Utah
The Board of Pharmacy announced a June 28 meeting; agenda is pending.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Washington
The Health Care Authority's recently approved second quarter preferred drug list is now available.
Also in Washington, the Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P&T) Committee and Drug Utilization Review (DUR) Board meeting is scheduled for June 15, 2022, to review drug classes for the Washington PDL (Preferred Drug List), and the drug classes for the Apple Health (Medicaid) PDL. This meeting will be held by Zoom online seminar only and you will need to register in advance to receive the meeting link.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Alaska
Effective May 14, the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development amended regulations under 12 AAC 02 to reduce application, license, registration, and renewal fees for pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, remote and other pharmacies, wholesale drug distributors, outsourcing facilities, and third-party logistics providers.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Arkansas
Effective April 1, 2022, Medicaid began accepting applications for new providers as individual practitioners. Pharmacists that intend to be an Ordering, Rendering, and Prescribing (ORP) provider for pharmacy and medical claim billing, must enroll with Arkansas Medicaid. Applications may be submitted to the Provider Portal. For more information, contact the Provider Assistance Center at (501) 376-2211.
Also in Arkansas, Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) appointed Jennifer Dillaha, M.D., as Director of the Department of Health. Since 2001, she has worked at the Department of Health leading the Agency's health promotion efforts focused on population-based interventions to improve the health and well-being of all Arkansans. The Governor also appointed Renee Mallory, RN, BSN to the position as interim Secretary of Health.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
California
The Department of Health Care Services posted the following alerts on the Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal. Please note DUR Claims Edits were not reinstated on May 1 and the Electronic Claims Agreement Submission Deadline has been extended to July 31, 2022. Additionally, the Medi-Cal Rx 180-day prior authorization (PA) transition scheduled to go into effect July 1 will not take place. Medi-Cal Rx will continue to utilize historical PA and claims data beyond July 1. There is no new date for the transition. However, providers will be notified 90 days before the PA transition takes place.
- Diabetic Supplies – Therapeutic Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) Systems (May 5)
- Medi-Cal Rx Operational Updates (May 5)
- Medi-Cal Rx Monthly Bulletin for May (May 1)
- Changes to Contract Drugs List (CDL) (May 1)
- Changes to Contract Drugs List (CDL) — Over-the-Counter Drugs (May 1)
- Updates to the Medi-Cal Rx Provider Manual (May 1)
- Update: Drug Utilization Review Claims Edits Will Not be Reinstated on May 1, 2022 (April 29)
- Electronic Claims Agreement – Submission Deadline Extended to July 31, 2022 (April 29)
- Medi-Cal Rx Weekly Wrap-Up for April 22-28 (April 29)
- Diabetic Supplies Update: Disposable Insulin Delivery Devices Updates (April 28)
- Medi-Cal Rx Compound Claims Processing Billing Tips (April 22)
- Prescriber Training Checklist (April 22)
- Pharmacy Training Checklist (April 22)
- Medi-Cal Rx Weekly Wrap-Up for April 15-21 (April 22)
- Medi-Cal Rx Billing Policy for Disposable Insulin Delivery Devices (April 21)
- Medi-Cal Rx Billing Policy for Continuous Glucose Monitoring Systems (April 21)
- Understanding Medi-Cal Rx for Beneficiaries (April 21)
Also in California, the Board of Pharmacy posted its agenda for the May 11 Board Meeting; see link below.
Finally in California, the Board of Pharmacy posted its May update.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Illinois
The Illinois Drug & Therapeutics Advisory Board will hold an Ad Hoc meeting on June 7, 2022, to review the ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) class in detail.
Also in Illinois, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services has posted an Updated Medicaid Preferred Drug List Effective 07/01/2022. You may view the new List at the following link.
Also in Illinois, please join the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, in conjunction with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) of the Department of Homeland Security, on Wednesday, May 18th at 8:30 a.m., to learn more about the current cybersecurity threats to retailers and what you can do to help mitigate your risk.
During the online seminar attendees will hear from Steve Lyddon, Protective Security Advisor for CISA, about a variety of topics surrounding cybersecurity including:
- Threats to Critical infrastructure
- Basic Cyber Hygiene and Security
- Understanding Mis – Dis – and Mal information
- CISA's Shields-Up Program which deals with the defense of the nation's cyber security and industrial control systems since the Russian Invasion of Ukraine.
Register HERE.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Iowa
NACDS submitted comments to the Board of Pharmacy in support of proposed rule changes that would make permanent the temporary allowances for remote processing. These were granted by Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) and the Board of Pharmacy in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency. If adopted, the proposed rule would permit pharmacists to provide remote counseling services and allow certified pharmacy technicians to perform delegated functions at a location that is not a licensed pharmacy.
Also in Iowa, the Board of The Board of Pharmacy has posted its meeting minutes from the March 1, 2022, meeting.
Finally in Iowa, the Department of Human Services issued INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 2337-MC-FFS announcing the following June 2022 Iowa Medicaid Pharmacy Program Changes effective June 1, 2022.
- Changes to the Preferred Drug List (PDL) Effective June 1, 2022
- New Drug PA [Prior Authorization] Criteria – Triheptanoin (Dojolvi)
- Changes to Existing PA [Prior Authorization] Criteria
- Apremilast (Otezla)
- Biologics for Arthritis
- Janus Kinase Inhibitors
- Selective Preventive Migraine Treatments (formerly CGRP Inhibitors)
- Point of Sale Billing Updates – ProDUR Quantity Limits
- Drug Utilization Review (DUR) Update
- Pharmacy Average Acquisition Cost (AAC)
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Kentucky
On May 5, the Department of Medicaid Service (DMS) issued a statement asking pharmacies to hold off on reprocessing and rebilling TPL claims as requested by MedImpact in a recent communication to pharmacies. The statement, issued by Dr. Fatima Ali, Senior Director, Medicaid Pharmacy Services, reads: "DMS is requesting that pharmacies hold off on reversing and reprocessing claims until further guidance is provided in the upcoming days. DMS is exploring alternative solutions around the TPL issue and will provide additional updates ASAP. Thank you!"
NACDS thanks the Kentucky Retail Federation and the Kentucky Pharmacists Association for their work on this issue and for sharing this information with us. We will keep members informed via email on any developments on this issue.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Louisiana
HB (House Bill) 424 by Rep. Chris Taylor (R), legislation lowering the age to 7 and older for pharmacies to be able to provide immunizations without a prescription, fell one vote short of the 53 votes needed to pass the full House; final passage vote was 52 in favor and 37 opposed.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.