Rhode Island
The Department of Health has announced their endemic strategy for COVID-19 vaccination and testing.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Tennessee
Governor Bill Lee (R) has signed HB2228, effective July 1, 2022, under this measure, prescribers are required to include a prescription for naloxone hydrochloride or another opioid overdose reversal agent with any opioid prescription. This only applies for prescriptions of more than a 3-day supply of an opioid medication, when prescribed concurrently by the same provider with a benzodiazepine, when the patient presents an increased risk for overdose, or the patient at substantial risk of witnessing an opioid overdose event. Violations of this measure are considered a Class D felony.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
West Virginia
On June 2, the Insurance Commission filed the Pharmacy Auditing Entities and Pharmacy Benefit Managers Rule with an effective date of July 1, 2022. This rule is pursuant to passage of HB (House Bill) 2263 of 2021. The new rule amends the current rule relating to Pharmacy Audits that was effective on April 1, 2021 and remains in effect.
Also in West Virginia, The Insurance Commission has proposed a rule 114CSR99 to reflect changes to the WV Code because of the passage of Enrolled HB 4112 which was approved by Governor Justice on March 30, 2022. The rule will be considered by the Legislative Rule Making Review Committee during the 2022 legislative interims and put before the WV Legislature for approval in 2023. If you have comments, please email them to Jill McCormack before the close of business on June 23. Otherwise, you may email them to michael.n.malone@wv.gov of the Insurance Commission by 5pm on July 5, 2022.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Arkansas
Attorney General Leslie Rutledge announced a lawsuit against drug manufacturers and Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) for manipulating and inflating insulin and drug prices in Arkansas. In the complaint filed in Pulaski County, Attorney General Rutledge alleges that Novo Nordisk, Sanofi, and Eli Lilly conspired with Express Scripts, Caremark and Optum to significantly increase their revenues by unfairly and deceptively driving up the costs of insulin, making insulin, and other diabetic treatments unaffordable for many diabetics in Arkansas and creating an enormous financial burden for Arkansas consumers.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
California
The Board of Pharmacy announced its June meeting schedule.
- June 16, 2022 – Petitioner Board Meeting
• June 22, 2022 – Standard of Care Ad Hoc Committee Meeting
• June 22, 2022 – Medication Error Reduction and Workforce Ad Hoc Committee Meeting
Also in California, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) appointed Jessica Crowley to the Board of Pharmacy. Having held a variety of positions within CVS pharmacy between 2010-2020, Dr. Crowley has been a staff pharmacist for Pavilions Pharmacy since 2020. She is a member of Lambda Kappa Sigma, United Food and Commercial Workers, the California Pharmacists Association and Phi Lambda Sigma.
Also in California, this week, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) announced its plans for Medi-Cal Rx Reinstatement of Claim Edits and Prior Authorizations. DHCS along with Magellan hosted a series of webinars to provide an overview of a phased approach for reinstatement of safety edits and prior authorizations and the phasing out of the Transition Policy. Stakeholder feedback has been fundamental to the reinstatement design and will remain a critical component throughout the reinstatement process. DHCS is requesting stakeholder feedback to refine the approach to reinstatement. Stakeholders who would like to submit comments may do so through the close of business on June 10 via email to Reinstatement@dhcs.ca.gov.
Finally in California, the Department of Health Care Services posted the following alerts and notices on the Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal.
- Age Restrictions on Psychotropics Updated (June 1)
- Medi-Cal Rx Monthly Bulletin for June (June 1)
- Changes to Contract Drugs List (CDL) (June 1)
- Changes to Contract Drugs List (CDL) – Over-the-Counter Drugs (June 1)
- Updates to the Medi-Cal Rx Provider Manual (June 1)
- Maximum Allowable Ingredient Cost (MAIC) 30-Day Pharmacy Provider Notice (June 1)
- Medical Supplies Prescriber Updates (June 1)
- Diabetic Supplies Updates (June 1)
- Medi-Cal Rx Checkwrite Schedule – State Fiscal Year 2021-22; Hold Notation Update (May 27)
- Reminder: Fiscal Year Two-Week Fee-For-Service Hold for Specific Provider Payments (May 27)
- Medi-Cal Rx Weekly Wrap-Up for May 20-26 (May 27)
- Changes to Family PACT Pharmacy Formulary (May 26)
- Medi-Cal Rx Updated FAQs (May 23)
- Medi-Cal Rx Weekly Wrap-Up for May 13-May 19 (May 20)
- Submitting a Claim – Best Practices (May 19)
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Illinois
Governor JB Pritzker (D) has signed HB4595, on May 13, 2022, effective July 1, 2022, this legislation amends the state’s insurance contract and provides that a contract between a pharmacy benefit manager or third-party payer and a covered entity under the 340B program may not contain certain provisions.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Kentucky
On June 1, Medicaid filed concurrent emergency and ordinary regulations making changes to the 340 (B) program and increasing the frequency of permitted dispensing fees for drugs to treat substance abuse disorders to weekly.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Louisiana
The Department of Health (LDH) has recently updated its Medicaid COVID-19 vaccine billing schedule adding reimbursement for booster doses for ages 5-11.
Also in Louisiana, LDH requested NACDS remind pharmacies that file claims with Louisiana Medicaid must enroll in Medicaid’s new web‐based provider enrollment portal by June 30, 2022. Any existing Medicaid providers that do not submit an application to initiate the screening process through the new portal will have their claims denied.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Maine
Last year, the legislature passed LD 8 which established a prescription drug take-back program in Maine for pharmacies. Pharmacies will have the choice of a secure collection kiosk or offering customers a voucher for a mail-back envelope to properly dispose of unused prescription medications. Drug manufacturers are due to submit a plan to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) by July 1, 2022.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.