Utah
The Board of Pharmacy announced its next meeting on May 24; agenda is pending.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Washington
The State Health Care Authority’s (HCA) emergency provisions for in-person interpreting allowing over the phone interpreting has ended. Now the Health Care Authority and Universal Language Service (ULS) signed the new spoken language contract to provide over-the-phone and video remote interpreting services. Providers must register under the new contract to have access to the over-the-phone and video remote interpreting contract. To register, email accounts@ulsonline.net. Pharmacists interested in providing interpreting services under the over-the-phone and video remote contract also must register via email at interpreter@ulsonline.net.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Alaska
Effective May 14, the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development amended regulations under 12 AAC 02 to reduce application, license, registration, and renewal fees for pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, remote and other pharmacies, wholesale drug distributors, outsourcing facilities, and third-party logistics providers.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Arizona
HB 2841, the general appropriations act (2022-2023), includes funding for the Organized Retail Theft (ORT) Task Force; see page 9 for details.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
California
The Department of Health Care Services posted the following alerts on the Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal.
- Medi-Cal Rx Policy for Requesting Alternative Medication in Case of Supply Shortage (April 15)
- Medi-Cal Rx Policy for Requesting Alternative Medical Supplies or Enteral Nutrition Products Due to Supply Shortages (April 15)
- Medi-Cal Rx List of Resources (April 11)
- Prior Authorization Status Notifications (April 11)
- Medical Supplies Update on Pen Needles (April 11)
- Medi-Cal Rx Coordination of Benefits (COB) Reminder (April 8)
- Dexcom Therapeutic Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) – Issue Resolved (April 7)
- Medicare Remit Easy Print Software for EDI 835 Files (April 5)
- Medi-Cal Rx 101 Trainings for April 2022 (April 4)
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- Friday, April 22 – 2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. PST
- Friday, April 29 – 2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. PST
- Enteral Nutrition Update: Temporary Interchange of Equivalent Contracted Enteral Nutrition Products Due to Recent Formula Recall (April 4)
- Monoclonal Antibodies for the Outpatient Treatment of COVID-19 as a Pharmacy Benefits (April 1)
- Changes to Pneumococcal 15 & 20 Vaccines (April 1)
- Medi-Cal Rx Monthly Bulletin (April 1)
- Changes to the Contract Drugs List (April 1)
- Changes to the Contract Drugs List (CDL) – Over-the-Counter Drugs (April 1)
- Changes to Contract Drugs List (CDL) – Authorized Drug Manufacturer Labeler Codes (April 1)
- Updates to the Medi-Cal Rx Provider Manual (April 1)
- How to Find Covered Drugs (March 28)
- Deadline Reminder: Electronic Claims Agreement (March 25)
- By April 30, 2022, all participating Medi-Cal Rx pharmacy providers and billers need to submit a Medi-Cal Rx Telecommunications Provider and Biller Application Agreement (DHCS Form 6500) to continue submitting electronic claims without interruption. Refer to the Medi-Cal Rx Electronic Claims Agreement alert, originally posted on December 31, 2021.
Also in California, the Board of Pharmacy posted the following to the website:
- Legislation and Regulation Committee Meeting Agenda – April 26
- Communication and Public Education Committee Meeting Agenda and Meeting Materials – April 26
- Full Board Meeting CORRECTED Agenda – April 26-27
Also in California, AB 852, related to e-prescribing software requirements and prescriber exceptions to e-prescribing requirements, was amended on April 18.
Finally in California, AB 1651 was amended on April 18, creating the Workplace Technology Accountability Act. Among its various provisions, this legislation would give workers new rights with respect to their data, regulates data employers collect, regulates how employers can monitor workers, regulates the ways in which employers use algorithms to monitor workers and creates a new enforcement regime through the Department of Fair Employment and Housing. The bill is sponsored by the California Labor Federation, SEIU California, the United Food and Commercial Workers-Western and the States Council.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Florida
Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signed into law on April 6, two bills, HB 1209,, effective July 1, 2022, which allows registered pharmacy technicians, with appropriate training, to administer vaccines to adults, and SB 544, also effective July 1, 2022, which allows a pharmacist to dispense an emergency opioid antagonist, an auto injection delivery system or intranasal application, pursuant to a pharmacist’s order or to a non-patient-specific standing order.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Illinois
On April 9, the Illinois Senate adopted Senate Resolution 792, which calls upon the Auditor General to conduct a performance audit of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) administration of pharmacy benefit managers.
Also in Illinois, Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) issued the following Provider Notice. HFS and state’s Department of Public Health asked that we issue a reminder that even though the HRSA uninsured program has ended there is still a process through HFS.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Louisiana
HB 424, by Rep. Chris Taylor (R) related to immunization administration authority, was amended and reported out of the House Health and Welfare Committee last week. The bill is scheduled on the House Calendar on Monday, April 25. The bill would allow pharmacists to continue their authority granted under the federal Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREP Act) authority to immunize patients seven years of age and older without a prescription. NACDS is urging members to take action immediately utilizing the NACDS RxIMPACT Alert.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Nebraska
The Department of Health and Human Services posted the agenda for the next Medicaid DUR Board Meeting scheduled to be held on May 10.
Also in Nebraska, the Department of Health and Human Services issued Request for Proposal (RFP) Number 112209 O3 facilitating the selection of a qualified bidder to provide a full-risk, capitated Medicaid Managed Care program for physical health, behavioral health, pharmacy and dental services for at least the next five years. Nearly all Medicaid beneficiaries currently receive health care services through Heritage Health, the state’s integrated managed care program.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.