Gov. Hogan (R) has issued an Executive Order that provides for staffing flexibility to pharmacies as they engage in COVID-19 vaccinations and testing.
Also in Maryland, the Department of Health has published an Advisory regarding Epidolex prescriptions due to a conflict between the federal and state scheduling process.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
MassHealth has released its most recent Fact Sheet to reflect recent modification in regulations regarding oral contraceptives and 340 drugs.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.
The Board of Pharmacy filed a revised emergency rule effective February 4, 2021, that will allow Missouri licensed interns and technicians located in other states to perform remote data entry.
Also in Missouri, due to system limitation, MO HealthNet will reimburse pharmacy providers $0.01 for the full course of the therapeutic and the full dispensing fee. Pharmacy providers must submit a cost to MO HealthNet in excess of the Professional Dispensing Fee (PDF) to receive full reimbursement of the PDF. MO HealthNet will also cover home tests currently payable at $12 per test plus the PDF.
Finally in Missouri, MO HealthNet in partnership with Missouri Board of Pharmacy’s Rx Cares for Missouri Program and the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services (DHSS), kicked off the “Safe At Home” Patient Safety Opioid Initiative. It allows MO HealthNet to reimburse pharmacy providers who dispense at-home medication disposal packets to eligible MO HealthNet participants who are at risk of experiencing an opiate-related overdose. MO HealthNet has selected DisposeRx® packets as the preferred medication disposal packet. These convenient at-home medication disposal packets will allow MO HealthNet participants to dispose of unused opioids safely and easily, preventing accidental overdoses.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
The Department of Health and Human Services announced the next COVID-19 Medicaid Provider call will take place on February 2 at noon (Central).
Also in Nebraska, the Department of Health and Human Services made available the new COVID-19 Ad Hoc Fee Schedule (1.1.2022), including adjustments to payments for administration of COVID-19 vaccines.
Also in Nebraska, the Department of Health and Human Service posted the revised fee schedule for injectables effective January 1, 2022 REVISED.
Also in Nebraska, the Department of Health and Human Services issued Provider Bulletin 22-05A to notify providers that effective January 15, 2022, OTC COVID at-home tests will be covered by Medicaid. The reimbursement policy is up to $12.00 for a kit containing one test or up to $24.00 for a kit containing two tests is allowed.
Finally, the Department of Health and Human Services issued Provider Bulletin 22-06 announcing changes to the Tobacco Cessation Program. Effective December 26, 2021, enrollment in the Nebraska Tobacco Free Quitline is no longer required to be able to receive tobacco cessation products; enrollment is still encouraged.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Effective January 1, 2022, all controlled substance prescriptions MUST be transmitted to a pharmacy by electronic prescribing, except for the following prescriptions:
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Medicaid is ready to process at home COVID antigen tests. The necessary changes to be able to process the tests were completed last Friday (1/21/22), the pharmacy fax blast was sent out Friday afternoon as planned and is also posted online. Medicaid has issued a notice along with a standing order from DHHS for the at home tests that pharmacies may use. Dr. Ballard’s NPI number is on the order.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.
The Board of Pharmacy has finalized three regulations dealing with patient counseling documentation requirements, increased out of state permit fees, and removal of waiting period to retake pharmacist exams.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.
Dr. Betsey Tilson, State Health Director, rescinded the following Statewide Standing Orders due to the high prevalence of the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 virus in North Carolina for which these therapies are not an effective treatment:
The recission orders can be accessed here: https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/guidance#vaccination-info-for-providers
These Statewide Standing Orders may be reactivated in the future depending on the effectiveness of the therapies on circulating variants.
Also in North Carolina, reminder effective Jan. 10, 2022, NC Medicaid-enrolled pharmacies may bill for FDA approved over the counter (OTC) COVID-19 tests dispensed for use by NC Medicaid beneficiaries in a home setting, with or without a prescription issued by an NC Medicaid-enrolled provider. NC Medicaid Direct beneficiary implementation date is Jan. 10, 2022. Refer to beneficiaries’ managed care plan for guidance on the specific plan’s implementation date.
Finally, NC Medicaid will cover one kit per claim per date of service, with a maximum of four test kits every 30 days. Covered test kits are listed below. Please note that some kits will include two tests.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
The Board of Pharmacy recently posted the following documents on their webpage:
Updated COVID Therapeutics Guidance
Authorization for National Guard to Serve as Pharmacy Technician Trainees
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.