The South Carolina Pharmacy Association (SCPhA) is seeking a new Chief Executive Officer. The selection process will begin in July 2022 and continue until the best candidate is identified. Questions may be directed to the Selection Committee c/o Jennifer Baker, SCPhA Immediate‐Past President & Search Committee Chair at scpharmacyjlb@gmail.com
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
The Board of Pharmacy August 2nd meeting agenda includes proposed rules for final adoption on patient counseling, non-sterile compounding, and centralized prescription dispensing. If you are unable to attend the Board meeting, you can watch it on live stream.
Also in Texas, NACDS sponsored the Texas Pharmacy Association’s annual meeting keynote session with State Senator Charles Perry (R-Lubbock), the Vice-Chair of the powerful Senate Health and Human Services Committee. Last session, Sen. Perry, a vocal advocate for pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) reform, helped pass two important bills through the Senate that became law in 2021.
Also in Texas, NACDS and our in-state partner, the Texas Federation of Drug Stores, have arranged for Rep. Four Price (R) to tour a United Supermarket Pharmacy in Amarillo. (Left to Right: United pharmacist Tim Purser, pharmacy technician Danielle Coleman, pharmacist Viet Le Nguyen, NACDS’ TX lobbyist Nicole Kralj, State Rep. Four Price (R-Amarillo) and NACDS Mary Staples)
Finally in Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott (R) again extended the waiver for the requirement for pharmacists to have in-person contact for patient counseling to allow patient counseling to be performed by telephonic consultation until September 30, 2022, or until the March 13, 2020, disaster declaration is lifted or expires, whichever is earlier.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
The Board of Pharmacy posted the following:
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
The Health Care Authority (HCA) revised the Apple Health (Medicaid) COVID-19 vaccine clinical policy and the Emergency COVID-19 fee schedules.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
On June 27, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed SB (Senate Bill) 154 (Chapter 43) which includes language allocating $114.4 million to forgive the retroactive reduction of claims reimbursement for independent pharmacies in 2022-23. Another $28.4 million will be allocated in 2023-24. This was due to an error in the implementation of the actual acquisition cost reimbursement methodology for dates of service from April 1, 2017, to February 22, 2019, inclusive. On June 30, Gov. Newsom signed AB (Assembly Bill) 178 (Chapter 45) that directs the Department of Health Care Services to forego the recoupment of overpayments from independent pharmacies and defined “independent pharmacy” as a pharmacy owned by a person or entity who owns not more than 74 pharmacies in California. Also, on June 30, the Governor signed SB 184 (Chapter 47), the health trailer bill, that expands telehealth and exempts continuous glucose monitors and medication therapy management services from a 10 percent provider cut based on 2011 legislation.
Also in California, the Department of Consumer Affairs issued this waiver extension on July 11: DCA Waiver DCA-22-217 Order Waiving Restrictions on Pharmacists Independently Initiating and Furnishing Paxlovid to Individual Patients. The full waiver and a list of current waivers is available on the DCA website.
Also in California, the Board of Pharmacy recently communicated the following:
Also in California, the Department of Health Care Services posted the following alerts on the Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal. Please note this week’s announcement about the postponement of implementation of NCPDP (National Council for Prescription Drug Programs) reject code 80 and the reminder about the July 31 deadline for all participating Medi-Cal Rx pharmacy providers and billers to submit a Medi-Cal Rx Telecommunications Provider and Biller Application/Agreement Form to continue submitting electronic claims without interruption.
Finally in California, the Department of Health Care Services posted the “August 2022 Medi-Cal Provider Training Webinars”.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Both Houses of the legislature passed SB 399 that authorizes a pharmacist to order, test, screen, and treat certain health conditions pursuant to a statewide written protocol for CLIA waived tests approved by the Division of Public Health. This legislation is pending Governor Carney’s (D) signature.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.
Governor Ron DeSantis (R) issued an Executive Order to address the cost of prescription drugs in the state. The order directs all executive agencies to include provisions in all future contracts and solicitations with PBMs (Pharmacy Benefits Managers) (Pharmacy Benefit Manager), services that include the following:
Also in Florida, the Agency for Health Care Administration (Agency) has been implementing Referring, Ordering, Prescribing, and Attending (ROPA) requirements as directed by the 21st Century Cures Act (Cures Act) and by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Previous provider alerts on National Provider Identifier (NPI) requirements for ROPA providers can be found on the Agency’s website in the Provider Message Archive. Providers must be enrolled with Florida Medicaid in accordance with Title 42, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 455.410(b).
In accordance with CMS requirements, all Fee-For-Service claims submitted October 1, 2022, or after from a non-exempt provider type that do not have a ROPA provider listed on the claim will be denied. The exempted provider types that will not require a ROPA on the claim are listed below, all other provider type claims must have a ROPA provider identified by NPI on the claim for reimbursement by Florida Medicaid.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
The Iowa Medicaid Enterprise (IME) released the final July 2022 Cost of Dispensing (COD) Report with the following results:
IME stated the current dispensing fee of $10.38 will remain in place until additional state funding is appropriated by the Legislature next session to increase the dispensing fee to $10.97. A state plan amendment (SPA) would also be required, if funding is approved, and the increase would be prospective following CMS approval of the SPA.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
The Massachusetts House of Representatives passed HB 4930 “Relative to Expanding Access to Reproductive Rights” by a vote of 136 – 17. This bill will now be considered by the State Senate. This legislation provides legal protections for Massachusetts health care providers, including pharmacists, from prosecution by out-of-state jurisdictions for legally protected health care and reproductive health care services and products provided in Massachusetts to out-of-state residents. This language is designed to protect these providers from criminal prosecution and associated civil lawsuits from states that prohibit access to legal health care and reproductive health services and products.
Also in Massachusetts, the Commonwealth’s Senate today unanimously passed SB 2955 which will allow pharmacists to prescribe, dispense and administer HIV prevention drugs. This bill now goes to the House for their consideration.
Finally in Massachusetts, the Board of Pharmacy has announced that additional guidance will be provided now that the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (Food and Drug Administration) has updated the emergency use authorization (EUA) for Paxlovid™ to permit prescribing by pharmacists, subject to the terms of that EUA. Any prescribing must comply with the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) and DPH’s prescribing guidance.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.
