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California

The Department of Health Care Services posted the following alerts and weekly notices on the Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal. Please note the delay in the planned resumption of retroactive adjustments and recoupment activity in “Recommencement of Pharmacy Retroactive Claim Adjustments: Status Update”. Also note the MAIC notice regarding rates effective January 1, 2023 in “Maximum Allowable Ingredient Cost 30-Day Pharmacy Provider Notice”. 

Also in California, Medi-Cal posted the following:  

Finally in California, the Board of Pharmacy posted the agenda and meeting materials for its meeting scheduled for December 14. Please note the discussion and consideration of statutory proposals to establish a requirement for reporting medication errors to the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) and related to working conditions (see Attachment 2). 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

2022-12-09T11:34:00-05:00December 9, 2022|California|

Colorado

When the Public Health Emergency (PHE) that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) declared in January of 2020 in response to the outbreak of COVID-19 ends, everyone enrolled in Health First Colorado (Medicaid) was guaranteed to keep their health coverage during the PHE. However, the Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (HCPF) will take 12 months (14 months including noticing) to complete the renewal process for each of the approximately 1.6 million people currently enrolled. Medicaid members need to pay attention to renewal notices and fill out the necessary forms to make sure they keep their Health First Colorado and CHP+ coverage, if they are still eligible. 

Also in Colorado, on December 5, the HCPF sent the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) an official proposal to import lower-cost prescription drugs from Canada. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.

2022-12-09T11:32:47-05:00December 9, 2022|Colorado|

Florida

The following flexibilities in response to Hurricane Nicole, expired November 30: 

  • Waiver of prior authorization requirements for critical Medicaid services  
  • Waiver of service limitations to ensure a recipient requiring critical Medicaid services during the storm receives such care  
  • Temporary postponement of the Preadmission Screening and Resident Review processes 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.

2022-12-09T11:31:35-05:00December 9, 2022|Florida|

Kentucky

The Kentucky Pharmacy Education & Research Foundation (KPERF), the Kentucky Pharmacists Association’s tax-exempt charitable foundation, recently announced a funding opportunity for pharmacist-led non-invasive colorectal cancer (CRC) screening for which they are seeking pharmacy applicants. They will choose six pharmacies based on their readiness, the expectation that they can see ten patients per month, their geographical location in Kentucky and the needs of their community. As a reminder, in 2021, the Board of Pharmacy approved a colorectal cancer screening protocol allowing pharmacists to initiate the dispensing of noninvasive stool-based CRC screening patients aged 45-85 years at average risk for colorectal cancer. For more information on this protocol and all pharmacy protocols approved in the state, click here.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.

2022-12-09T11:30:09-05:00December 9, 2022|Kentucky|

Louisiana

The Department of Health issued a Medicaid Bulletin 22-38 with updates and requirements for the provider enrollment portal.  

Also in Louisiana, Medicaid expanded its “Shot per 100,000” COVID-19 vaccine incentive program to include booster shots. Those age 5 years and older who received their first or second dose of the vaccine on or after April 5, 2022, qualify for this incentive, as do those age 6 months to age 4 years who were vaccinated with their first or second dose on or after July 5, 2022 and those age 6 months and older who received a vaccine booster dose on or after October 1, 2022, are all eligible for the $200 gift card. 

Also in Louisiana, the new Preferred Drug List (PDL) update will be implemented January 1, 2023. There were no new therapeutic classes added to the PDL during the Fall 2022 Pharmaceutical & Therapeutics (P&T) Committee review. 

Finally in Louisiana, Medicaid will include six health plans beginning January 1, 2023. They are Aetna Better Health, AmeriHealth Caritas, Healthy Blue Louisiana, Humana Healthy Horizons, Louisiana Healthcare Connections and UnitedHealthcare. Prior to January 1, 2023, most Medicaid members were auto-assigned to one of the Medicaid health plans. Attached is a communications toolkit. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.

2022-12-09T11:29:24-05:00December 9, 2022|Louisiana|

Massachusetts

The Department of Public Health and Board of Pharmacy would like to remind pharmacies operating of the Standing Order for Dispensing Emergency Contraception Pills and the law regarding the mandatory coverage of a 12-month supply of oral contraceptives as well as the below policy changes.  

Standing Order for Dispensing Emergency Contraception Pills  

A statewide standing order is now in place for pharmacists to dispense emergency contraception pills. Please visit this webpage for FAQs as well as a copy of the standing order.  

Oral Contraceptives  

Most Massachusetts insurance plans, including MassHealth, Group Insurance Commission and private insurers, are required to cover a 12-month supply of birth control pills to be dispensed all at once. Check with the insurer for any questions. 

Changes to Prescriptions 

Please note that pharmacists are permitted to make quantity changes for drugs that do not require PMP [Prescription Monitoring Program] reporting in accordance with Board policy.  

Please be aware that MassHealth is changing prescription drug days’ supply limitations, effective December 19. Pharmacists are permitted to make quantity changes for drugs that do not require PMP [Prescription Monitoring Program] reporting in accordance with Board policy. 

Vaccine Administration by Qualified Pharmacy Technicians 

Please review updated training requirements. 

Automated Pharmacy Systems (APS) 

Policy changes include requirements for Schedule IV, V or Schedule VI additional drugs such as gabapentin in an APS for patient pickup.  

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.

2022-12-09T11:28:40-05:00December 9, 2022|Massachusetts|

Montana

The Board of Pharmacy will conduct a Full Board Meeting via conference call on December 9 at 9:30 a.m. See the board meetings page for details. Note: the following on the agenda. 

  • 2023 Legislative Session 
    • Governor’s Red Tape Relief Initiative 
    • DLI Legislative Drafts Important to Pharmacy 
      • LC0394 Standardize licensing board organization 
      • LC0395 Consolidating and clarifying penalties for unlicensed practice 
      • LC0396 Revise laws related to professional and occupational licensure 
  • 2023 Future Rulemaking Efforts 
    • Governor’s Red Tape Relief Initiative 
    • Implementation of 2023 Legislation 
  • Rules, effective as of September 24, 2022: 
    • 24.174.401 – Fee Schedule 
    • 24.174.1201 – Wholesale Distributor and Third-Party Logistics Provider Licensing 
    • 24.174.1202 – Manufacturer and Repackager Licensing
    • 24.174.1203 – Personnel 
    • 24.174.1207 – Change in Location 
    • 24.174.1208 – Change in Ownership 
    • 24.174.1211 – Minimum Facility Requirements 
    • 24.174.1212 – Minimum Requirements for Establishment and Maintenance of Drug Distribution Records
    • 24.174.1213 – National Clearinghouse for Wholesale Drug Distributor Licensing 
    • 24.174.1702 – Information Required for Submission 
    • 24.174.1703 – Electronic Format Required for the Transmission of Information 
    • 24.174.1704 – Requirements for Submitting Prescription Registry Information to the Board 

Also in Montana, the Cheyenne Department of Veterans Affairs reported that two (2) prescription pads have either been lost or stolen. The prescription pads are serialized and numbered: 

  • 9282501 – 9282600 
  • 9282601 – 9282700 

If you receive or have received hardcopy prescriptions within these serialized numbers, please contact the Board of Pharmacy office.  

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

2022-12-09T11:27:14-05:00December 9, 2022|Montana|

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