The Board of Pharmacy published an emergency rule to adopt regulations under AAC 680-X-2 to establish standards for off-site COVID vaccine order entry processing. The rule is effective April 7 and expires October 2, 2021. Please contact Wendy Passmore; Board of Pharmacy; 205-981-4764; wpassmore@albop.com for more information.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
The Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Health Care Services issued a Notice of Public Scoping: Medicaid Pharmacy Services, Coverage & Reimbursement announcing its review of coverage and reimbursement related to Medicaid Pharmacy Professional Dispensing Fees, pharmacist rendered professional services, covered outpatient drugs, and cost-sharing. The public scoping session will take place on May 24, 2021, via teleconference/WebEx, and written comments will be accepted until June 4, 2021.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
NACDS and the California Retailers Association submitted a joint letter to the Assembly Appropriations Committee in opposition to AB 1341, which will prohibit the sale of over-the-counter dietary supplements to individuals under 18 years of age without a prescription and will also require retailers and pharmacies to store these products behind the counter. We expressed concern this will create substantial workflow issues and take time away from patient care. Additionally, this action will restrict access to these safe FDA-regulated products forcing many consumers to turn to less-regulated, misbranded, and dangerous supplements sold online.
Also in California, on May 14, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) released the 2021-22 Governor’s May Revision related to the state’s budget process. Included in the Health and Human Services section of the May Revision is funding to implement an MTM program for specialty pharmacy services in the Medi-Cal program, effective July 1, 2021. Additionally, the May Revision is absent of a clear plan of implementation for the transition of the Medi-Cal Rx prescription drug benefit from managed care to fee-for-service. The Department of Health Care Services continues to work with the contracted vendor to finalize the conflict avoidance plan. In light of this uncertainty, the May Revision assumes that the transition will take place on January 1, 2022, for budgeting purposes only. The state’s contracted vendor will continue meeting with pharmacy providers to working towards future implementation of the transition.
Also in California, the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Health & Human Services has voted to approve the Governor’s proposal to cover continuous glucose monitors for adult Medi-Cal beneficiaries. The proposal is awaiting action in the Senate. If approved by both chambers, the proposal would be included in the state budget for approval by the Governor.
Also in California, the State Board of Pharmacy published its agenda for the May 27, 2021, teleconference public board meeting.
Also in California, the Board announced the following related to pharmacy law waivers issued during the coronavirus pandemic.
Also in California, the Department of Health Care Services posted a step-by-step user guide for the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Uninsured Group Web Application Web Portal on the Medi-Cal Providers website. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act, Section 6004, authorized State Medicaid programs to provide access to COVID-19 diagnostic testing and testing-related services at no cost to the individual.
Also in California. The Medi-Cal Update – Part 1 – Program Eligibility Bulletin – May 2021 highlights information related to ICD-10 codes for individuals in aid code V2 (COVID-19 Uninsured Group) and updates to the ineligible provider list among other program elements and updates. Also, the Medi-Cal Update – Durable Medical Equipment and Medical Supplies – May 2021 – Bulletin 548 includes information about the new NDC for Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, updates to the List of Enteral Nutrition Products and various coding changes and provider manual updates.
Lastly in California, Attorney General Rob Bonta issued an alert advising the public that they should not be charged for their COVID-19 vaccination and warning vaccination providers not to ask individuals to pay to receive their vaccine.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Several final rules from the Board of Pharmacy effective May 3.
Also in Georgia: The Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner issued a notice to announce Bulletin 21-EX-8 to specify that, when an audit of a pharmacy is conducted by a managed care company, insurance company, pharmacy benefits manager, or another payor, the final audit report must be delivered to the pharmacy within 90 days after receipt of the preliminary audit report or final appeal, whichever is later. Contact: Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner; 404-656-2056
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Earlier this week, the House of Representatives and, subsequently, the Senate passed HF 891, an act relating to appropriations for health and human services, and it will be sent to the governor. The bill includes language directing the department to amend Medicaid managed care organization contracts to authorize the establishment of a managed care pharmacy dispensing fee reimbursement with either (a) the established fee-for-service $10.38 pharmacy dispensing fee reimbursement per prescription based upon the most recent state cost of dispensing study or (b) a dispensing fee determined contractually by mutual agreement between the managed care organization and a participating pharmacy with more than 30 locations in the state and headquarters outside the state, not to exceed the established fee-for-service $10.38 pharmacy dispensing fee reimbursement per prescription.
Also in Iowa, this week, Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) signed SF 296 into law authorizing pharmacists to order and administer COVID-19 immunizations or vaccinations to adults according to statewide protocols, perform point-of-care testing for influenza, streptococcus, and COVID-19 and initiate treatment following a positive test, and enter into collaborative practice agreements with other healthcare providers.
Lastly in Iowa, on May 10 the Board of Pharmacy issued guidance on how a pharmacy may report dispensations or transactions involving nonprescription Schedule V controlled substances, such as codeine-containing cough syrups, to the Iowa Prescription Monitoring Program, under an April 7 final rule.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
The Division of Medicaid issued a proposed rule to amend regulations under Title 23, Part 224, Chapter 1 to set the fees for immunizations to those in effect for the state fiscal year 2021. Comments are due May 30, 2021. For more information please contact: Margaret Wilson; Division of Medicaid; 601-359-5248; Margaret.Wilson@medicaid.ms.gov
Also in Mississippi. The Division of Medicaid also issued a proposed rule to amend regulations under Title 23, Part 200, Chapters 1, 3, and 4 to increase the time for providers to request an administrative review for claims to 90 days. The rule also would revise beneficiary cost-sharing and 340B provider requirements to comply with federal standards. Comments are due May 30, 2021. For more information please contact: Margaret Wilson; Division of Medicaid; 601-359-5248; Margaret.Wilson@medicaid.ms.gov
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Last week, the Missouri Legislature passed legislation SB 63 establishing the framework for a statewide PDMP. Once operational, this new program will preempt any local PDMP program such as the one set up by St. Louis County that numerous other municipalities throughout the State of Missouri have opted to participate in. Initially, the statewide program will require pharmacies to report dispensing data for schedule II, III & IV controlled substance prescriptions into the PDMP every 24 hours, but the reporting timeframe will phase over to real-time reporting by 2024. The legislation next goes to the Governor to be signed into law. Once enacted, Missouri will become the last state in the nation to establish a PDMP.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
On May 5, 2021, Gov. Pete Ricketts (R) signed LB 583, requiring Schedule II-V controlled substances prescriptions to be electronically prescribed with exceptions effective January 1, 2022. However, dentists will be required to do so beginning January 1, 2024.
Also in Nebraska, the Department of Health and Human Services published the agenda for the next conference call meeting of the Board of Pharmacy on Monday, May 24, 2021. The March 22 conference call meeting minutes are also available.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
The Board of Pharmacy issued a proposed rule to amend and adopt regulations under 21 NCAC 46 to establish new requirements for limited-service permits for certain pharmacies where services are provided by pharmacist-managers serving multiple pharmacies. The rule also would allow pharmacist-managers to be present at limited-service permits for less time than at regular pharmacy permits, allow pharmacist-managers to designate an assistant pharmacy-manager for limited-service permits, and provide that pharmacist-managers do not need to personally package drugs dispensed by nurse practitioners or physician assistants, among other conforming changes. A hearing is scheduled for July 20, 2021, via webcast and teleconference. Comments are due July 20, 2021.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.