Reminder of Test and Treat Flu Authority. As pharmacists know, in 2025, the General Assembly authorized pharmacists to implement test and treat programs for influenza. Initially implemented by protocols issued by State Health Director Larry Greenblatt, the Pharmacy and Medical Boards have since adopted these protocols (both a test-and-initiate-treatment protocol and an influenza-prophylaxis protocol) by rule effective August 1, 2026.
Pharmacists are also reminded of the Board's July 31, 2026, statement concerning pharmacist administration of fall 2026 vaccines. The statement is available on the Board of Pharmacy's website.
Also in North Carolina, beginning November 1, controlled substances pharmacy claims billed under Medicaid Direct (Prime Therapeutics), will be denied at the pharmacy point of sale if the prescribing provider has not updated their NCTracks provider enrollment record with an active DEA number. Additional details can be found in this NC Medicaid Bulletin. This policy change follows identification of providers who are prescribing controlled substances but have not indicated this in their NCTracks enrollment record and have not provided their DEA number. Pharmacies may begin seeing increased denials related to this update. Medicaid is continuing outreach to impacted providers to encourage them to update their enrollment records ahead of the November 1 deadline.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.