Certification of low-volume status must be submitted to each PBM you work with by December 1 annually to ensure you receive the low-volume dispensing fee. The Department of Commerce & Insurance (TDCI) rules 0780-01-95-.01(1) outlines requirements for submitting such certifications, including submitting proof of the pharmacy’s actual prescription volume from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Gov. Greg Abbott (R) signed into law HB 25, legislation allowing pharmacists to dispense ivermectin without requiring a prescription order from a licensed healthcare practitioner effective December 4.
The second 30-day special legislative session ended early on September 4.
Also in Texas, the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) sent CMS a state plan amendment regarding substitutions when there are drug shortages. Considering CMS is encouraging states to do this, Texas is expecting quick approval.
Also in Texas, the Board of Pharmacy posted the agenda for the September 25 Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) Advisory Committee meeting.
Also in Texas, the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) Vendor Drug Program (VDP) is currently accepting stakeholder comments on requiring a prescription for the COVID-19 At-Home Test Kit. Currently, at-home COVID-19 test kits are available without a prescription. The policy change includes requiring a prescription for test kits filled and dispensed for members in Medicaid and CHIP. HHSC does not propose changing the quantity limit of a maximum of four test kits per month.
Also in Texas, the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) issued a Texas COVID-19 Vaccine Information Statement, outlining the benefits, risks, development process, long-term studies, legal protections and adverse event reporting related to the COVID-19 vaccine. Pharmacies are required to provide patients with this document and obtain written informed consent from the patient as a result of HB 4535, which took effect on September 1.
Finally in Texas, NACDS submitted the state survey on the Rural Health Transformation Program funds.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
The Board of Pharmacy met in a special meeting on September 17 to approve a revision of the State Pharmacist Prescribing Protocol for COVID 19 and Influenza Vaccines Ages 5 and Up.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Mike Sargent at 207-272-6435.
The Department of Health (DOH) issued a COVID-19 Vaccine Standing Order authorizing health care providers to administer the most updated versions of the COMIRNATY, MNEXSPIKE, SPIKEVAX and NUVAXOVID COVID-19 vaccines to all persons aged 6 months and older, including pregnant individuals.
Also in Washington, the Health Care Authority is continuing to solicit Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) input through September 26 at 5:00 pm Pacific time. Written comments are limited to 10 pages or less. Slides or other formats are welcome. Specifically, they want to meet the needs of Washington's rural communities:
Finally in Washington, Gov. Bob Ferguson (D) joined the Oregon, Hawaii and California governors known as the West Coast Health Alliance (WCHA), announced coordinated winter virus vaccination recommendations to include the 2025–26 COVID-19 vaccine, influenza and RSV.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
The Department of Health is conducting a series of public meetings to gather input on rural healthcare challenges, strengths and opportunities. Please note, later this fall, the Department of Health will release a statewide survey to collect additional input and help refine Wyoming's priorities for the application. These engagement opportunities will be posted to the Department of Health site for this project.
Also in Wyoming, the Department of Health announced, effective September 2, Jesse Springer has been appointed the state's Interim State Medicaid Agent and Senior Administrator for the Division of Health Care Financing. This division oversees Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
The Department of Health Care Services posted the following:
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
The proposal to roll back certain school vaccine requirements will not take effect for at least 90 days, according to the state health department. The initial changes would apply only to chickenpox and a few other illnesses, while any expansion to include diseases, such as polio and measles would require legislative action.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
MedImpact, the state’s single PBM, announced that beginning September 28 they will cover and reimburse certain new COVID vaccines and issued an updated protocol.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Effective September 1, 2025, NYRx, the state's Medicaid Pharmacy program, announced coverage for the 2025-2026 formulations of the COVID-19 vaccine. Effective September 5, 2025, in accordance with the Executive Order #52 and the guidance issued by the Commissioner of Health, pharmacists are authorized to order patient-specific orders for COVID-19 vaccination for patients aged 3 years and older for off-label usage of COVID-19 vaccine. See Advisory Immunization Notification titled 2025-20206 COVID-19 Guidance for Pharmacists located at https://commerce.health.ny.gov. Enrolled pharmacy providers will be reimbursed for vaccine cost and administration when administered to eligible members. Pharmacies will bill NYRx using the National Council on Prescription Drug Programs (NCPDP) D.0 format.
The Department has since then issued an update on non-patient specific standing order for the administration of the Pfizer-BioNTech updated COVID-19 vaccine (2024-2025 Formula) for persons 5 years of age and older by pharmacists.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Mike Sargent at 207-272-6435.
