District of Columbia
The Board of Pharmacy’s June newsletter has been published.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Florida
Consumers can purchase qualifying disaster preparedness supplies exempt from tax during the two 2023 Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holidays, May 27- June 9, 2023, and August 26-September 8, 2023.
Also in Florida, the Board of Pharmacy is developing amendments to Rule 64B16-27.650 regarding additional immunizations or vaccines which may be administered.
Finally in Florida, the Board of Pharmacy proposes amending Rule 64B16-28.108 regarding dispensing medication to a blind or visually impaired patient. More information can be found here.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Illinois
Due to the access to care issue for bronchodilation medications for customers with asthma and other respiratory issues, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) will temporarily remove the prior authorization requirements for generic albuterol sulfate inhalers, effective immediately. Pharmacy providers with questions may contact the Bureau of Professional and Ancillary Services at 877-782-5565 for FFS claims, or the applicable MCO.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Indiana
The Health Coverage Programs (IHCP), Medicaid, issued a bulletin updating the prior authorizations, preferred dug list and over-the-counter formularies approved at the May meeting of the Drug Utilization Review (DUR) Board.
Also in Indiana, IHCP announced pharmacy benefit COVID updates in response to the expiration of the public health emergency (PHE).
Also in Indiana, the Office of the Secretary of Family and Social Services (FFSA) recently adopted a rule clarifying electronic signatures.
Also in Indiana, last week Gainwell Technologies migrated the Indiana Medicaid system (CoreMMIS) to the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Cloud. IHPC’s Provider Healthcare Portal also migrated to AWS as part of this initiative.
Finally in Indiana, on July 5, 2023, the FFSA will adopt a single Medicaid formulary, called the statewide uniform preferred drug list (SUPDL), which will align members enrolled in Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP), Hoosier Care Connect or Hoosier Healthwise managed care entity (MCE) with the fee-for-service (FFS) formulary.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Iowa
The Department of Health and Human Services published the following:
- INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 2454-MC-FFS – June 2023 Iowa Medicaid Pharmacy Program Changes
- INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 2455-MC-FFS – Premiums and Co-payments for Medicaid, Healthy and Well Kids in Iowa (Hawki), Iowa Health and Wellness Plan (IHAWP), Medicaid for Employed People with Disabilities (MEPD)
Also in Iowa, the Board of Pharmacy posted the June 2023 newsletter including the following articles:
- Hazardous Drug Labeling Regarding Administration by Nonpatient
- Rules Adopted Relating to Bronchodilators and Opioid Antagonists for Schools; Practice of Nursing Under Pharmacist Orders
- Approval of OTC Naloxone and the Impact on the Board’s Protocol and Statewide Standing Order
- Opioid Manufacturer Provision of Mail-Back Envelopes
- Importance of Ensuring That Applications Are Complete
- Reminder of the Security Requirements Effective July 6, 2023
- Governor Reynolds’ Executive Order Number 10
Finally in Iowa, the Board of Pharmacy announced the online payment system issues have been resolved. Note: if an online application and payment was submitted between May 31 and June 6, please do not resubmit the application and fee without checking the status of your license or registration.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Kentucky
The Kentucky Pharmacists Association (KPhA) is seeking Kentucky-licensed pharmacists to serve on the newly formed Board of Pharmacy Advisory Council. KPhA is responsible for appointing five of the nine pharmacist members on the council as outlined below:
- Two pharmacists appointed by the Kentucky Pharmacists Association;
- One pharmacist who practices or specializes primarily in a mail-order pharmacy appointed by the Kentucky Pharmacists Association;
- One pharmacist who practices or specializes primarily in a veterinary pharmacist appointed by the Kentucky Pharmacists Association
- One pharmacist who practices in a specialized pharmacy that solely or mostly provides medication to persons living with serious health conditions requiring complex therapies, appointed by the Kentucky Pharmacists Association.
Click here for further information or to apply.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Louisiana
The legislature adjourned its fiscal session at 6:00 p.m. on June 8. Hours prior to adjournment, HB 471, legislation that would allow pharmacists, pharmacy interns supervised by a pharmacist and licensed technicians supervised by a pharmacist to administer immunizations to individuals seven years of age or older, passed the Senate after the conference committee stripped the killer Vaccines for Children amendments from the bill. However, the bill failed to pass the House; it was three votes short. The final House vote was 50-45, and we needed 53 votes for the bill to pass.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Massachusetts
The Board of Pharmacy has announced that Massachusetts pharmacists may provide patients of abruptly-closed Compass Medical practices with up to 30-days of certain medications even if they do not have remaining refills on their prescriptions. The southeastern Massachusetts medical clinic group shuttered suddenly last week, leaving tens of thousands of patients in the lurch and in need of alternate care arrangements. Under a policy adopted in April, state pharmacy regulators said, pharmacists are allowed to dispense Schedule VI medications that do not require a report to the state Prescription Monitoring Program without a refill order as a way of giving patients the time to find another prescriber. The board’s notice specified that federally controlled substances and gabapentin cannot be provided.
Also in Massachusetts, MassHealth announced in its Pharmacy Claims Processing Update, effective June 5, 2023, MassHealth Members who have no history of a paid MassHealth claim for an opioid in the past 90 days will be limited to a seven-day supply for their first fill with an exception. Please see details in the “Pharmacy Facts”.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.
Michigan
The Board of Pharmacy has published the agenda for the June 14 meeting.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.