Alaska
The Legislature convened January 20 and is scheduled to adjourn on May 20.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Arizona
The following bills of interest have been introduced:
- HB 2196 – Requires PBMs to reimburse nonaffiliated pharmacists and pharmacies no less than their actual cost for prescription drugs or devices, establishes minimum professional dispensing fees and mandates appeal procedures for disputes over reimbursement.
- HB 2444 – Allows a pharmacist to independently order, perform and interpret, under a statewide protocol, CLIA-waived tests and to initiate treatment to individuals at least six years of age.
- SB 1309 – Establishes a Standard of Care for the Practice of Pharmacy.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
California
The state has been awarded $233.6 million for Federal Fiscal Year 2026 through the federal Rural Health Transformation Program to support rural and frontier communities across the state. Through this funding, the Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) and its partners will begin implementing a shared vision of a connected and resilient rural health system where rural and frontier Californians can access timely, person-centered care closer to home.
Recently HCAI posted the project narrative (Revised 12/12/2025) providing additional insights into the state's plans. To learn more about the program, visit the RHTP webpage. For questions contact, CalRHT@hcai.ca.gov.
Please register for the Rural Health Listserv to ensure you receive updates.
Also in California, the Department of Health Care Service posted the following on the Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal:
Also in California, the Board of Pharmacy posted a corrected version of the Special Edition of The Script newsletter . This January 2026 issue is dedicated to Assembly Bill 1503, the Sunset Measure for the California State Board of Pharmacy. This Special Edition focuses on:
- Standard of Care
- Nonresident Pharmacies
- Inspection of Nonresident Pharmacies
- Establishing Pharmacy Technician Advisory Committee
- Self-Assessment Process
- Define Pharmacy Technician Trainee
- Define Pharmacist
- Title Change to Advanced Pharmacist Practitioners
- Enforcing Pharmacy Law
- Pharmacist-in-Charge, Staffing
- COVID-19 Oral Therapeutics
- Emergency Refill Provisions
- Pharmacy Records and Digital Conversion
- Ownership Prohibition
- Reporting to CAMER
- Chain Community Pharmacy Employee Notice
- Pharmacy Technician Duties
- High Risk Patients
- Retired Pharmacists License
- Mail Order Pharmacies
- Fees: Medically Underserved Area
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Florida
The Department of Revenue launched its new eFile and Pay system for quarterly, semiannual and annual filers.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Hawaii
As a member of the West Coast Health Alliance (WCHA), the Department of Health announced endorsement of the 2026 American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Recommended Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Indiana
The Office of Medicaid Policy and Planning (OMPP) is conducting a survey of dispensing costs for pharmacies participating in the Medicaid program. The Health Coverage Programs (IHCP) issued a bulletin reminding pharmacy providers to submit dispensing fee surveys by January 30.
Also in Indiana, SB 221, a bill sponsored by Sen. Ed Charbonneau (R) that requires the state health commissioner to issue a standing order, prescription or protocol to allow a pharmacist to test, treat or prescribe for influenza, COVID-19, streptococcus and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), was heard in the Senate Health Provider Services Committee on January 14. The bill was left pending and is dead.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Kansas
SB 360, the Consumer Prescription Protection and Accountability Act, a PBM reform bill that gives the Department of Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt, a pharmacist, more enforcement tools on audits, spread pricing and patent choice of pharmacy, was heard in the Senate Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee on January 28 and 29. NACDS submitted a statement of support.
Also in Kansas, at the January 29 hearing in the House Health and Human Services Committee, NACDS was on the record in support of HB 2157, which would expand pharmacists' scope of practice to test and treat for COVID-19.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Kentucky
Medicaid issued a bulletin extending the effective date for the Managed Care Organization (MCO) Over-the-Counter (OTC) coverage change to February 15. At that time, the Department for Medicaid Services (DMS) will end coverage for OTC drugs that are non-Medicaid rebateable. The effective date has been extended to ensure providers have adequate time to prepare for this change.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Louisiana
The Board of Pharmacy's Regulation Revision Committee posted the agenda for the February 3 meeting in Baton Rouge.
Also in Louisiana, Julie Foster Hagan, Executive Director of the state's Rural Health Transformation and Sustainability Project, presented the program's mission, objectives, strategy and timeline at the Department of Health's annual shareholders meeting on January 21. Louisiana secured $208.4 million in federal funding for Year 1 of the Rural Health Transformation Grant—one of the nation's largest awards—and is expected to receive $1.4 billion over five years.
Also in Louisiana, the Department of Health (LDH) extended its Medicaid managed care contract with UnitedHealthcare (UHC) for 90 days through March 31.
Also in Louisiana, Gov. Jeff Landry (R) declared a State of Emergency ahead of the January winter storm. Medicaid posted a provider notice on early refills:
- The early refill edit will be bypassed for pharmacy claims submitted to fee-for-service (FFS) and the managed care organizations (MCOs) in all parishes statewide through February 6.
- All expiring prior authorizations for pharmacy claims for FFS and the MCOs will also be extended through February 6.
Finally In Louisiana, LDH appointed Seth Gold as Medicaid Director. His prior experience includes nearly a decade of experience in federal health policy serving on the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.