The Department of Health and Human Services posted its presentation from the June Medicaid Pharmacy Liaison Committee meeting. Note that the deck contains timely information concerning how pharmacies can enroll to be reimbursed for clinical services.
Also in Michigan, the agenda for the June 17 Board of Pharmacy meeting has been released.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
HB 1735 was passed by the General Court on June 4 and will be sent to Gov. Kelly Ayotte (R) for enactment. The legislation includes several key provisions impacting pharmacy care, including establishing a statutory standard of care provision within the Pharmacy Practice Act, delinking vaccine administration authority from ACIP and creating a remote processing allowance for pharmacy technicians.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Mike Sargent at 207-272-6435.
With a favorable final vote in the Assembly of 133-0, the Patient Access to Pharmacy Act (S5939C/A5882C) passed both chambers of the Legislature this session and will be sent to Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) for enactment. The legislation will establish a reimbursement “floor” across all pharmacy network contracts in state-regulated commercial health plans based on the Medicaid fee-for-service rate, which is currently set at NADAC + $10.18. Additionally, the bill creates a payment appeals process for pharmacies dispensing higher cost medications that require special handling, increased delivery costs and other special services to ensure pharmacies receive an adequate dispensing fee to cover their costs in the specialty market. Advancing this legislation in partnership with the Community Pharmacy Association of New York has been a critical component of NACDS’ advocacy on pharmacy reimbursement this session.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Mike Sargent at 207-272-6435.
By a 31-2 vote, just before adjourning for summer, the Senate passed SB 230, that would permit pharmacists to test and treat for flu, strep and COVID under a Board of Pharmacy statewide protocol. The bill also requires insurance carriers and Medicaid to reimburse pharmacies for providing the services. We expect the House to take up the bill during the lame duck session in the fall.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Please see TennCare's recent updates to the Preferred Drug List (PDL), including changes to prior authorization (PA) criteria and quality limits, effective June 1. These updates may affect medication coverage, utilization management and prescribing processes across several therapeutic areas for patients with TennCare coverage.
Also in Tennessee, TennCare is currently conducting a cost-of-dispensing survey. The state, in collaboration with Mercer, opened the survey on June 1 and it will remain open through June 30.
An informational webinar was held on May 28 to review the survey process. If you anticipate needing an extension, please contact Mercer as soon as possible to discuss your options. Please note that the state is expected to continue applying a reduced dispensing fee of $5.00 for pharmacies that do not complete the survey.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Gov. Phil Scot (R) signed NACDS priority legislation H.588 on June 8 to expand pharmacist test and treat authority across four conditions – Flu, Strep, COVID and HIV. The legislation received significant support from NACDS and its membership operating in the state and was widely endorsed by numerous in-state health groups and the Vermont Department of Health Access (DVHA). DVHA made recent references to the value of pharmacist test and treat services in its rollout of Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) grants.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Mike Sargent at 207-272-6435.
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For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
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For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
The Department of Health Care Services posted the following on the Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal:
Also in California, the Board of Pharmacy posted the agendas for the following committee meetings:
Finally in California, the Board of Pharmacy published the May 2026 issue of "The Script".
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
