On October 31st, Gov. Jared Polis (D) issued an Executive Order directing vaccine providers such as retail pharmacies, including those that operate under the fed retail pharmacy vaccine program, to drop existing CDC parameters around boosts eligibility, allowing all access to booster shots.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
The Department of Healthcare and Family Services has posted Updated Medicaid Preferred Drug Lists.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
The Department of Health (LDH) LDH recommends COVID-19 booster shots for all fully vaccinated Louisianans ages 18 and older.
Also in Louisiana, longtime Board of Pharmacy president Carl Aron, an independent pharmacist from Monroe, announced his retirement at the November 17th meeting. The Board elected Marty McKay as president.
Finally in Louisiana, the Department of Health (LDH) announced a billing update for COVID-19 vaccines for 5-11 years old, third dose and booster shots.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
The Division of Medicaid (DOM) is ending coverage of the Temporary Telehealth Procedure Codes effective Friday, Nov. 20, 2021, which aligns with the end of Mississippi’s COVID-19 State of Emergency.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Governor Phil Murphy (D) signed into law A-1259 / S-249 which requires pharmacy benefits managers providing services within the Medicaid program to disclose certain information to the Department of Human Services. Program to require the pharmacy benefits manager to disclose to the department: (1) all sources and amounts of income, payments, and financial benefits received by the pharmacy benefits manager in relation to the provision and administration of pharmacy benefits management services on behalf of the managed care organization, including, but not limited to, any pricing discounts, rebates of any kind, inflationary payments, credits, clawbacks, fees, grants, chargebacks, reimbursements, or other benefits; (2) all ingredient costs and dispensing fees or similar payments made by the pharmacy benefits manager to any pharmacy in connection with the contract or other arrangement; and (3) the pharmacy benefits manager’s payment model for administrative fees. Information reported by pharmacy benefits managers under the bill will be confidential and will not be subject to disclosure under the “Open Public Records Act.”
This law goes into effect immediately.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.
The Ohio Department of Medicaid’s (ODM) next generation managed care program will go live July 1, 2022. At that time, they will introduce new programs, services, and managed care entities (MCEs). In preparation for the next generation program, ODM is encouraging providers to contact the next generation MCEs that they are interested in contracting with to begin the process to join their provider networks. Provider contracting contact information for the next generation MCEs can be found on the Resources for Providers webpage of the next generation Ohio Medicaid website. Contracting must be completed by February 15, 2022, to be included in the Next Generation Managed Care Provider Directory on day 1 of member transition enrollment.
Also in Ohio, ODM has announced that the supplemental tiered dispensing fee quarterly payment to pharmacies that planned to be disbursed in the first two weeks of November has been delayed pending CMS approval. NACDS will keep members updated as new information becomes available.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
The Board of Pharmacy received updated information from the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (OBNDD) regarding how to submit DEA 106 forms. Please send all DEA 106 forms for OBNDD via email to losstheftcds@obn.ok.gov.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
The Administrative Law Judge assigned to the PBM rulemaking process, Kimberly Middendorf, has concluded her review of the Department of Commerce’s proposed rule and SONAR, as well as all comments, responses, and rebuttals from members of the public, and on Friday issued a “Report of the Administrative Law Judge. Judge Middendorf’s report is available for review on the Commerce website (scroll down to Report of the Administrative Law Judge).
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
The Department of Health has extended (60 days) the Emergency Regulation requiring immunization against COVID-19 for all workers in licensed health care facilities and other practicing health care providers.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.