Michael Silber, Author at In The States

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So far Michael Silber has created 2568 blog entries.

Indiana

Gov. Mike Braun (R) signed into law SB 140, PBM reform legislation establishing commercial reimbursement floors. The bill, effective January 1, 2026, requires reimbursement not less than the greater of the reimbursement level paid to PBM-owned or affiliated pharmacies, one of the following reimbursement methodologies depending on whether pharmacies hold permits to sell liquor. For pharmacies not holding permits to sell liquor, the reimbursement floor is NADAC, plus the professional dispensing fee from the Medicaid fee-for-service program. For pharmacies holding permits to sell liquor, the rate floor will be the actual acquisition cost (AAC) plus a “fair and reasonable” dispensing fee.

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

Michael Silber2025-05-16T09:53:14-04:00May 16, 2025|Indiana|

Kansas

The Department of Health and Environment issued two bulletins for paying pharmacists for services. The Stand-Alone Vaccine Counseling and Pharmacists bulletin authorizes pharmacists to provide and bill for vaccine counseling services for patients under the age of 21 years, retroactive to April 1, 2025. The Pharmacist as Provider, Emergency Opioid Antagonists and Medication Therapy Management adds payment for the extra counseling required when pharmacists dispense emergency opioid agonists (EOA) using the statewide protocol, commonly referred to as the naloxone protocol. This should be billed with the date of service dispensed and counseled, retroactive to January 1, 2025.

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

Michael Silber2025-05-16T09:52:07-04:00May 16, 2025|Kansas|

Maine

The Joint Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs met daily the week of May 12 for budget work sessions. The Chairs have yet to bring up the pharmacy tax. The bill remains pending before the joint committee. NACDS, working with the Maine Pharmacists Association and Retail Association of Maine, helped advocate against a potential "compromise" that would have exempted the independent pharmacies from the tax. While being fundamentally unfair, that compromise would have negated the federal match, eliminating the tax's utility. NACDS will continue to lobby the Governor's office and the legislature throughout the budget process. The bill must be moved by the Joint Appropriations Committee and approved by both chambers of the legislature. The fiscal year ends June 30.

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Mike Sargent at 207-272-6435.

Michael Silber2025-05-16T09:51:27-04:00May 16, 2025|Maine|

Minnesota

As the General Assembly enters its last week of the session, both the House and Senate have passed our priority PBM reform language in their respective health omnibus bills, HF 2435 and SF 2669. The bills are now on their way to conference committee to hammer out differences. (HF 2435/SF 2669). The provisions would reform the Medicaid pharmacy program under a single state-directed pharmacy benefit administrator. The bills require a rate floor of AAC + $11.55 and include prohibitions on questionable PBM business practices. Also included is a provision changing the cost of dispensing study frequency from every three years to biannually.

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

Michael Silber2025-05-16T09:51:01-04:00May 16, 2025|Minnesota|

New Hampshire

On May 21, the Board of Pharmacy will hold its regular monthly meeting. The agenda includes the following:

NABP Update

Administrative Rules and Legislative Topics

Hearings

Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) Updates

Memo from Executive Director Deanna Jurius

50 State Drug Compounding Meeting June 4-5

Public Comments

Board of Pharmacy Research Organization Registration

NH Program Flyer

PH 300 Public Comment

Non Public Session

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Mike Sargent at 207-272-6435.

Michael Silber2025-05-16T09:50:32-04:00May 16, 2025|New Hampshire|

New Jersey

On May 15, the New Jersey Assembly Committee on Financial Institutions and Insurance held a hearing. During this hearing, the committee received testimony from invited guests concerning pharmacy benefit managers, their place within the broader health insurance system and their impact on prescription drug prices. The invited speakers included Dr. Pragya Kakani, Assistant Professor of Population Health Sciences, Well Cornell Medical College, and Anna Kaltenboeck, President, Verdant Research. They spoke about the PBM relationships with affiliated and unaffiliated pharmacies and the FTC reports. NACDS attended the hearing and will continue to support PBM reform efforts in New Jersey.

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Mike Sargent at 207-272-6435.

Michael Silber2025-05-16T09:49:23-04:00May 16, 2025|New Jersey|

North Carolina

The legislative session has reached the crossover deadline, the point by which bills must pass their chamber of origin to remain viable this session. Bills that did not meet this deadline are ineligible for carryover to 2026. However, the crossover rule does not apply to budget and appropriations bills, study bills, local bills or constitutional amendments.

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

Michael Silber2025-05-16T09:48:53-04:00May 16, 2025|North Carolina|

Oklahoma

NACDS sent Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) a letter asking him to sign SB 806, the Food is Medicine bill that would improve access to essential nutrition services for Medicaid beneficiaries and incentivize improvements in their health, utilizing an 1115 waiver.

Also in Oklahoma, SB 789 was amended in the House removing the rate floor language that triggered the fiscal note, and returned to the Senate for concurrence.

Finally in Oklahoma, SB 906, legislation that empowers pharmacists to optimize the pharmacy technician workforce and delegate more administrative and technical activities that do not require a pharmacist's by expanding the pharmacist-to-pharmacy technician ratio to 4:1, passed both houses and was sent to Gov. Kevin Stitt (R). NACDS sent a support letter asking Gov. Stitt (R) to sign the bill into law.

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

Michael Silber2025-05-16T09:48:19-04:00May 16, 2025|Oklahoma|

Oregon

The Immunization Policy Advisory Team (IPAT) meets June 5 from 12:00 noon -2:00 pm Pacific via Zoom and requires registering in advance using this link. The final agenda will be available at the meeting or via email request three days before the meeting date by contacting imm.info@odhsoha.oregon.gov. The Immunization Program works to reduce the incidence of vaccine-preventable disease in the state. Staff members identify and promote evidence-informed public health best practices to both the public and healthcare professionals throughout the state. For more information, visit the program's website.

Also in Oregon, the Oregon Healthcare Authority (OHA) seeks help to make healthcare more affordable. Oregonians are invited to submit applications to serve on two new committees focused on healthcare affordability. May 16 is the extended deadline to apply for both committees. Applications and more information are available on the Committee on Health Care Affordability and Industry Advisory Committee webpages. Once their members are chosen, the committees plan to meet beginning this summer.

The Committee on Health Care Affordability, also simply called the Affordability Committee, is seeking diverse voices. Its members may include people who receive health care, employers that purchase insurance, health economists and health policy experts.

The Affordability Committee will be supported by the Industry Advisory Committee, which also aims to include a variety of perspectives, ranging from health insurers to providers, hospitals and health industry leaders. Health care professionals in small or independent practices, and those who specialize in primary care, behavioral health, oral health or pediatrics are particularly encouraged to apply to the industry committee.

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

Michael Silber2025-05-16T09:47:45-04:00May 16, 2025|Oregon|