On March 23, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R) signed HB 1135; PBM legislation including requirements for PBM licensure, prohibiting retroactive fees except in certain situations and the collection of renumeration fees, and adding criteria for drugs to be placed on the MAC list.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Walgreens pharmacist Aimee Lusson testified at the House Public Health Committee on March 27 in support of HB 2088 by Rep. John H. Bucy III (D), on emergency insulin supply legislation.
Also in Texas, Rep. Tom Oliverson’s HB 1543, legislation establishing a statewide standing order for prescribing an opioid antagonist, will be heard in the House Public Health Committee on April 3.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) signed SB 1538 into law. This bill, sponsored by Senator Pillion (R), requires the Department of Medical Assistance Services to provide reimbursement when the services provided for by the state plan for medical assistance services are services by a pharmacist, pharmacy technician or pharmacy intern (i) performed under the terms of a collaborative agreement as defined in relevant law and consistent with the terms of a managed care contractor provider contract or the state plan or (ii) related to services and treatment in accordance with relevant law. NACDS supported the efforts of the Virginia Association of Chain Drug Stores and the Virginia Pharmacists Association as it moved through the process.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Gov. Jim Justice (R) signed the following priority bills into law on March 23:
NACDS thanks our members, Bridget Lambert of the West Virginia Retailers Association, Conrad Lucas of Capitol Resources and the West Virginia Pharmacists Association for their daily engagement on getting HB 2754 across the finish line.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Stating cost shifting to consumers among his concerns and exercising his line-item veto authority, Gov. Mark Gordon (R) signed SF 151, legislation amending the Insurance Code to further regulate PBMs. The new law includes language that prohibits certain fees and claw backs, prohibits PBMs from restricting or limiting disclosure of information to the insurance commissioner for investigations or review of PBMs, requires contracts between PBMs and pharmacies to include a dispute resolution process, amends MAC and MAC appeals, permits refusal to fill below-cost prescriptions and provides for one-time resources for implementation and administration of this act. The Governor’s veto message and the bill with the Governor’s vetoes are available online.
Also in Wyoming, the Office of the Attorney General published two final rules amending the lists of Schedule I and Schedule II controlled substances in the Wyoming Controlled Substances Act of 1971, effective March 22, 2023.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
The Board of Pharmacy issued Proposed Regulations relating to classifications of licensure, registration, application, license and registration renewal, notification process for changes in name, ownership or physical address of pharmacies, pharmacist-in-charge, pharmacist interns, job shadowing, security, remote pharmacy, return or exchange of drugs, automated distribution kiosks, remodeling, designated representative, drug recalls, facilities, prescription drug monitoring program, and definitions. Written comments deadline is 4:30 p.m. on April 24.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
SB 1283, legislation requiring PBMs to obtain a certificate of authority to operate and outlining the role, responsibilities and authority of the Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions, was heard in the House Regulatory Affairs Committee on March 22 where is was amended and voted (6-1) with “Do Pass Amended”.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) posted the following alerts and weekly notices on the Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal.
Also in California, Medi-Cal posted the following:
Finally in California, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has recently initiated efforts to partner with its pharmacy providers in support of a Medi-Cal redetermination initiative for beneficiary outreach, targeted for implementation in early May. DHCS is seeking pharmacies interested in participating. One example of a beneficiary outreach effort would be to affix a DHCS-provided Medicaid renewal message to all Medi-Cal beneficiary prescriptions which would include links and phone numbers to call for eligibility renewal information. If you would like to attend a meeting with DHCS to learn more about this opportunity, please submit the following information to Julie.Cheung@dhcs.ca.gov by March 31. DHCS is targeting early April to hold the first meeting which will include discussion of data-sharing.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Effective April 3, HHAeXchange will be the statewide subcontractor providing electronic visit verification services (home health and personal care services) for Florida Community Care Medicaid members. If you have questions or need help, please contact Florida Community Care Provider Relations at 1- 866-962-6186. For questions or help with HHAeXchange, please contact HHAeXchange at support@hhaexchange.com or visit hhaexchange.com/info-hub/florida-smmc.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.