Oklahoma
The Board of Pharmacy posted the quarterly newsletter.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Oregon
On August 13, the Board of Pharmacy adopted Temporary Rule OAR 855-115-0345 updating the Standard Vaccination Protocols to include the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations for the 2025-2026 influenza season.
The ACIP guidance, adopted on July 22, reaffirmed recommendations for the routine annual influenza vaccination of all persons aged ≥6 months who do not have contraindications for the 2025-2026 season.
ACIP recommends only single-dose formulations of annual influenza vaccines that are free of thimerosal as a preservative for three populations:
- Children 18 years or younger
- Pregnant women
- All adults
Please remember licensees are required to follow the age restrictions set forth by state law in ORS 689.645.
Also in Oregon, the Board of Pharmacy permanently adopted the following rules at the August 2025 board meeting:
- Div 102 – Board Delegated Limited Authority for Vaccine Protocol rules *Effective August 8
- Divs 104/115 – Standard Vaccination Protocols *Effective August 8
- Standard Vaccination Protocol for Managing Adverse Reactions & Assessment and Treatment Care Pathway
- Divs 115/135 – Standards Adopted by Reference *Effective August 8
Review the Secretary of State filing notices on the rulemaking page.
Review the Standard Vaccination Protocols located on the Public Health & Pharmacy Formulary Advisory Committee / Protocols page.
Email all rulemaking related inquiries to pharmacy.rulemaking@bop.oregon.gov.
Also in Oregon, the Oregon Health Authority issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking amending pharmacy dispensing, prescription requirements and regulatory cleanup of program rules as follows. A hearing will be held on September 18 from 1:30 pm – 2:15 pm and comments are due to the agency by 5:00 pm on September 21; see notice for details.
- 410-121-0000 (Foreword and Definition of Terms): Amending definition of "mental health drug" to align with other rules and remove references to previous repealed rule definition.
- 410-121-0111 (Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee): Removing outdated language referencing 2011 bill and previous governing body.
- 410-121-0145 (Prescription Requirements): Removing outdated language for age restrictions and contraceptive prescribing.
- 410-121-0146 (Dispensing Limitations): Amending language to allow large days supply for select MH [mental health] carve out medications.
- 410-121-0147 (Exclusions and Limitations): Amending language to clean up repealed rule references.
- 410-121-0155 (Reimbursement): Amending language to exempt IHS [Indian Health Service] and Tribal pharmacies from AAAC survey process.
Finally in Oregon, the Prescription Drug Affordability Board posted its draft agenda and meeting materials for the August 20 meeting. Register in advance.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Pennsylvania
In the wake of Rite Aid closures, the Department of Insurance (PID) issued Notice 2025-07 urging to insurers and PBMs to take immediate steps to protect patients' access to prescription medication as many Pennsylvanians look for a new pharmacy. Specifically, PID asked them to:
- Help patients quickly find a new pharmacy if their local Rite Aid has closed;
- Allow a patient to use out-of-network pharmacies when in-network pharmacies are not available and, make sure patients do not pay more than in-network prices in such cases;
- Transfer any existing approvals or prior authorizations to the new pharmacy automatically;
- Set up hotlines, websites or other support tools to make prescription transfers easy;
- Fast-track urgent requests, like specialty medications and controlled substances; and
- Pause or reschedule pharmacy audits.
Additionally, the notice encouraged consumers experiencing issues accessing their prescriptions to file a complaint or call 1-866-PA-COMPLAINT.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Tennessee
The Tennessee Pharmacists Association (TPA), National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) and American Pharmacists Association (APhA) jointly filed an amicus brief in federal court supporting Tennessee’s 2021 law regulating PBMs. The law, aimed at protecting patient choice and pharmacy access, bans PBMs from practices like patient steering and excluding pharmacies from preferred networks. The case stems from a challenge by McKee Foods arguing that the law is preempted by the federal ERISA statute.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Texas
The 30-day special legislative session is set to officially conclude on August 19. However, many Democratic lawmakers are currently out of the state, which means the House cannot conduct business without a quorum. As a result, House Speaker Dustin Burrows (R) announced that if a quorum is not present, the House will adjourn sine die on August 15. If this occurs, Gov. Greg Abbott (R) has pledged to immediately call for another special session.
Also in Texas, at the August 8 meeting, the Board of Pharmacy adopted rules on prescription delivery, allowing certain prescription drugs to be delivered by drones and contract carriers. The rules take effect on the date that they are published in the Texas Register.
Also in Texas, the Board of Pharmacy members elected HEB pharmacist Donna Montemayor to serve at Vice President of the Board and Donnie Lewis, RPh to serve as Treasurer.
Also in Texas, on September 1, the Health and Human Services Commission's (HHSC) Vendor Drug Program (VDP) will begin identifying some drugs with temporary non-preferred (TNP) status. TNP drugs are new-to-market drugs available on the Medicaid formulary but that have not yet been reviewed by the state's Drug Utilization Review Board for a preferred drug list status, either preferred or non-preferred.
Also in Texas, HHSC is encouraging pharmacies to enroll in Healthy Texas Women (HTW), offering women's health and family planning services at no cost to eligible Texans. More information on the program can be found on the HTW website. Pharmacies can enroll as participating HTW providers when completing the enrollment process through the Texas Medicaid & Healthcare Partnership's (TMHP's) Provider Enrollment and Management System (PEMS). Pharmacies are automatically enrolled in HTW when completing the Medicaid enrollment unless the pharmacy unchecks the HTW participation box. The HTW Provider Certification and Attestation form does not apply to pharmacies. See the TMHP PEMS website for enrollment information.
Also in Texas, HHSC removed the non-preferred status from the generic methylphenidate patch products on the preferred drug list effective August 11, as a result of manufacturer-reported backorders due to supply shortages.
Finally in Texas, HHSC published an update to the Clinical Prior Authorization Assistance Chart (PDF). HHSC requires managed care organizations (MCOs) to implement specific clinical prior authorizations for clients enrolled in managed care. Usage of other clinical prior authorizations will vary between MCOs at the discretion of each MCO. Refer to the Pharmacy Provider Procedure Manual for more information about required clinical prior authorizations in managed care.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Washington
The Health Care Authority (HCA) Apple Health (Medicaid) released a new provider fact sheet with information about language access.
Also in Washington, the 2025-27 Operating Budget directed the Health Care Authority (HCA) to reduce Apple Health (Medicaid) managed care organization (MCO) rates by 1 percent, or approximately $90 million, for calendar year 2026. HCA is implementing several specific reductions that combined will result in $90 million in reduced expenditures. HCA summarized the changes which take effect January 1, 2026.
Also in Washington, HCA posted information about language access and interpreter services:
Also in Washington, the Washington Health Care Privacy Toolkit was updated.
Also in Washington, the Health Care Authority (HCA) launched a Naloxone Pilot Program for a one-time distribution of naloxone to behavioral health agencies (BHAs) in the state. This pilot is the result of efforts to expand access to opioid reversal medication and listening to feedback from community partners, which showed that BHAs have a high need for upfront funding to purchase the initial stock of naloxone before they can begin a "stock and replenish" model.
Finally in Washington, the Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission (PQAC) published its August newsletter.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Alabama
The Medicaid Agency (Medicaid) is required to conduct administrative desk reviews to ensure providers are following state policies and practices that comply with federal regulations. Medicaid coordinates with SafeGuard Services, LLC (SGS), a Unified Program Integrity Contractor (UPIC) working with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). SGS performs fraud, waste and abuse detection, deterrence and prevention activities for Medicaid claims through administrative desk reviews. See Medicaid’s ALERTs for details.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Arizona
The Board of Pharmacy published its July 2025 newsletter including the following articles and items of interest: Update Your Profile, Be on Alert – Scam Letters and/or Phone Calls, Thank You for Serving – Cedar Lahann and Kevin Dang, Welcome to the Board – Christopher Hogan and Stephanie Spark, Understanding ARS §20-1742: Malpractice Reporting Requirements in Arizona, 2025 Legislative Update and Bills Signed Into Law and Disciplinary Actions and Update – Health Boards.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Arkansas
On July 28,a federal judge for the US District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas Central Division granted a preliminary injunction to stop the implementation of HB 1150/Act 624, a state law prohibiting out-of-state PBMs from operating pharmacies inside the state, due to take effect on January 1, 2026. The reason given in the court order was because it likely violates the Commerce Clause, and it is likely preempted by TRICARE.
Also in Arkansas, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) approved a new section 1115 demonstration titled "Arkansas Opportunities to Test Transition-Related Strategies to Support Community Reentry from Incarceration and Institutions for Mental Disease." It allows the state to receive federal financial participation (FFP) for Medicaid state plan services provided to adult beneficiaries who are in institutions for mental disease (IMD) for substance use disorder (SUD) or serious mental illness (SMI) treatment.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.