Michael Silber, Author at In The States

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So far Michael Silber has created 2529 blog entries.

Washington

The Health Care Authority (HCA) Apple Health (Medicaid) released a new provider fact sheet with information about language access.

Also in Washington, the 2025-27 Operating Budget directed the Health Care Authority (HCA) to reduce Apple Health (Medicaid) managed care organization (MCO) rates by 1 percent, or approximately $90 million, for calendar year 2026. HCA is implementing several specific reductions that combined will result in $90 million in reduced expenditures. HCA summarized the changes which take effect January 1, 2026.

Also in Washington, HCA posted information about language access and interpreter services:

HCA language access page

HCA interpreter services provider page

Nondiscrimination statement

Also in Washington, the Washington Health Care Privacy Toolkit was updated.

Also in Washington, the Health Care Authority (HCA) launched a Naloxone Pilot Program for a one-time distribution of naloxone to behavioral health agencies (BHAs) in the state. This pilot is the result of efforts to expand access to opioid reversal medication and listening to feedback from community partners, which showed that BHAs have a high need for upfront funding to purchase the initial stock of naloxone before they can begin a "stock and replenish" model.

Finally in Washington, the Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission (PQAC) published its August newsletter.

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

Michael Silber2025-08-15T10:55:13-04:00August 15, 2025|Washington|

Alabama

The Medicaid Agency (Medicaid) is required to conduct administrative desk reviews to ensure providers are following state policies and practices that comply with federal regulations. Medicaid coordinates with SafeGuard Services, LLC (SGS), a Unified Program Integrity Contractor (UPIC) working with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). SGS performs fraud, waste and abuse detection, deterrence and prevention activities for Medicaid claims through administrative desk reviews. See Medicaid’s ALERTs for details.

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

Michael Silber2025-07-31T15:06:31-04:00July 31, 2025|Alabama|

Arizona

The Board of Pharmacy published its July 2025 newsletter including the following articles and items of interest: Update Your Profile, Be on Alert – Scam Letters and/or Phone Calls, Thank You for Serving – Cedar Lahann and Kevin Dang, Welcome to the Board – Christopher Hogan and Stephanie Spark, Understanding ARS §20-1742: Malpractice Reporting Requirements in Arizona, 2025 Legislative Update and Bills Signed Into Law and Disciplinary Actions and Update – Health Boards.

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

Michael Silber2025-07-31T15:05:46-04:00July 31, 2025|Arizona|

Arkansas

On July 28,a federal judge for the US District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas Central Division granted a preliminary injunction to stop the implementation of HB 1150/Act 624, a state law prohibiting out-of-state PBMs from operating pharmacies inside the state, due to take effect on January 1, 2026. The reason given in the court order was because it likely violates the Commerce Clause, and it is likely preempted by TRICARE.

Also in Arkansas, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) approved a new section 1115 demonstration titled "Arkansas Opportunities to Test Transition-Related Strategies to Support Community Reentry from Incarceration and Institutions for Mental Disease." It allows the state to receive federal financial participation (FFP) for Medicaid state plan services provided to adult beneficiaries who are in institutions for mental disease (IMD) for substance use disorder (SUD) or serious mental illness (SMI) treatment.

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

Michael Silber2025-07-31T15:04:50-04:00July 31, 2025|Arkansas|

California

On June 19, the Board of Pharmacy (Board) received notification from the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) that the Board's compounding regulation changes were approved. The Notice of Approval provides that the new regulations will become effective on October 1.

As required by law, the Board conducted a comprehensive review of its compounding regulations and identified necessary changes after United States Pharmacopoeia (USP) General Chapters became compendial. These efforts resulted in the Board voting, as part of its April 2023 Board meeting, to promulgate new regulations. Since that time, and after five formal comment periods, a regulation hearing and extensive review and discussion over the course of multiple public meetings, the Board completed the formal rulemaking process. With the recent approval by the OAL of the updated compounding regulations promulgated by the Board, the Board wishes to update its stakeholders on its policy related to licensees transitioning to the updated USP General Chapters and updated regulations.

During this intervening period, the Board encourages licensees to continue transitioning to the new standards established in USP and to take steps to establish compliance with the Board's updated regulations.

Source: View the policy statement. Revised July 28.

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

Michael Silber2025-07-31T15:04:21-04:00July 31, 2025|California|

Colorado

The Department of Health Care Policy & Financing l(HCPF) is hosting its annual virtual Stakeholder Webinar on August 12 from 9:00 am to 11:00am MT. Leaders will discuss emerging federal threats to Medicaid, state budget challenges, Medicaid cost trend drivers and HCPF's priorities for fiscal year 2025-2026.

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

Michael Silber2025-07-31T15:03:41-04:00July 31, 2025|Colorado|

Indiana

The Pharmacy Access for Contraceptives for Hoosiers (PATCH), a grant program for pharmacies who have or are planning to implement contraceptive prescribing services, expired on July 30.

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

Michael Silber2025-07-31T15:03:16-04:00July 31, 2025|Indiana|

Kansas

The Board of Pharmacy is seeking a pharmacist to volunteer to serve on the Collaborative Drug Therapy Management Committee to review the current statewide protocols for testing and initiation of therapy for influenza, acute group A strep and acute uncomplicated UTI in women. Interested parties must submit a resume and letter of interest to pharmacy@ks.gov by September 2.

Also in Kansas, the University of Kansas School of Medicine – Wichita, the Kansas Hospital Association and DCCCA, are conducting a study designed to improve access to substance use disorder (SUD) care aimed at identifying the barriers to treating individuals with SUDs.

Finally, the Board of Pharmacy adopted several new rules at the July 11 meeting, which will go into effect in August 2025.

K.A.R. 68-7-10

K.A.R. 68-7-10a

K.A.R. 68-21-2

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

Michael Silber2025-07-31T15:02:50-04:00July 31, 2025|Kansas|

Louisiana

The Board of Pharmacy adopted new requirements for the Pharmacist-in-Charge (PIC), that were effective on June 20. The amended rule reduces the minimum experience requirement for a pharmacist to qualify as a PIC from two years to one year of active pharmacy practice, and it expands the responsibility for the supervision, management and regulatory compliance of the entire prescription department to include both the PIC and the owner of the pharmacy permit.

Also in Louisiana, the Board of Pharmacy published the July 2025 newsletter.

Finally, the Board of Pharmacy released the July 2025 Advisory Council update on the Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP).

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

Michael Silber2025-07-31T15:02:17-04:00July 31, 2025|Louisiana|