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Louisiana

The Legislature adjourned sine die on June 12, 2025. 

Also in Louisiana, the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) Under Secretary Drew Maranto and the Pharmacy Medicaid staff briefed on June 10 with pharmacy stakeholders, representatives from PRIME, Gainwell and the six managed care organizations. The main points of the briefing were Secretary Greenstein's commitment to a smooth transition from the costly sole source Prime PBM contract to multiple Medicaid managed care contracts, which will go live on October 1. Louisiana Army National Guardsman General Cindy Haygood was appointed project coordinator. Pharmacy stakeholder engagement meetings will be scheduled in the coming weeks. In this process, our in-state partner, the Louisiana Alliance of Retail Pharmacies (LARP), and NACDS will play a crucial role in closely monitoring the rollout, ensuring that stakeholder needs are met. 

Also in Louisiana, LDH issued several bulletins: 

 

Finally in Louisiana, the Board of Pharmacy Regulation Revision Committee posted the agenda for the June 18 meeting. The Committee will discuss the following items: 

  • Centralized Prescription Dispensing 
  • Prescription Drug Delivery 
  • Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) Record Retention 
  • Remote Access by a Pharmacy Technician 
  • Controlled Dangerous Substances  
  • Completion of Prescription Form  

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

2025-06-12T12:26:52-04:00June 12, 2025|Louisiana|

Maine

On June 5, the Board of Pharmacy met for its regular monthly meeting. Of note on the agenda was a discussion of board obligations for permanent pharmacy closures.

Also in Maine, on June 5, the Appropriations Committee voted to remove the Governor’s proposed pharmacy tax of $.70 per prescription from the budget. The budget bill will be moved by the Appropriations Committee upon review of all sections, then sent to both chambers of the legislature for action. A budget is needed before the fiscal year ends June 30.

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.

2025-06-12T12:25:48-04:00June 12, 2025|Maine|

Massachusetts

On June 5, the Board of Registration in Pharmacy met for its regular monthly meeting. The next meeting is scheduled for August 7.

On June 10, the Joint Committee on Financial Services held a hearing on several PBM bills. Of particular interest, the committee heard testimony on H.1234, an Act Relative to Pharmacy Benefit Managers, that was introduced by Rep. John Lawn (D), the Chair of Health Care Finance and sponsor of the PBM law from the previous session.

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.

2025-06-12T12:25:14-04:00June 12, 2025|Massachusetts|

Minnesota

This week, the General Assembly passed SF 6/HF2, including pharmacy’s language to restructure the Medicaid managed care pharmacy benefit under a state-directed, non-conflicted, transparent single PBM, like the Ohio and Kentucky models. The Department is required to implement the model by January 1, 2027, which mandates an AAC (National Average Drug Acquisition Cost or Minnesota actual acquisition cost) + $11.55 Professional Dispensing Fee (PDF) payment rate. The bill also includes a $4.50 “directed payment” to supplement current PDFs through the end of 2026. To qualify, the pharmacy must attest to having less than 13 locations, or be in a federally designated medically underserved area, or primarily serve an underserved population. Lastly, the bill also extends audio-only telehealth allowances to providers through Fiscal Year 2027; this applies to reimbursements for claims with private plans, Medicaid and MinnesotaCare. Many thanks to our members and pharmacy partners, especially the Minnesota Retailers’ Association and the Minnesota Pharmacy Alliance, for taking the lobbying lead on-the-ground in St. Paul. NACDS will update members when Gov. Tim Walz (D) signs the bill and when the Department provides guidance on applying for the “directed payment” supplement. 

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

2025-06-12T12:24:45-04:00June 12, 2025|Minnesota|

Nebraska

The Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, in partnership with the State Board of Health, is seeking members for 25 professional healthcare boards, including the Board of Pharmacy. Applications are now being accepted for one pharmacist member on the Board of Pharmacy. The term begins on December 1, 2025, and ends on November 30, 2030. Details are available online. Please note the deadline for submission of an application and all supporting documentation is August 1.

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

2025-06-12T12:23:40-04:00June 12, 2025|Nebraska|

Nevada

The Legislature adjourned its biennial session on June 2.

Also in Nevada, Gov. Joe Lombardo (R) signed into law SB 389, a bill that requires the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to select and contract with a single PBM to manage Medicaid pharmacy and establish methodologies for the payment of and rates of reimbursement for prescription drugs. The bill also required DHHS to approve PBM contracts.

Also in Nevada, SB 316, a PBM reform bill that would have ended below-cost reimbursements for non-ERISA plans, passed the Senate, was amended in the Assembly, and died on the Senate calendar awaiting a vote. Through a series of maneuvers and a filibuster, the GOP minority stalled all action on the Senate floor, late in the evening of June 2, sine die. This unexpected maneuver prevented the approval of the PBM reform bill. 

Finally in Nevada, the Board of Pharmacy met in Las Vegas on June 5 and 6.

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

2025-06-12T12:23:12-04:00June 12, 2025|Nevada|

New York

On June 11, the New York Register published a Notice of Adoption by the Workers’ Compensation Board related to Network Pharmacies. The adopted rule provides guidance about when injured workers can obtain prescribed medication outside of the network. It takes effect on July 11.

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.

2025-06-12T12:22:25-04:00June 12, 2025|New York|

North Carolina

Effective May 20, the Pharmacy and Medical Boards approved slight changes to the statewide protocol governing pharmacist initiation of hormonal contraceptive therapy. The North Carolina Association of Pharmacists' Hormonal Contraceptive Toolkit has been updated to reflect these changes, and the North Carolina Association of Pharmacists (NCAP) produced an excellent short video explaining the changes.  

Also in North Carolina, broader guidance on qualifying immunizing pharmacists' authority to initiate certain drug therapy is available online at the Board of Pharmacy's website.  

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

2025-06-12T12:19:49-04:00June 12, 2025|North Carolina|
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