The Board of Pharmacy is seeking applications from persons interested in serving on a workgroup concerning pharmacy interns. For more information, including the online application, visit the “Rules Advisory Committee (RAC) & Workgroup Information” webpage.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Gov. Tom Wolf (D) signed HB 1630 last week, just one day after the bill passed the General Assembly. HB 1630 allows the Auditor General access to PBM (Pharmacy Benefit Manager) data in the Medicaid Managed Care Program to perform audits. Notably, with the intent of expanding access to drug therapies, the bill was amended in the Senate Health Committee to repeal the provision in Section 1121.53(c) of 55 Pa. Code that limits payment for prescriptions in Medical Assistance to a 34-day supply or 100 units. Additionally, the following bills of interest to pharmacy were also signed:
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Please see Medicaid Program November 2022 provider update.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
To comply with provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, the South Carolina Department of Health, and Human Services (SCDHHS) paused the typical annual eligibility review process for the state’s Healthy Connections Medicaid members effective January 27, 2020. When the current federal COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) ends, state Medicaid agencies will be required to resume reviewing the eligibility of all Medicaid members. For more information, click here.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
The Board of Pharmacy distributed its October 2022 newsletter. Below is an outline of the content.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
NACDS, the Texas Federation of Drug Stores (TFDS), the Texas Pharmacy Association (TPA) and the Texas Health-Systems Pharmacists (TSHP) collaborated on November 2 for an all-day successful Pharmacy Advocacy Training Day at the Texas State Capitol. Pharmacists from around the state were briefed on the pharmacy priority issues for the 2023 legislative session, heard from legislators, regulators, on “how to advocate” effectively, and then practiced what they learned by role playing. Media pundits shared their stories on Texas politics, the November 8 elections, and the outlook for the 2023 session. Chain, independent and hospital pharmacists teamed up and spent the afternoon fanning out across the Capitol in teams putting their knowledge into practice with over 50 scheduled meetings with legislators and staff.
Also in Texas, the Health, and Human Service Commission (HHSC) is hosting a provider online seminar at Noon on November 8 on COVID-19 updates. COVID-19 vaccine providers may also benefit from the information relating to COVID-19 vaccine updates, clinical guidance, and product ordering. Please register to receive information to participate in this event.
Finally in Texas, the Board of Pharmacy adopted non-sterile compounding rules at its August meeting. Board rule 291.131 changes including new definitions of cleaning and sanitizing and calibrations of scales.
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.
DMAS (Department of Medical Assistance Services) has issued a memo informing pharmacy providers that DMAS fee-for-service (FFS) and the Medicaid Managed Care Organizations will provide up to five professional dispense fees per month (defined as a rolling 30-day period) for buprenorphine-based opioid use disorder (OUD) products, effective December 1, 2022.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
The Department of Safety and Professional Services announced it earned a $1.4 million grant from the Federal Bureau of Justice Assistance for its Enhanced Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (ePDMP). The grant funds will be used to modernize the self-service functionality and provide improved data quality, better customer support and greater user satisfaction.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.