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So far Michael Silber has created 1944 blog entries.

North Carolina

In response to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration amended EUA for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, authorizing the use of a single booster dose for administration to individuals 16 and 17 years of age at least six months after completion of primary vaccination with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine and the CDC expanding the recommendation for boosters to include 16 and 17 year old, North Carolina has updated the  Standing Order regarding vaccine administration.    

Also in North Carolina, the Board of Pharmacy has issued new guidance concerning the application for Pharmacist-Technician Ratio of 1:6 or Greater.  

Finally in North Carolina, please see Information regarding the Administration of Long Acting Injectables in Medicaid. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.

2021-12-10T12:05:08-05:00December 10, 2021|North Carolina|

Ohio

The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) shared flu communications toolkits for healthcare providers to use in promoting flu vaccination for their patients during the 2021 – 2022 flu season. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers a NIVW digital toolkit featuring social media language and graphics, sample newsletter language, and printable resources. ODH posted a Flu Communications Toolkit that offers social media language and graphics and sample newsletter language around the importance of flu shots, in addition to flu and COVID-19 shots, as the best defense. Healthcare providers can monitor flu activity in Ohio, including county-level data, on the ODH Ohio Flu Activity webpage.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.

2021-12-10T12:04:18-05:00December 10, 2021|Ohio|

South Carolina

Effective Jan. 1, 2022, the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) will increase the reimbursement rates for the services and supplies related to: Incontinence Supplies, Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services (DAODAS) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Services. These changes will be reflected on the SCDHHS website by Jan. 1, 2022. 

Providers with questions regarding this bulletin should contact the SCDHHS Provider Service Center at (888) 289-0709. The Provider Service Center’s hours of operations are 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday 

Also in South Carolina, the Department of Insurance has provided a complaint form for pharmacies or interested parties to file complaints with the South Carolina Department of Insurance relating to pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) services. SC law requires pharmacies to make reasonable efforts to exhaust a PBM’s internal appeal requirements prior to filing a complaint with the SCDOI. A copy of the appeal outcome must accompany the complaint submission. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.

2021-12-10T12:03:15-05:00December 10, 2021|South Carolina|

Texas

The Health and Human Services Commission’s (HHSC) Vendor Drug Program (VDP) semi-annual update of the Medicaid preferred drug list will occur on January 27, 2022. HHSC made the PDL changes based on recommendations made at the July and November 2021 Texas Drug Utilization Review Board meetings. Drug list decisions from those meetings are available. 

Also in Texas, HHSC next Texas Vaccine Providers Webinar will be on Tuesday, December 14th at Noon Central. Register here. 

Finally in Texas, in response to a request from the Texas State Board of Pharmacy, Gov. Greg Abbott (R) again temporarily suspended the requirement in §291.33(c)(1)(B)(iii) to have in-person contact for patient counseling in order to allow patient counseling to be performed by telephonic consultation. This remains in effect until March 31, 2022, or until the March 13, 2020, disaster declaration is lifted or expires, whichever is earlier. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.

2021-12-10T12:01:53-05:00December 10, 2021|Texas|

Vermont

The Vermont Department of Financial Regulations has issued draft guidance for commercial insurance coverage of COVID-19 at-home rapid antigen testing. The Department contemplates requiring commercial health insurers to cover at-home rapid antigen testing listed as “preferred” by Vermont Medicaid without member cost sharing. Under the draft emergency rule, the tests would be fully covered when prescribed, in which case the claim would process exactly like any other prescription medication, or if the member submits a claim form. This guidance, once finalized, will be effective December 1, 2021.

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.

2021-12-10T12:01:03-05:00December 10, 2021|Vermont|

West Virginia

The Legislative Rule Making Review Committee adopted the PBM rule as currently written without any debate. The rule, based on the passage of HB 2263 or 2021, must now receive final approval by the Legislature during the 2022 session.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.

2021-12-10T11:59:36-05:00December 10, 2021|West Virginia|

Wisconsin

This week Governor Tony Evers (D) signed into law three pro-pharmacy bills. In specific the three bills are the Pharmacist Provider Status – providing pharmacist’s reimbursement for any clinical care services covered under the Medicaid program (SB 255), Pharmacy Technician Registration- establishing the registration of pharmacy technicians (SB 300) and Remote Dispensing Sites (SB 308) which licenses these sites and provides more flexibilities for remote supervision of site pharmacists. These laws will be in effect as the supporting regulations are finalized in 2022.

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.

2021-12-10T11:58:48-05:00December 10, 2021|Wisconsin|

Arkansas

The Division of Medical Services is holding a virtual rulemaking hearing on October 20th to consider proposed rules to allow six refills per month, add certain medications that do not count toward the monthly prescription cap, and allow up to nine medically necessary prescriptions per month for Living Choices Assisted Living Program clients. The rule also would specify that clients must pay for their own medications beyond the maximum benefit, remove the extension of benefits provisions, and revise refill requirements.  

Also in Arkansas, Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) announced on November 15th that individuals over 18 are eligible for the booster shot. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.

2021-11-19T12:15:27-05:00November 19, 2021|Arkansas|

California

The following documents were recently posted on the Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal:   

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

2021-11-19T12:14:49-05:00November 19, 2021|California|

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