Michael Silber, Author at In The States

About Michael Silber

This author has not yet filled in any details.
So far Michael Silber has created 2529 blog entries.

Rhode Island

The 2025 legislative session has wrapped up. Notably, SB 114 was enacted which would prohibit discriminatory practices in the reimbursement of 340B covered entities and their contract pharmacies. Additionally, SB 314 was enacted to limit pharmacies to no more than one on-site audit per carrier within a twelve-month period, unless there is a reasonable suspicion of fraud or misrepresentation. The State Attorney General will have the authority to enforce compliance with this measure.

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

Michael Silber2025-07-11T09:00:51-04:00July 11, 2025|Rhode Island|

South Carolina

Effective for dates of service on or after August 1, the Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) will require prior authorization (PA) for the physician-administered drugs in the document linked below to ensure use is consistent with the medication’s indication(s) and appropriate clinical guidelines. This change only applies to medications administered to Healthy Connections Medicaid members enrolled in the fee-for-service (FFS) Medicaid program.

The list of physician-administered drugs for which a PA is required when administered to a FFS Medicaid member is available in the Procedure Codes section of the Physicians Services Provider Manual on the SCDHHS website. The list in the manual will be updated with the additional physician-administered drugs requiring a PA beginning August 1. The list of additional drugs is available online.

Requests for PA and questions should be submitted to Prime Therapeutics Management at https://gatewaypa.com or by calling 1-800-424-8219 between 8:00 am-5:00 pm Monday-Friday.

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

Michael Silber2025-07-11T08:59:40-04:00July 11, 2025|South Carolina|

South Dakota

The Board of Pharmacy published its July 2025 newsletter. Highlights including the following: South Dakota Board Welcomes Newly Licensed Pharmacists; In-State Pharmacies and Wholesalers; [Reminder] Pharmacist License Renewals; Updates to South Dakota Codified Laws (SDCL) 36-11 and SDCL 36-11A; Updates to Administrative Rules of South Dakota (ARSD) 20:51 and ARSD 20:67; PDMP Update; and Board of Pharmacy meeting dates, pharmacy contacts and staff.

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

Michael Silber2025-07-11T08:59:04-04:00July 11, 2025|South Dakota|

Texas

The Department of Insurance (DOI) Advisory Committee for the Standard Request Form for Prior Authorization of Prescription Drug Benefits will hold a public meeting on August 5 to discuss and take possible action on the standard prior authorization request form. As required by Insurance Code Section 1369.305(d), the advisory committee will:

Review the adopted standard prior authorization request form.

Examine the form's effectiveness and impact on patient safety.

Determine whether changes are needed to the form.

Also in Texas, SB 1188, legislation ensuring electronic health records that contain patient information are maintained in the United States or a US territory, was signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott (R).

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

Michael Silber2025-07-11T08:58:34-04:00July 11, 2025|Texas|

Washington

Effective July 1, the Health Care Authority (HCA) Apple Health (Medicaid) added a new section to the audio-only behavioral health procedure code list for HCPCS codes billable for Reentry Targeted Case Management (rTCM). The revised list is posted online under "Billing guides and fee schedules"; click on "Reentry services".

Also in Washington, Apple Health (Medicaid) announced changes to the State Maximum Allowable Costs (SMAC) list for the fee-for-service (FFS) Prescription Drug Program effective September 1. The full SMAC list can be found on the agency's Provider billing guides and fee schedules website under the Prescription Drug Program and applies to claims billed to FFS.

Also in Washington, the Health Care Authority (HCA) Prescription Drug Program's third quarter Preferred Drug List has been posted.

Also in Washington, the Health Care Authority (HCA) created a toolkit called Apple Health is Medicaid Communications Toolkit to assist providers, community leaders and advocates to help Washingtonians access care.

Finally in Washington, in an effort to effort to help prevent opioid misuse and overdose deaths, Fred Meyer's 60 pharmacies partnered with the Health Care Authority (HCA) to provide free locking bags to patients to more safely store their opioid prescriptions. The HCA's Lock Up Your Meds safe storage program is part of the statewide Starts with One campaign to prevent opioid overdoses by increasing the safe use, storage and disposal of opioid prescriptions.

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

Michael Silber2025-07-11T08:58:00-04:00July 11, 2025|Washington|

West Virginia

The Secretary of State published a series of new proposed Board of Pharmacy rules that would implement legislation adopted in the 2025 session. Note that these include rules that allow pharmacist and technician licensing reciprocity and streamlining and that include a prohibition on dispensing abortion drugs and gender altering drugs for non-adults. Comments are due to the Board of Pharmacy by 5:00 pm on July 17.

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

Michael Silber2025-07-11T08:57:07-04:00July 11, 2025|West Virginia|

Wyoming

The Department of Health confirmed a case of measles in an unvaccinated child from Natrona County. This case is the first reported in the state since 2010.

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

Michael Silber2025-07-11T08:56:38-04:00July 11, 2025|Wyoming|

Alaska

The Board of Pharmacy is seeking input on a Just Culture Workplaces Survey. The results of this survey will be discussed by the board at the August 21 meeting.

Also in Alaska, the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) will require the following data elements starting July 30:

AIR09 & AIR10: Full first and last name of the dispensing pharmacist (no initials).

DSP15: Pharmacist's state license number.

PAT20: Species Code (01: Human, 02: Animal) – required.

PAT23: Animal name – required if PAT20 is "02".

Submissions with missing required fields will be rejected beginning on July 30. Please refer to the AK Data Submission Dispenser Guide v3.1 via the PMP Clearinghouse portal for detailed instructions.

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

Michael Silber2025-06-26T14:37:58-04:00June 26, 2025|Alaska|

Arkansas

NACDS sponsored the Arkansas Pharmacist Association's (APA) annual meeting. Gov. Sarah Huckaby Sanders (R) spoke about the importance of supporting our patients and their access to affordable healthcare. Chain and independent pharmacists thanked the Governor for her support of the profession and patients by protecting pharmacy access and ensuring patients across the state receive the care they deserve.

Also in Arkansas, the Insurance Department issued Bulletin No. 9-2025, Arkansas 2025 Legislation report, summarizing newly adopted insurance laws.

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

Michael Silber2025-06-26T14:37:30-04:00June 26, 2025|Arkansas|