Michigan
Medicaid issued Bulletin MMP 26-02 on January 23 that updates the Fee-for-Service Prior Authorization Process, excluding drug claims.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Missouri
SB 878, legislation expanding the pharmacists scope of practice filed by Sen. Travis Fitzwater (R), was heard in the Senate Families, Seniors and Health Committee on January 14. Current law allows certain pharmacists to provide certain medication therapy services under a statewide order issued by the Director or the Chief Medical Officer of the Department of Health and Senior Services. The bill would eliminate the standing order and authorize pharmacists' medication therapy services pursuant to rules established by the Board of Pharmacy and the State Board of Registration for the Healing Arts. These jointly promulgated rules to implement this provision will take place within six months of the effective date of this act. In addition, it would allow pharmacists to prescribe durable medical equipment.
Also in Missouri, in advance of the Senate Families, Seniors and Health Committee hearing on January 21, NACDS submitted a statement in support of SB 968, a PBM reform bill that includes key provisions for pharmacies:
- Requires fair and transparent PBM reimbursement to pharmacies, covering both drug acquisition and dispensing costs.
- Protects patient choice by prohibiting PBM steering and ensuring access to local pharmacies, especially for vulnerable populations.
- Sets a minimum dispensing fee at 90% of the Missouri HealthNet rate.
- Strengthens MAC price appeal rights for pharmacies, including a longer appeal window and better access to alternative drug sources.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Montana
Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) and the Department of Public Health and Human Services announced the state will receive $233 million dedicated to rural healthcare in 2026. Montana received the fourth-most money of any state. Only Texas, Alaska, and California received more. The state health department will now submit a revised budget to CMS.
Also in Montana, NACDS encourages interested members to review the information and updates on the state’s Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) website.
Highlights include the following:
- In the upper right corner of the website under “Stay Engaged”, please consider signing up for email updates.
- Review “Next Steps”. For questions about this project, please email HHSRuralHealthTransformation@mt.gov”.
- Review “Frequently Asked Questions”, particularly questions related to funding and stakeholder engagement.
- Review “Stakeholder Advisory Meetings”. Below are the agenda and presentation from the January 22, 2026 meeting.
- Rural Health Transformation Stakeholder Advisory Committee presentation: Please note RHTP governance overview (slide #5), procurement (slides #6 and #7), and program initiatives (slides #13 through #29)
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Nebraska
The Department of Health and Human Services posted the draft minutes from the Drug Utilization Review (DUR) Board’s January 13 meeting. The next meeting will be held on May 12.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
North Carolina
The latest Medicaid Pharmacy Newsletter, dated January 2026, is now available on the Medicaid website. In addition to the February 2026 check write schedule, this edition of the newsletter includes the articles:
- Reminder: Immunizing Pharmacist Enrollment in NC Medicaid Contraceptives and NRT Protocol Reimbursement to Pharmacies
- NC Medicaid's Participation in Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Cell and Gene Therapy Access Model for Sickle Cell Disease
- North Carolina to Launch First-of-its-Kind NC Medicaid Managed Care Plan for Children and Families on Dec. 1, 2025
- Billing Reminder of a Third-Party Prescription to Medicaid
- NC Medicaid Reinstitutes Coverage for GLP-1s in Weight Management
- Coming in May: New Pharmacy Benefits Administrator for NC Medicaid Direct
Providers are encouraged to review this important information. The 2026 Medicaid Pharmacy Newsletters can be viewed here.
Also in North Carolina, the Sales and Use Tax Division of the Department of Revenue (NCDOR) issued the following guidance on the application and remittance of sales tax as it relates to rounding due to the elimination of the penny. As noted in the guidance, any rounding due to the elimination of the penny should be conducted after the application of sales and use tax and all applicable sales and use tax must be remitted by the retailer to the NCDOR regardless of whether the retailer rounded up or down.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
North Dakota
Medicaid engaged Myers and Stauffer, LC, to perform a pharmacy cost of dispensing study. The survey results will be used to evaluate the professional dispensing fee in the state's Medicaid pharmacy program. The survey is expected to be mailed in February 2026. A stakeholder meeting was held on January 27. The presentation and survey are currently available at North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services Provider Portal | Myers & Stauffer. To listen to the recording of the meeting, please visit the above website and scroll down to "Cost of Dispensing". Please contact Kip Stephenson or Sandy Eckert with the Myers and Stauffer cost of dispensing survey help desk at (800) 374-6858 or disp_survey@mslc.com should you have any questions.
Also in North Dakota, Gov. Kelly Armstrong (R) signed SB 2402 at the conclusion of the 2026 Special Session on rural healthcare. This legislation expands pharmacist scope of practice to include limited prescriptive authority; test and treatment for influenza, strep throat and SARS-CoV-2; and therapeutic substitution.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Oregon
As a member of the West Coast Health Alliance (WCHA), the Oregon Health Authority announced endorsement of the 2026 American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Recommended Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule.
Also in Oregon, the Board of Pharmacy posted the February 11-13, 2026 Board Meeting Agenda and meeting materials.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Pharmacy Coalition issued a news release on January 20 calling for PBM reform and announcing a new advocacy website that includes an updated state pharmacy deserts map. The Pennsylvania Association of Chain Drug Stores (PACDS) is a member of the coalition, and NACDS is actively working with the coalition and PACDS to advance our joint legislative agenda.
Also in Pennsylvania, NACDS reminds members that all pharmacy technicians must be registered with the Board of Pharmacy (PBOP) by June 28. The PBOP recently published an instructional video to assist applicants with the registration process. For more information, see:
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Texas
The Health and Human Services Commission's (HHSC) Vendor Drug Program (VDP) Medicaid hosted a quarterly pharmacy stakeholder meeting. One issue discussed was the usual and customary policy changes that VDP is making as a result of a new statute, HB 2402, requiring a pharmacy to exclude any fee, charge or rate offered as part of a monthly fee-based membership discount program when determining the usual and customary charge the pharmacies put on fee-for-service pharmacy claims. The proposed rule amendments went through an informal comment period in November 2025, and VDP told stakeholders that they are reviewing the comments received. NACDS and the other Texas pharmacy groups raised concerns about the recent SureScripts/GoodRx announcement and asked that the rule be revised and reissued as a draft in light of this new development.
Also in Texas, the Board of Pharmacy posted the agenda for the February 3 quarterly meeting in Austin.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.