Texas
The Senate impeachment trial of Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) is set to begin on September 5th.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Vermont
This week, the legislature returned to override the Governor’s veto of H. 305, a bill that will, among its provisions, clarifies the definition of pharmacy technician, allows technicians to perform tests and vaccinations for Covid and other immunizations, allows pharmacists and technicians to administer vaccines for flu and covid for children ages 5 and up, allows a pharmacist to prescribe, order, or administer self-administered hormonal contraceptives for patients 18 years of age or older, vaccinations recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and administered consistently with the ACIP-approved immunization schedules, and finally exempts persons dispensing over-the-counter hearing aids from provisions for audiologists and hearing aid dispensers.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Mike Sargent at 207-272-6435.
Washington
The Department of Health (DoH) and the Health Care Authority (HCA) are hosting a webinar on July 18th for pharmacy staff to discuss barriers in prescribing and dispensing contraception.
Also in Washington, starting on July 1st, the HCA will be publishing quarterly updates to the Apple Health billing guides and fee schedules.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Arizona
The Board of Pharmacy posted the new OTC Naloxone FAQ on its website.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
California
The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) posted the following weekly notices on the Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal:
- Medi-Cal Rx Weekly Wrap-up for June 2-8 (June 9)
- Reinstatement Spotlight (June 9)
Also in California, on June 13, the Department of Health Care Services posted a Freeze on Processing Paper Electronic Health Care Claim Payment/Advice Receiver Agreement Form [DHCS 6246 form].
Finally in California, the Board of Pharmacy posted its agenda and meeting materials for the Full Board Meeting on June 21.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Connecticut
Gov. Ned Lamont (D) signed legislation (SB 1102) that allows pharmacists to order and administer COVID, flu and HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) tests, pharmacists to prescribe and distribute HIV-related prophylaxis and pharmacists and technicians to administer vaccines. Governor Lamont signed another bill (HB 6768) that allows pharmacists to prescribe emergency and hormonal contraceptives.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Mike Sargent at 207-272-6435.
Idaho
The Board of Pharmacy published its June 2023 newsletter including the following articles.
- 2023 Legislative Update
- 2023 Legislative Update for Statutes
- Guidance for Lifestyle Injectable Treatments
- Answers to Frequently Asked Expedited Partner Therapy Question
- Board of Pharmacy Launches New Website
- Health Professional Recovery Program
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Illinois
Gov. JB Pritzker (D) has signed SB 303. https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=303&GAID=17&GA=103&DocTypeID=SB&LegID=144008&SessionID=112 Effective January 1, 2024, it will be the joint responsibility of a pharmacy and its pharmacist–in–charge to ensure that all new pharmacy technicians are educated and trained using a standard nationally accredited education and training program, such as those accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE)/the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), or equivalent work experience of 500 hours as a pharmacy technician covering the practice areas as required by the Illinois Pharmacy Practice Act.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Iowa
The Department of Health and Human Services, Iowa Medicaid posted the following:
- INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 2473-MC-FFS: Billing Evaluation and Management (E/M) Code 99211 and Modifier 25, effective July 1, 2023
- INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 2476_MC-FFS: June 2023 Pharmacy Billing Reference, effective Upon Receipt (This replaces INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 2388-MC-FFS.)
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.