Michigan

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services issued a bulletin indicating that pharmacists can receive reimbursement from Medicaid for flu vaccines retroactively beginning Oct. 1, 2020, for administering flu vaccines to individuals three years and older in accordance with the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREP Act). Under this bulletin, the state will pay pharmacies the ingredient costs for vaccines and will allow for the billing, up to the state allowable cost, for administration fees.

Also in Michigan. The Michigan Pharmacists Association has appointed Mark Glasper as its next Chief Executive Officer (CEO) beginning in January 2021. Mark Glasper currently serves as CEO of the Kentucky Pharmacists Association.

Also in Michigan. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) signed the state budget into law with pharmacy-related provisions taking effect on February 1, 2021. Of note, for pharmacies with seven or fewer outlets, Managed Medicaid reimbursement will follow fee-for-service reimbursement methodology. The State will also move to a single preferred drug list, create reporting requirements to improve transparency around pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), and remove clawbacks from the Medicaid program.

Lastly in Michigan. The State Supreme Court struck down Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s (D) executive orders (EO) related to COVID-19, effectively ruling that any EO signed after April 30 was null and void. NACDS and its in-state partners are working to legislate the business efficiencies covered in the rescinded EO’s. HB 6293, a bill authorizing pharmacists to provide COVID testing, is now headed to the Governor.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.