Several bills of interest to pharmacy saw action this week:
SB 241: This bill was signed by Gov. Eric Holcomb (R) on March 18th and sponsored by Sen. Liz Brown (R). The law will help ensure that that pharmacies are fairly and properly reimbursed by requiring pharmacy contracts to have clearly defined drug pricing and reimbursement methodologies and audit practices. It also prohibits directly or indirectly retroactively denying a claim or aggregate of claims after the claim or aggregate of claims has been adjudicated and allows pharmacies to contest changes in their reimbursement. It also requires the maintenance of adequate pharmacy networks to provide beneficiaries with equal access to all network pharmacies. NACDS applauds the work of the Indiana Pharmacists’ Association on this law.
HB 1207: This bill, which addresses both copayment and scope of practice issues was signed by Gov. Eric Holcomb (R) on March 18 and authored by Rep. Steven Davisson (R). The law prohibits payors from requiring a pharmacy to collect a higher copayment for a prescription drug from a patient than the plan allows the pharmacy or pharmacist to retain. On the scope of practice front, effective July 1, 2020, it will allow pharmacists to furnish epinephrine by standing order. Additionally, it will allow pharmacy technicians to provide influenza vaccines and transfer certain prescriptions.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.