NACDS reminds members that on March 29 the new Acting Physician General Denise Johnson signed a new standing order for naloxone. All prescriptions using the standing order from former Secretary of Health Levine or former Acting Physician General Braund, and any remaining refills on those prescriptions are null and void.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
On May 6, HB678 by Rep. Phil Cortez (D), overwhelmingly passed the House by a vote of 139-7. HB678, supported by NACDS, allows pharmacists to independently order, and both pharmacists and technicians to administer, all immunizations to anyone 3 years of age or older without a prescription. The bill will now be heard by the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. NACDS members are urged to call their State Senator to ask them to HB678 expanding access to immunizations by permanently removing existing administrative barriers.
Also in Texas, the Board of Pharmacy launched a new podcast for Board news and updates. The first episode covers the November 2020 and February 2021 Board meeting rule adoptions, along with recent Board news and an important scam alert. www.pharmacy.texas.gov/podcast
Laslty in Texas, the Texas Department of State Health Services Commissioner John Hellerstedt is encouraging vaccine providers to order additional COVID-19 vaccines as needed as the state is now receiving about 1.5 million a week. Texas has now administered more than 18.3 million doses of the vaccine. More than 11 million people have received at least one dose, and over 7.9 million are now fully vaccinated. covidvaccine.texas.gov.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
The Department of Health, Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission adopted regulations allowing retired pharmacists to apply for a retired active pharmacist license status and practice pharmacy under certain conditions.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) signed into law SB 505/Act 651 legislation requiring prescribers to co-prescribe an opioid antagonist to patients under certain conditions: (1) dosage is equal to or above 50MME per day; (2) benzodiazepine has been prescribed or will be prescribed at the same time as the opioid; and (3) the patient has a history of drug abuse or a drug overdose.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
The COVID-19 Vaccine Administration Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page previously found on the Medi-Cal Provider website has been divided into separate FAQs for providers and beneficiaries. These documents are available on the COVID-19 Medi-Cal Response webpage under the FAQs section. As a reminder, the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Uninsured Group FAQs are also available along with the providers and beneficiaries FAQs.
Also in California, the Department of Health Care Services launched its series of ongoing releases of enhancements, updates, and changes to improve and enhance its website navigation and user experience. A complete list of the enhancements, updates, and additional website changes can be viewed within the Medi-Cal Provider Website Release Change Log. Providers are also encouraged to subscribe to the free Medi-Cal Subscription Service (MCSS). The MCSS allows each subscriber to choose and tailor both the subject matters and types of communications they wish to receive from the Medi-Cal Program.
Lastly in California, the Board of Pharmacy recently distributed the following to licensees and stakeholders:
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
On April 24, the Pharmacy Sunset legislation pharmacies support that expands our scope of practice unanimously passed the Senate and is now pending further action in the House where we will push to have it scheduled in committee as soon as possible.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
House Bill 1405 PBM reform legislation NACDS supported led by Meijer passed the General Assembly and was sent to Gov. Eric Holcomb (R). There were multiple provisions important to pharmacies including (1) prohibitions on quantity or refill limits, (2) weekly MAC list updates, (3) notification to all pharmacies on successful MAC appeals and adjustments, and (4) established a formal complaint process for addressing MAC appeals and contractual issues.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
The new Medicaid Provider Enrollment Portal designed to meet Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) requirements for screening and enrolling Medicaid providers and must be used by all Medicaid providers, including those who do not participate in fee-for-service will launch in June of 2021. The fiscal intermediary and current provider enrollment vendor, Gainwell Technologies, will send providers an invitation to the mailing address on file when it is time for them to visit the portal and complete the enrollment process. Providers can find additional information and submit questions on the provider enrollment webpage and in the Informational Bulletin 21-5: New Louisiana Provider Enrollment Portal
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
AB177, legislation pharmacies strongly oppose that mandates language translations be on the prescription vial passed the Assembly and is pending action by the Senate Health and Human Services Committee on April 29. The bill requires retail pharmacies to provide the information required to be included on the label of a prescription drug in English and, upon request of a prescribing practitioner, patient, or an authorized representative of a patient, any language prescribed by regulations adopted by the Board.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.