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South Carolina

The Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) consistently offers free Healthy Connections Medicaid training to enrolled Healthy Connections Medicaid providers and their billing agents. These recurring trainings are conducted by SCDHHS' contracted vendors. Information about the upcoming February-April 2024 training is available online.  

Also in South Carolina, some Healthy Connections Medicaid-enrolled providers were mailed an IRS 1099-MISC form from the Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS). The IRS 1099-MISC form providers received in the mail in January 2024 from SCDHHS contains an error. While the dollar amount of "Medical and health care payments" listed in block six of the IRS 1099-MISC form is correct for calendar year 2023, the form indicates it is for calendar year 2022.

Corrected forms are currently being printed and will be mailed in the next two business days. Providers should receive the replacement IRS 1099-MISC forms for 2023 within the next three to seven business days.

The incorrect form showing the 2022 date should be disregarded and not used to file taxes for the 2022 or 2023 calendar years. The error occurred while printing the forms mailed to providers. The forms with the correct calendar year were submitted to the IRS.

If you have any questions, please contact the Provider Service Center at (888) 289-0709, extension four, option one. The Provider Service Center is open Monday through Thursday from 7:30 am to 5:00 pm and Friday from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. 

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

2024-01-26T10:08:46-05:00January 26, 2024|South Carolina|

Texas

The Medicaid Vendor Drug Program (VDP) held a virtual quarterly pharmacy stakeholder meeting on January 17. 

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

2024-01-26T10:07:32-05:00January 26, 2024|Texas|

Vermont

On January 24, the Board of Pharmacy held its regularly scheduled meeting. The board welcomed new members, elected a new chair, and provided a legislative update. The next meeting is scheduled for February 28 at 9:00 am virtually via Teams.

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Mike Sargent at 207-272-6435.

2024-01-26T10:07:02-05:00January 26, 2024|Vermont|

Washington

In advance of the January 24 House Health and Wellness Committee hearing, NACDS registered in support of HB 2116, legislation expanding prescriptive authority for pharmacists. We also submitted the attached support statement for the record.  

Also in Washington, the Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission (PQAC) is scheduled to meet on February 1. The meeting materials will be available online soon. 

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

2024-01-26T10:06:29-05:00January 26, 2024|Washington|

Wisconsin

On January 24, Gov. Tony Evers (D) issued a standing order to ensure BadgerCare Plus members have direct access to over–the–counter emergency contraception. The order allows BadgerCare Plus members to get OTC emergency contraception from any Wisconsin Medicaid-enrolled pharmacy under their state coverage without a prescription from their doctor and with no out-of-pocket cost to them.

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Mike Sargent at 207-272-6435.

2024-01-26T10:05:58-05:00January 26, 2024|Wisconsin|

Arizona

HB 2183 related to parental rights and medical records will be heard in the House Health & Human Service Committee on January 22 and is listed on the agenda. The bill entitles parents with the right to have access to any electronic portal or other health care delivery platform, including written medical records, for their minor child.  

Also in Arizona, SB 1085, legislation permitting pharmacists, pursuant to a statewide written protocol, to independently order, perform and interpret CLIA-waived tests and initiate treatment to individuals three years of age and older and who test positive for influenza, Group A streptococcus pharyngitis, SARS-COV2 or any other respiratory illness, condition or disease and a condition related to an emerging or existing public health threat identified by the Department of Health Service for which a standing order rule or executive order is issued, was introduced, read for the first time and assigned to the Senate Health & Human Services Committee. The bill also permits the pharmacist to delegate the administrative and technical tasks of performing a CLIA-waived test to a trained member of the pharmacy staff who is under the supervision of the pharmacist and states a health insurer may not deny reimbursement for these services performed within the scope of the pharmacist's license and covered by the insurer if performed by a physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistance. 

Also in Arizona, HB 2450, legislation adding a pharmacy technician trainee to requirements for work at a remote dispensing site pharmacy, has been introduced. 

Finally in Arizona, HB 2582, legislation permitting a pharmacist to enter into a collaborative practice agreement with a certified nurse midwife or physician assistant, was introduced, read for the first time and assigned to the House Health & Human Services Committee.  

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

2024-01-19T11:03:00-05:00January 19, 2024|Arizona|

California

The Department of Health Care Services posted the following alerts, bulletins, and weekly notices on the Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal.   

 

 

Also in California, the Department of Health Care Services posted the following:   

 

 

Also in California, the Board of Pharmacy proposed modifications to the following. To view all documents associated with these proposed regulatory actions and other pending regulations, visit the board's "Pending Regulations" webpage.  

 

  • Opioid Antagonist Protocol 

 

  • Continuing Education 

Also in California, the Board of Pharmacy posted its Annual Notice of Availability of Precedential Decisions Index.  

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the California State Board of Pharmacy (Board), pursuant to section 11425.60 of the Government Code, the Board maintains an index of precedential decisions, which is annually made available by the Board to the public by email subscription. To join the Board's email list, go to www.pharmacy.ca.gov. The index and the text of the precedent decisions are continuously available on the Board's website at http://www.pharmacy.ca.gov/enforcement/precedential.shtml. 

Also in California, the Board of Pharmacy provided an update to licensees and interested stakeholders regarding the cultural competency continuing education (CE) requirements for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians that become effective on January 1, 2024, pursuant to Assembly Bill 2194 (Ward, Chapter 958, Statutes of 2022).  

As pharmacists and pharmacy technicians seek cultural competency CE courses, the Board has received questions about acceptable courses. 

Business and Professions Code (BPC) section 4231, as operative on January 1, 2024, details the criteria that a cultural competency course must meet, as follows: 

  • The course focuses on patients who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender nonconforming, or queer, or who question their sexual orientation or gender identity and expression. 
  • The course is approved by an accreditation agency approved by the Board. 
  • The course covers recognized health disparities faced by Black, Indigenous, and people of color. 
  • The course contains elements demonstrating how sexual identity is directly impacted through intersectionality. 

The Board does not endorse or recommend any specific cultural competency course. As a courtesy to licensees, however, the Board is notifying licensees of two courses that may meet the above requirements: 

Finally in California, the Board of Pharmacy posted the agenda and meeting materials for the following committee meetings: 

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

2024-01-19T11:02:15-05:00January 19, 2024|California|

Illinois

The Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) is providing this update regarding buprenorphine dosing for pregnant individuals with a substance use disorder (SUD) diagnosis, who, due to growing fetus and maternal weight gain, are likely to require a higher dosage than the usual 24 mg maximum dose.  

HFS is working on programming to allow a total daily dose of up to 32 mg of all buprenorphine products (monotherapy as well as combination products with naloxone) for pregnant individuals with SUD without a prior authorization, when both diagnoses (pregnancy and SUD) are noted on the prescription.  

These services will be covered under both the fee-for-service (FFS) program and managed care organizations (MCOs) with a target implementation date of February 1, 2024.  

Questions regarding this notice may be directed to a pharmacy consultant in the Bureau of Professional and Ancillary Services at 877-782-5565 for FFS claims, or the appropriate MCO plan.  

Also in Illinois, Public Act 103-1425, which became effective January 1, 2024, requires prescriptions to be issued electronically unless one or more of a variety of exemptions are met.  

Illinois Retail Merchants Association (IRMA) and the Illinois Pharmacists Association (IPhA) are being inundated with complaints from prescribers because paper prescriptions are being denied by pharmacists primarily issued by prescribers who are exempt from having to issue electronically. The complaints are primarily coming from prescribers who will not issue more than 150 prescriptions in the calendar year. In addition to that exemption, below is a summary of the exemptions under the law.  

Importantly, any pharmacist who dispenses in good faith based upon a valid prescription that is not prescribed electronically may be exempt from any disciplinary action. A pharmacist is not required to ensure or be responsible for ensuring the prescriber's compliance, nor may any other entity or organization require a pharmacist to ensure the prescriber's compliance with that subsection.  

IRMA and IPhA have prepared and issued detailed guidance. You are strongly encouraged to distribute or utilize this guidance to ensure pharmacy personnel are fully aware of the exemptions under this law.  

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

2024-01-19T11:01:16-05:00January 19, 2024|Illinois|
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