The legislature adjourned on May 11th. Prior to adjournment, several bills of interest to pharmacies passed and will be sent to Gov. Jared Polis (D) to sign into law, including a telepharmacy bill eliminating the mileage restrictions SB-173, and a PBM 340b bill prohibiting additional fees and chargebacks HB-1122,
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Earlier this month the finalized Connecticut State Budget, HB5506, included approved changes in the Collaborative Drug Therapy Management agreements between pharmacists and any prescribing practitioner and caregiving institutions to expand pharmacists’ authority to manage patient populations.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.
The Agency for Health Care Administration (Agency) has posted a Request for Information (RFI) relating to the procurement of the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care (SMMC) Program (AHCA RFI 014-21/22 Re-Procurement of the SMMC Program. The RFI may be viewed HERE.
In preparation for the upcoming procurement, the Agency is seeking information from entities and stakeholders with direct experience in the managed health and long-term care industries regarding best practices and innovations in business models as well as service delivery for Medicaid managed care.
The Agency is interested in innovative ideas and best practices to:
The Agency will consider information gathered from responses to this RFI in preparing the competitive procurement for the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care program which is scheduled for release in the fourth quarter of CY (Calendar Year) 2022.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Governor JB Pritzker (D) has signed SB4018, effective May 13, 2022, this legislation clarifies prescription verification policies for pharmacy technicians and requires pharmacists to deliver proper notification and signage for temporary closures. Pharmacies may engage in remote prescription processing if the pharmacies have the same owner or a written contract describing the scope of services, the pharmacies share a common electronic file, and such an electronic system can produce a record at either location.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Prior to adjournment last month, Gov. Laura Kelly (D) signed into law SB (Senate Bill) 200, a bill expanding the pharmacist’s scope of practice to include initiation of therapy for flu, strep or urinary tract infection pursuant to a Statewide Protocol adopted by the existing Collaborative Drug Therapy Management Advisory Committee. Also signed into law was SB 28 that sets up a regulatory framework, adjusts the MAC (Maximum Allowable Cost) appeal law, and requires Pharmacy Benefit Managers to be licensed by the Insurance Department.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
This week, NACDS wrote the Commissioner at the Department of Public Health a letter to urge her to make permanent pharmacy practice modernization in alignment with allowances under the federal PREP (Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness) Act.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.
The legislature adjourned on May 13. Prior to adjournment, HB 3010, legislation that provides funding for the distribution of naloxone passed both houses and was sent to Gov. Mike Parsons (R). Also sent to the Governor for his signature was HB 2162, that will allow pharmacists to sell and dispense opioid antagonists under a physician protocol or statewide standing order.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Pursuant to MAR 24-174-78, the Board of Pharmacy’s final rule amendments were published in the Administrative Rules of Montana, effective March 26, related to elimination of the ratio of pharmacy technicians and interns to pharmacists and inclusion of other healthcare licensees for vaccine administration and corresponding changes to the technician utilization plan.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
On May 12, the Department of Human Services posted a reminder about the Timely Filing Policy for claim dates of service on or after January 1, 2022. See the ND Medicaid Provider Updates webpage for historical updates.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.