The Department of Health and Human Services has proposed policy change 2534-Pharmacy, removing copays for PrEP & PEP, effective November 2, 2025, contingent upon CMS approval. Comments are due by September 15 to GoethalsV@michigan.gov.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
The Board of Pharmacy license renewals for pharmacies, drug distributors, drug outsourcers, drug distributor registrants and third-party logistics providers will be emailed on August 15 to the business e-mail address on file with the Board, along with instructions for renewing online via the MOPRO online licensing portal.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
The State Department of Health shared the following reminder:
NYRx, the Medicaid Pharmacy Program would like to remind stakeholders, including prescribers, pharmacists, members and other caregivers, that 90-day supplies of most maintenance medications and over the counter (OTC) drugs are covered by NYRx. This benefit applies, but is not limited to, NYRx covered OTC medications such as aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, antihistamines and covered vitamins and minerals, such as prenatal vitamins, vitamin B, vitamin D, calcium, fluoride and iron preparations. For a complete list of medications covered by NYRx, see the Medicaid pharmacy list of reimbursable drugs. 90-day supplies offer numerous benefits:
Prescribers should consider writing for a 90-day supply and pharmacists should work with prescribers to switch to a 90-day supply, once it is determined the patient is on a stable dose of a maintenance medication or OTC drug.
Furthermore, pharmacists may also submit for package size quantities that closely represent the prescriber's fiscal order. For instance, if a prescriber writes for a quantity of 90 tablets and the closest package size is 100 tablets, that can be utilized.
For questions on this policy, contact NYRx@health.ny.gov or 518-486-3209.
Also in New York, NYRx Education and Outreach team shared an NYRx Brand Less Than Generic Program Update, effective August 21.
For more information related to the Brand Less Than Generic (BLTG) Program, please review the BLTG YouTube webinar, NYRx, the Brand Less Than Generic (BLTG) Program – YouTube.
The NYRx Education & Outreach Call Center is available by phone at 1-833-967-7310 or by email at NYRxEO@primetherapeutics.com from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm ET, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Mike Sargent at 207-272-6435.
General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT) is now accepting applications for non-voting, volunteer peer review members of the Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) Credentialing Committee. For background and details on the Credentialing Committee, please see the announcement from NCTracks entitled Coming Soon: NCDHHS Credentialing Committee.
Providers interested in being considered for peer review roles should submit their resume to: ncmedicaidcredcomm-candidate@gdit.com.
For more information about the Credentialing Committee and related resources, including Fact Sheets and links to the stakeholder webinar series, visit the NCDHHS Credentialing Committee webpage.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
The Board of Pharmacy posted the quarterly newsletter.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
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:
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:
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
