The Pharmacy Channel Team at the Department of Health have published a recent version of the Vaccine Standing Order, which reflects recent CDC updates on COVID-19 vaccination guidance with additional information to help vaccinators determine the optimal interval between the first and second dose of an mRNA vaccine series, based on the individual patient.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
The 60-day legislative session ends on March 10th.
Also in Washington, the Health Care Authority (HCA) will submit to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services by July 15, 2022, a request to renew the Section 1115 Medicaid demonstration waiver, called the Medicaid Transformation Project (MTP), which will allow the state to create and continue to develop projects, activities, and services that improve Washington’s health care system using federal Medicaid funding. The new proposals include:
Finally in Washington, the Health Care Authority (HCA) aimed at increasing health care cost transparency and controlling health care cost growth include:
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Wisconsin Medicaid, ForwardHealth, has released an update on coverage of at-home COVID tests for Medicaid patients. As a reminder, Pharmacies must submit a claim for these tests as a prescription. There is a standing order in place from the Department of Health Services (DHS) Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ryan Westerguard. The pharmacists may order the tests and patients may receive 8 tests per 30-day period.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.
New rules relating to the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) go into effect on March 17, 2022. The regulations clarify the registration process to align with the account creation steps at alaska.pmpaware.net, replaces “registration” with “designation,” and establishes a new requirement for pharmacists and pharmacies to notify the board within 10 days of a change in dispensing/distributing status of controlled substances. The forms will be available in the coming weeks at pharmacy.alaska.gov.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
The Department of Health Care Services posted the following alerts to the Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal:
Also in California, COVID-19 related news highlighted below:
Finally in California, the Department of Health Care Services is proposing a budget trailer bill language to require Medi-Cal pharmacy providers to maintain records for ten years, consistent with federal law. The current requirement in the state is three years. DHCS prepared this fact sheet about the proposal.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Health First Colorado is paying for up to 15 COVID-19 home tests per member each month when provided by an enrolled pharmacy.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Medicaid has scheduled the virtual quarterly pharmacy forum on March 15 from 1-2pm and March 16 from 10-11:30 pm and are “highly encouraging” attendance. Click here to RSVP and receive the log in information.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
The Illinois Department of Human Services reports pharmacies and grocer/pharmacies may see an increase in demand for Neocate formula and nutritionals with the recent recall of Abbott’s EleCare and EleCare Junior products. Some participants who were prescribed EleCare have had their prescriptions adjusted and will now be coming to pharmacies with requests for Neocate products.
Click here for a copy of the IDHS Notice. For ordering information click here
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
The Department of Health (IDOH) and the Health Coverage Programs (IHCP) announced that they are making changes to the Vaccines for Children (VFC) policy to allow pharmacies to easily enroll in the program, effective March 14, 2022. The maximum allowable reimbursement for the administration of a VFC vaccine will be consistent with reimbursement for vaccines administered by medical providers, which is currently $15.00.
Also in Indiana, effective February 1, 2022, IHCP began reimbursing pharmacies for dispensing FDA approved COVID19 test kits at home, with a limit of two tests per 7 days per member under a statewide standing order.
Also in Indiana, the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration’s (FSSA) Office of Medicaid Policy and Planning provided updates to the opioid utilization prior authorization (PA) criteria’s maximum allowable daily morphine milligram equivalent (MME) effective for claims with dates of service (DOS) on or after April 1, 2022.
Finally in Indiana, HB 1158, legislation that would allow a pharmacy technician to administer any vaccines delegated by a pharmacist, passed the House and is pending in the Senate Health and Provider Services Committee.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.