On December 29, 2025, Arizona received its official Notice of Award for $166,988,956.00 for Fiscal Year 2026 from CMS which was lower than the state requested. The state is actively engaging with CMS to advance the next steps and will submit a revised budget by January 30.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
The Department of Health Care Service posted the following on the Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal. Please review the numerous changes to Medi-Cal Rx effective January 1, 2026.
Also in California, the Board of Pharmacy published a Special Edition of The Script newsletter dedicated to AB 1503, the Sunset Measure for the Board of Pharmacy. This Special Edition focuses on:
Also in California, the Board of Pharmacy issued a notice to licensees to renew registration with the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) for the California Medication Error Reporting (CAMER) System by January 31. Business and Professions Code (BPC) section 4113.1 establishes requirements for a community pharmacy to report medication errors to an entity approved by the Board.
Finally in California, the Department of Managed Health Care issued All Plan Letter RE: APL 25-020 (OPL [Office of Plan Licensing]) – Newly Enacted Statutes Impacting Health Plans (2025 Legislative Session). Please review information related to AB 116 and SB 41, PBM reforms enacted in 2025.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
The Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (HCPA) issued a press release announcing it will receive just over $200 million in Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) grant funds for the first year of the 5-year program. HCPF is now focused on responding to the CMS Request for Applications (RFA) materials and will soon provide details on establishing the RHTP Committee’s structure, membership and meeting schedules. NACDS will continue to closely monitor the state’s RHTP website and provide details as they become available.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Gov. Josh Green (D) announced the state has been awarded $188,892,440 through the CMS’ Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). When evaluated on a per-rural-resident basis using federal rural population data, Hawaii’s funding translates to one of the highest levels of investment in the nation, per capita. The Governor’s Office will coordinate with CMS, state departments, healthcare providers and community organizations to implement the plan’s transformational improvements in access, quality, workforce stability and system sustainability. The state will review approved uses of funds once released. More information will be released soon.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
On December 30, 2025, the state was awarded $185,974,368 in annual grants to be distributed over five years to implement the plan outlined in its grant application, which focuses on five initiatives: “improve rural access to care through technology; ensure accessible quality care through innovative models; sustain rural workforce with training, recruitment, and retention; implement population-specific, evidence-based projects to make rural America healthy again; and invest in rural health infrastructure and partnerships.” The state will use the funds to provide subgrants to support the goals and projects outlined in its application. For more information about the state’s Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) application, visit the Department of Health and Welfare’s RHTP website.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
As a reminder, pharmacy practice resources, regulations and other resources are available on the website. See below for new and updated information.
Policy 2023-09: Action Level Environmental Monitoring Results – identification to the species level is required for any growth found in ISO-5 areas and ISO-7 buffer rooms, and any action level growth in any other ISO classified areas.
Advisory: Environmental Monitoring – the edits align with the changes to Policy 2023-09: Action Level Environmental Monitoring Results.
Also in Massachusetts, the Department of Public Health (DPH) issued Guidance on Recommended Reference Materials for Pediatric Immunization Schedules. Please review this information, share it with colleagues and take any action steps that may be appropriate to integrate the recommendations into your practice. DPH also shared Childhood Immunization Discussion Guides that are available from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
The Rural Health Transformation webpage includes all current information available on the various programs the state is seeking to implement. The full program project narrative includes details on each program, eligible participants and the stakeholders and/or entities who will help develop each initiative. Members can:
Also in Minnesota, the Department of Health (MDH) issued an announcement RE: MDH Endorses AAP [American Academy of Pediatrics] Schedule, RSV-mAb on Regular Order Form, Educate Staff on Program.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
The Department of Health and Human Services published the following new fee schedules effective January 2026:
Also in Nebraska, the Department of Health and Human Services published the following Medicaid Program Provider Bulletins:
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
CMS awarded the state $204,016,550 for 2026 as part of the federal Rural Health Transformation Program, the largest award among New England states. New Hampshire’s application requested $200 million annually throughout the duration of the five-year program to strengthen rural health care access, quality and long-term sustainability. Gov. Kelly Ayotte (R) established the Governor’s Office of New Opportunities & Rural Transformational Health (GO-NORTH) to oversee implementation of the program. Implementation planning is underway, with initial investments expected to support rural providers and communities beginning in 2026. In anticipation of the CMS award, the Governor and Council and the Joint Legislative Fiscal Committee earlier this month approved an acceptance and expend for the anticipated grant award for the current biennium.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
