Oregon
The Prescription Drug Affordability Board meeting has been rescheduled to January 26. The registration link and meeting agenda have been posted online.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Texas
The next quarterly meeting of the Board of Pharmacy is Tuesday, February 6, at the new Barbara Jordan State office building. The agenda will be posted here when it becomes available.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Washington
On January 24, pharmacy professionals and students will gather at the Capitol in Olympia for the first of two legislative days which NACDS is proud to sponsor. The advocacy event allows pharmacists, students and pharmacy technicians to educate legislators about the importance of pharmacies as a convenient, accessible community healthcare destination, as well as an opportunity to promote pharmacists and technicians as vital members of the healthcare team.
Also in Washington, Health Care Authority (HCA) created a new flyer that pharmacies can distribute to help reach Medicaid patients encouraging them to update their contact information and apply for or renew coverage. Pharmacies can order the free flyers in both English and Spanish.
Also in Washington, the Heath Care Authority’s (HCA) first quarter Preferred Drug List (PDL) used by Uniform Medical Plan and the Department of Labor and Industry is available online.
Finally in Washington, legislation expanding prescriptive authority for pharmacists, HB 2116, will be heard in the House Committee on Health Care & Wellness on January 24. Take action today to register your support for the bill. If you reside in the state, register your support with your legislator by filling out this form. To share your support with all Committee members, use this link to submit a supporting statement or testimony.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Alabama
To streamline the provider enrollment process, Alabama Medicaid provider enrollment applicants should gather all needed materials before applying. READ MORE for some of the most common reasons why applications are denied. If you have any questions regarding your application, please contact Provider Enrollment at (888) 223-3630.
Also in Alabama, on January 17, at 2:00 pm CST, the Board of Pharmacy will hold a Practice of Pharmacy Workgroup Meeting, where they will delve into Alabama Administrative Code 680-X-2-.14. This code defines the pivotal roles and duties of pharmacy technicians within the healthcare system. For those who wish to attend in person, the meeting will be held at 111 Village Street, Birmingham, AL 35242. Virtual attendance is available here. Do not miss this chance to be a part of the conversation that shapes the future of pharmacy in Alabama.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Alaska
The Board of Pharmacy issued a reminder to pharmacists regarding Collaborative Practice Agreements (CPAs). CPAs are established between medical providers and pharmacists and are housed at the Medical Board, not the Board of Pharmacy. It is important to note that CPAs are established between a physician and a lead pharmacist, not a pharmacy. In the event of a change of pharmacist-in-charge (PIC) at a pharmacy that affects an established CPA, a new CPA must be submitted to the Medical Board for review.
Also in Alaska, pharmacists now have the authority to prescribe immunizations, epinephrine, and emergency drugs. As a result, a Collaborative Practice Agreement is not required to prescribe and administer these items.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Arkansas
The Board of Pharmacy met at the Board offices in Little Rock on January 9 and 10.
Also in Arkansas, the state pharmacist’s association received a grant of $78,548. The funds will be utilized in 2024 to educate pharmacists and prescribers about the pharmaceutical supply chain regulatory guidance and oversight mandated by the federal government for drug wholesalers. The training aims to inform them about how this regulation affects patients, physicians, and the local pharmacists.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
California
The Department of Health Care Services posted the following alerts, bulletins, and weekly notices on the Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal.
- Planned User Administration Console (UAC) System Migration for January 13, 2024 (January 11)
- Medi-Cal Rx Weekly Wrap-up for December 29-January 4 (January 5)
- Prior Authorization Request Requirement for Reyvow® (Lasmiditan Succinate) (January 3)
- Medical Foods Are Not a Covered Benefit (January 2)
- Medi-Cal Rx Monthly Bulletin for January (January 2)
- Changes to the Medi-Cal Rx Contract Drugs List (January 2)
- Changes to the Medi-Cal Rx Contract Drugs List – Authorized Drug Manufacturer Labeler Codes (January 2)
- Updates to the Medi-Cal Rx Provider Manual (January 2)
- Medical Suppliers Reminder: Updates to Diabetic Testing Supplies 100-Count LifeScan, Inc.’s OneTouch Verio Test Strips Will No Longer Be Contracted, Effective January 1, 2024 (January 1)
- Medi-Cal Rx Weekly Wrap-up for December 15-28 (December 29)
- Reimbursement for Commercial Lagevrio (Molnupiravir) (December 19)
- Reject Code 16 – Implementation Date Postponed (December 18)
- Medical Suppliers Reminder: Updates to Diabetic Testing Supplies 100-Count LifeScan, Inc.’s OneTouch Verio Test Strips Will No Longer Be Contracted, Effective January 1, 2024 (December 15)
- Medi-Cal Rx Weekly Wrap-up for December 8-14 (December 15)
- Reinstatement Spotlight (December 15)
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Colorado
The legislature convened on January 10.
Also in Colorado, an interim committee bill drafted by the Opioid and Other Substance Use Disorders Study Committee addressing medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) prescribing by pharmacists is expected to be filed soon.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Delaware
The Board of Pharmacy will be holding its regular meeting on January 17. The agenda includes Pharmacists Dispensing and Administering Contraceptives Regulation Draft Update, Pharmacists Well-Being Index, Board of Pharmacy Act Revisions and Review and Consideration of Pharmacy License Specialties.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.