing, was introduced, and assigned to the House Health & Insurance Committee.
Finally, March 15 is Pharmacy Day at the Capitol.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
SB 1102, legislation that would allow pharmacists to administer additional vaccines, tests and drugs and pharmacies to operate mobile pharmacies, was reported out favorably by the General Laws Committee on March 9.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.