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California

NACDS and the California Retailers Association submitted a joint letter to the Assembly Business and Professions Committee in support of AB 1328, legislation allowing pharmacists to perform all CLIA-waived tests.

Also in California, the Board of Pharmacy’s teleconferenced Licensing Committee’s April 21, 2021, meeting agenda and meeting materials have been posted along with information to participate.  Also, the teleconferenced Enforcement and Compounding Committee’s April 22, 2021, meeting agenda has been posted along with information to participate.

Also in California, the Division of Workers’ Compensation’s Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P&T) Committee will meet on April 21, 2021, from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. via video/audio conference only. To attend the meeting via video conference, please use the P&T Meeting Link. To join the meeting via teleconference, please use the call-in phone number: 1 (619) 407-9860 and enter phone conference ID: 520 391 953#.

Also in California, on April 1, the online attestation period opened for fee-for-service Medi-Cal pharmacy providers seeking the higher of two professional dispensing fees as part of the reimbursement for covered outpatient drugs. Medi-Cal pharmacy providers should have received a communication that includes the URL for the online attestation portal, as well as a unique login ID and password, by email, fax, or mail. If you have not received this communication, please call the Attestation Survey Hotline at 1-844-294-9982 or email CODSurvey@mercer.com.  The attestation period for the 2020 calendar year is open until 11:59 pm April 30, 2021, and no attestations will be accepted after that time. The attestation for the 2020 calendar year reporting period determines the professional dispensing fee component of the pharmacy claim reimbursement for claims with dates of service from July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2022. For additional information, providers can refer to the Pharmacy Provider Self-Attestation FAQs or may call the Attestation Survey Hotline at 1-844-294-9982, or email their questions to CODSurvey@mercer.com.

Also in California, Medi-Cal Rx Transition and Resources Training announced three sessions covering important Medi-Cal Rx changes for pharmacy providers and prescribers. For registration, all the training sessions are posted on the Education & Outreach Calendar within the Saba Learning Management System (LMS); you must be logged into the User Administration Console (UAC) to access the Education & Outreach Calendar in Saba.

Lastly in California, the Board of Pharmacy is beginning the development of its new strategic plan and is seeking stakeholder feedback. The Department of Consumer Affairs, SOLID Planning Solutions (SOLID), is assisting the Board with its strategic planning process.  Completed surveys will provide input as to how the Board is doing by identifying strengths, challenges, and current trends to consider for the future direction of the Board. All responses are anonymous. This survey will be open until April 30, 2021. For your convenience, NACDS is providing a PDF file of the survey.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

2021-04-16T10:04:29-04:00April 16, 2021|California|

Florida

Florida Medicaid will continue to align with the Medicare vaccine administration rates. These rates were updated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services effective March 15, 2021. COVID-19 vaccines administered with a date of service on or after March 15, 2021, must be paid at the new rates. All guidance applies to both the fee-for-service and Statewide Medicaid Managed Care delivery systems unless otherwise stated.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.

2021-04-16T10:03:26-04:00April 16, 2021|Florida|

Iowa

The Board of Pharmacy published the following effective May 12, 2021:

  • Final rule amends and adopts regulations under 657 IAC 3 and 6 related to pharmacy technicians and general pharmacy practice including broader language relating to the delegation of nonclinical pharmacy functions to a pharmacy technician beyond those related solely to dispensing; prohibiting a pharmacy license holder from requiring a supervising pharmacist to delegate functions to a technician against the pharmacist’s professional judgment; changes related to pharmacy technician registration and the renewal period for certified pharmacy technicians; and other related amendments outlined in the posting;
  • Final rule amends and adopts regulations under 657 IAC 5 to require registration of pharmacy support persons before employment in a pharmacy. The rule also aligns the late renewal and reactivation procedures for those with other licenses and registrations, adds a $15 fee for written verification of registration, and expands the delegation of nontechnical pharmacy functions to pharmacy support persons. Additionally, the rule prohibits requiring a supervising pharmacist to delegate functions to a support person against their professional judgment, requires support persons to report any criminal conviction or disciplinary action within 30 days, and adds provisions on the online application process.
  • Final rule amends regulations under 657 IAC 4 to require pharmacist-interns to notify the board of changes in name, address, email, any criminal convictions, or disciplinary action. The rule also requires the submission of a $15 fee for verification of a pharmacist-intern registration or certification of hours and removes the reference to a license surcharge for the Board’s monitoring program.
  • Final rule amends regulations under 657 IAC 37 to require reporting of Schedule V controlled substances to the prescription monitoring program database. The rule also revises the definition of “health care professional.”
  • Final rule amends regulations under 657 IAC 10 to temporarily add oliceridine and remimazolam as controlled substances to conform to federal standards.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

2021-04-16T10:02:29-04:00April 16, 2021|Iowa|

Maryland

The following bills of importance to pharmacy under both practice expansion and reimbursement have passed both chambers before the Legislature adjourning this week. They are now on their way to Gov. Hogan for signature. NACDS commends the Maryland Association of Chain Drug Stores and the Maryland Pharmacists Association for their work on the ground on these issues.

  • HB 1040 Kelly -D- would mirror pharmacists’ federal authority to provide childhood vaccines to children age 3 years and older effective July 1, 2021 thru June 30, 2023. The bill also requires the Department of Health to complete a study of pharmacist-administered childhood vaccines by December 1, 2022. This would allow time for the General Assembly to extend the authority during the 2023 session before it expires.
  • SB 537 Hershey (R)- Effective October 1, 2021, pharmacists can substitute a therapeutically equivalent brand name drug or device product for the originally prescribed generically equivalent drug or device if it is less expensive. It also requires pharmacists to inform patients of therapeutically equivalent brand name drugs that are the lowest-cost alternative to the originally prescribed generically equivalent and of their cost difference if the information is readily available.
  • HB 135 Young (D) Authorizes pharmacists to administer maintenance injectable medications that treat a chronic disease, condition, or disorder. This would include medication for the treatment of a psychiatric disorder or substance use disorder, contraceptives, and vitamins.  The product must be prescribed by an authorized prescriber; following a standing order issued by an authorized public health official; or under the protocol. The Board of Physicians, Nursing, and Pharmacy must issue regulations by September 1, 2021. Notably, it also requires payment for both patient assessments and the administration of the medication.
  • HB 601 Kipke (R) This bill would regulate the relationship between PBMs and pharmacies in response to the Rutledge Decision and is intended to capture ERISA plans. It includes many provisions including a prohibition on gag clauses and clawbacks; reimbursement parity among certain pharmacies, contracting transparency, credentialing, and audit reform, to name a few. The bill would be effective on January 1, 2022.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.

2021-04-16T10:01:41-04:00April 16, 2021|Maryland|

Mississippi

Mississippi Board of Pharmacy has issued the below final rules:

  • Final rule amends regulations under Title 30, Part 3001, Article IV to change to two hours the number of required continuing education hours that a licensed pharmacist must take that address opioid abuse. The rule is effective May 10, 2021.
  • Final rule amends regulations under Title 30, Part 3001, to provide for the licensure of pharmacists who are military members or spouses licensed out-of-state. The rule is effective May 10, 2021.
  • Final rule amends regulations under Title 30, Part 3001, Article VII, to require a pharmacist in charge to be physically at a facility for at least 50% of the time or 20 hours per week. The rule also requires that a permit for a pharmacy becomes inactive if an application for a new pharmacist in charge is not submitted within 15 days. The rule is effective May 10, 2021.
  • Final rule amends regulations under Title 30, Part 3001, Article XX, to revise requirements for partial filling of Schedule II controlled substances to conform to federal standards. The rule is effective May 10, 2021.
  • Mississippi Board of Pharmacy has proposed the below rules:
  • Proposed rule would amend regulations under Title 30, Part 3001, to clarify licensing requirements for pharmacy benefit managers. Comments are due April 25, 2021.
  • Proposed rule would amend regulations under Title 30, Part 3001, to remove the requirement for pharmacy technicians to become recertified before renewal. Comments are due April 25, 2021.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.

2021-04-16T10:00:54-04:00April 16, 2021|Mississippi|

Missouri

The Board of Pharmacy held a two-day meeting this week. Among the items discussed were updated on pending legislation that impacts pharmacies and a general discussion on pharmacy workforce conditions.

Also in Missouri, on March 3, CMS approved a SPA to allow pharmacists to bill MO HealthNet for all services within their scope of practice.  The effective date was retroactive to January 1, 2021.  More information can be found here.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.

2021-04-16T09:58:22-04:00April 16, 2021|Missouri|

New Mexico

The Board of Pharmacy issued a proposed rule establishing standards for pharmacist prescribing of protocol formulary dangerous drugs and prescribing of dangerous drugs in conjunction with point-of-care testing. The rule also revises the definition of “hormonal contraception drug therapy” to include formulary products delineated in the written contraception protocol, including emergency contraception, and clarifies reporting of vaccine administration. The Board will hold a virtual hearing during their April 22-23 meeting.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

2021-04-16T09:55:37-04:00April 16, 2021|New Mexico|

North Carolina

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) has no-cost antigen tests they would like to share with retail businesses that are interested in screening their employees for COVID-19. The Department of Health and Human Services will also arrange an orientation call with any NCRMA member to discuss what you need to do to request and receive the free tests from DHHS. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has a supply of Abbott BinaxNOW rapid, point-of-care antigen testing supplies available to support testing efforts to quickly identify and respond to cases of COVID-19. Facilities interested in receiving tests from the state must meet ALL the following requirements:

Request process: All facilities that meet the above requirements may apply to request tests via the request form.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.

2021-04-16T09:53:23-04:00April 16, 2021|North Carolina|

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