Michael Silber, Author at In The States

Missouri

MO HealthNet (MHD) issued Bulletin 46-38 announcing that due to the decrease in the Pharmacy Reimbursement Allowance (Pharmacy Tax), the adjustment to account for the Medicaid-reimbursed prescriptions was decreased effective January 1, 2024. In-state pharmacy providers receive a professional dispensing fee of $12.22, plus an adjustment to account for the cost of the Missouri Pharmacy Reimbursement Allowance attributable to Medicaid-reimbursed prescriptions. The professional dispensing fee plus the current adjusted amount will total $12.65. Out-of-state pharmacy providers continue to receive a professional dispensing fee of $8.85. Long-term care pharmacy providers supplying covered drugs to participants in long-term care facilities continue to receive an additional $0.50 dispensing fee.

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

Michael Silber2024-02-02T10:18:16-05:00February 2, 2024|Missouri|

New Mexico

A new “Opioid Crisis and Pain Management ECHO” program for health professionals aimed at providing information on the safe use of opioids, the risks of opioid overdose and proper pain management will launch on February 8.

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

Michael Silber2024-02-02T10:17:42-05:00February 2, 2024|New Mexico|

New York

NYRx, the New York Medicaid Prescription Drug Program, made the following changes to the preferred drug list. Effective February 7, the following changes will be made to the Dispense Brand Name Drug When Less Expensive Than the Generic Program:

Alphagan P® 0.1%, Forteo® and Votrient® will be ADDED to the program.
Flovent® HFA and Pennsaid® pump will be REMOVED from the program. Note: Pennsaid® pump has been discontinued by the manufacturer.
Diclofenac 2% topical solution will remain in non-preferred status on the NYRx Preferred Drug List. Prescribers should transition their patients to an alternative preferred product or obtain a prior authorization for the diclofenac 2% solution.

In conformance with State Education Law, a pharmacist shall dispense a less expensive, therapeutically equivalent drug containing the same active ingredients, dosage form and strength as the drug prescribed/ordered. This includes substituting the brand name drug when NYRx has determined it to be the less expensive alternative for the patient. Brand name drugs included in this program:

Do not require “Dispense as Written” (DAW) or “Brand Medically Necessary” on the prescription.
Have a generic copayment.
Are paid at the Brand Name Drug reimbursement rate or usual and customary price, whichever is lower (SMAC/FUL are not applied).
Do not require a new prescription if the drug is removed from this program.

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

Michael Silber2024-02-02T10:17:03-05:00February 2, 2024|New York|

North Carolina

The Board of Pharmacy will be holding a Pharmacy Compounding Summit on March 6-8 at the Friday Conference Center in Chapel Hill. The agenda and details are available online.

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

Michael Silber2024-02-02T10:15:58-05:00February 2, 2024|North Carolina|

Ohio

The Board of Pharmacy published a bulletin regarding Registered Technician license renewals. The renewal period opened on January 31.

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

Michael Silber2024-02-02T10:15:21-05:00February 2, 2024|Ohio|

Pennsylvania

The Board of Pharmacy has posted the agenda for the February 6 meeting.

Also in Pennsylvania, a PACE Provider bulletin announcing benefit and corresponding billing code changes to the Pharmacy Naloxone Copay Assistance Program was published. The bulletin announces a new limit of $50 per prescription and a new policy that requires coordination of benefits for insured patients.

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

Michael Silber2024-02-02T10:14:40-05:00February 2, 2024|Pennsylvania|

South Carolina

DisposeRx announced a grant opportunity and is looking to identify pharmacies in the state to provide education on safe medication disposal and dispense DisposeRx packets with controlled substance prescriptions, with an emphasis on opioids. In turn, the pharmacies will receive reimbursement for educating the patients and dispensing the packets.

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

Michael Silber2024-02-02T10:13:58-05:00February 2, 2024|South Carolina|

Tennessee

On January 17, the Pharmacy Podcast Network announced the winners of the 2023 50 Most Influential Leaders in Pharmacy to celebrate “professionals whose thoughts, actions, accomplishments and leadership have helped solve clinical, customer service and financial problems.” Congratulations to TPA Immediate Past President Jay Phipps for earning the number two spot on the list!

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

Michael Silber2024-02-02T10:13:26-05:00February 2, 2024|Tennessee|

Texas

The quarterly public meeting of the Board of Pharmacy will be held on February 6, at the Barbara Jordan State Office Building, Room 2.013. The agenda and meeting materials are posted. Live live-stream information is available on the board’s website. Anyone wishing to address the Board regarding an agenda item during the public meeting must submit a Public Comment Request form by 5:00 pm on February 2. Oral comments will be limited to the agenda items.

Also in Texas, Jill Dutton (R) won the January 30 special runoff election, by 107 votes out of more than 13,500 cast, to replace expelled Rep. Bryan Slaton (R) for House District 2. The victory is short-lived as she will face off against the same GOP candidate Brent Money in the March 5 Republican primary election.

Also in Texas, the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) drafted a policy to apply a uniform 90-day supply of maintenance medications in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The HHSC received pushback from stakeholders expressing difficulty obtaining a 90-day supply of medication. You can submit comments by February 15 to the HHSC Vendor Drug Program (VDP) using the Draft Policy Comment Submission form.

Also in Texas, pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are required to notify the Board of a change of employment within ten days. This information can be found in Board rule §291.3 for pharmacists and Board rule §297.9 for pharmacy technicians.

Finally in Texas, HHSC’s VDP (Vendor Drug Program) posted a pharmacy education and opportunities page on its website so that pharmacies know what pharmacy items Medicaid pays for, which products require prior authorization and who to contact with questions about claim processing.

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

Michael Silber2024-02-02T10:12:40-05:00February 2, 2024|Texas|

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