The Department of Regulatory Agencies, Division of Insurance, adopted an emergency rule effective August 14 through December 12, 2020, that requires carriers to reimburse providers for medically necessary covered health care services provided through telehealth during the coronavirus public health emergency. The rule replaces the April 3 emergency rule (20-E-05) and requires telehealth services to be reimbursed at rates no lower than in-person services, in compliance with state behavioral health parity laws, and without specific requirements or limitations on the technologies used. Also, the rule requires carriers to allow covered persons who do not have established relationships with specific providers to receive medically necessary health care services via telehealth from those providers. Finally, the rule prohibits carriers from imposing additional certification, location, or training requirements; requires carriers to notify providers of any instructions necessary to facilitate billing for telehealth, and requires carriers to cover telehealth services provided by nonparticipating providers if their own providers can’t provide such services).
Also in Colorado. NACDS and the Colorado Retail Council participated in a meeting with the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) to discuss their progress in developing the Colorado Drug Importation Program. The General Assembly passed legislation in 2019 (SB19-005) that allows the state to establish a program allowing the wholesale importation of prescription drugs from Canada for resale to Colorado residents as an attempt to reign in the high cost of drugs. More information can be found here and here.
Also in Colorado. The Board of Pharmacy adopted several new rules that went into effect on August 30, 2020. These rules provide clarity on the suspended and modified rules related to the COVID pandemic.
Lastly, in Colorado. On September 17, 2020, at 8:45 AM MT, the Board of Pharmacy will host a webinar and will be accepting comments on a proposed rule that would add provisions on the distribution of drugs by other outlet pharmacies, the provision of HIV infection prevention medications to patients, and requirements for prescription orders for controlled substances. The rule would also update references to federal standards. To participate, Register Here. Draft rules can be found here.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.