In The States – Page 109 – Weekly news about states

Michigan

The Board of Pharmacy published an agenda for an April 7 regulation workgroup meeting where they will be taking oral testimony on the Pharmacy Technician Rules. They will accept written comments at BPL-BoardSupport@michigan.gov until the close of business on April 6. For a copy of the draft rule and more information, click here.

Also in Michigan, the Department of Health and Human Services has issued a proposed policy for public comment; comments should be sent to frankmane@michigan.gov by April 18.

2305-F2F-P – COVID-19 Response: Reversal of Temporary COVID-19 Relaxation of Face-to-Face Requirement Policies and Update of Face-to-Face and In Person Definitions. The proposed effective date is May 12.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.

Erica Joyner2023-03-17T11:26:37-04:00March 17, 2023|Michigan|

Missouri

Prior to the legislature taking a week off for Spring Break, HB 41 passed the Senate and was referred to the House for further action. The bill allows a pharmacist to order and administer vaccines approved or authorized by the FDA, or by the state or federal government during a state or federally declared public health emergency. The bill also permits certain qualified pharmacists to provide influenza, group A streptococcus, and COVID-19 medication therapy services pursuant to a statewide standing order issued by the Director of the Department of Health and Senior Services or a physician licensed by the Department.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.

Erica Joyner2023-03-17T11:25:51-04:00March 17, 2023|Missouri|

New York

On March 21, 2023, NACDS will be joining the Pharmacists Society of the State of New York (PSSNY (Pharmacists Society of the State of New York)) in a rally in support of the Medicaid transition to fee-for-service. Beginning April 1, 2023, all Medicaid members enrolled in Mainstream Managed Care will receive their prescription drugs through NYRx, the Medicaid Pharmacy Program. The rally is to advocate to the legislature so no action would alter the planned transition.

On March 21 at 1:00 p.m., the New York State Department of Health will be holding its next online seminar for all stakeholders about the pharmacy benefit transition. Members, providers

and all interested stakeholders are welcome to attend regarding the transition.

The New York Deparment of Financial Services’ Pharmacy Benefits Bureau is requesting comments directly from pharmacies about the usefulness of PBM audits. Specifically, the requested comments are about whether and how the Department should exercise its authority about audits of pharmacies conducted by PBMs. New York Insurance Law §§ 2905-2906 empowers the Department to establish, by regulation, minimum standards for the issuance of a license to a PBM, including both prerequisites for the issuance of a license and requirements for maintenance of a license. Among the questions for pharmacies are: “In what way, if any, does an auditing PBM communicate its audit policies and procedures to your pharmacy?”, “What types of audits have you experienced in the past five (5) calendar years?”, “How many times per year for the past five (5) calendar years have PBM audits occurred for your pharmacy?”, “During the most recent audit conducted by a PBM for your pharmacy, was the purpose or subject of the audit identified prior to the audit occurring?”, “Was the same identified purpose or subject included as part of the PBM’s draft and/or final audit report?”, etc. Comments should be sent directly to the Department at PBM@dfs.ny.gov by March 24, 2023, with “PBM2022-07” included in the subject line.

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.

Erica Joyner2023-03-17T11:24:27-04:00March 17, 2023|New York|

Oklahoma

SB 827, legislation by pharmacist Sen. Standridge(R) authorizes pharmacists to prescribe nonprescription drugs for the purposes of extemporaneous compounding passed the Senate by 44-0 and was referred to the House or Representatives.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.

Erica Joyner2023-03-17T11:23:27-04:00March 17, 2023|Oklahoma|

Ohio

Medicaid published the following bulletins related to the Managed Care Program:

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.

Erica Joyner2023-03-17T11:22:35-04:00March 17, 2023|Ohio|

South Carolina

Brian Clark, a South Carolina pharmacist with experience in a broad range of pharmacy roles as well as service in state and national professional associations, has been named chief executive officer of the South Carolina Pharmacy Association effective April 1. Clark, director of operations at Riley’s Drugs in Lexington, SC, will lead the association that serves as the public face and voice of all sectors of the state’s pharmacy community, from students and technicians to pharmacists.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.

Erica Joyner2023-03-17T11:21:19-04:00March 17, 2023|South Carolina|

Tennessee

TennCare has contracted with Mercer Government Human Services Consulting to conduct a professional cost of dispensing survey and a survey of acquisition cost data. Both surveys will begin on April 3. Mercer will conduct a technical online seminar on March 20 at 10am CT to discuss both surveys and answer provider questions. Join the online seminar at this link with passcode 030511.

Also in Tennessee, the recent TennCare issue regarding AAAC rate updates has been resolved. Please review this document and contact tenncare_inquiry@optum.com with any questions.

Finally, to help TennCare prescribers and providers, prior authorization (PA) requirements can be bypassed for certain medications when specific medical conditions exist. Those specific medications and diagnoses are on the Appropriate Diagnosis for PA Bypass document. Prescribers are encouraged to include the applicable diagnosis code on written prescriptions for inclusion on the electronic pharmacy claim. The submitted claim should include a Diagnosis Code Qualifier (Field # 492- WE) of “02,” indicating ICD-10, as well as the appropriate Diagnosis Code (Field # 424-DO). Note: A list of the preferred agents and the clinical criteria can also be found at www.optumrx.com/oe_tenncare/landing.

Please contact OptumRx Provider Liaison Ginger Stoves (ginger.stoves@optum.com) if you have additional questions. Ginger is the primary contact for Middle Tennessee, and the temporary primary contact for East and West Tennessee.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.

Erica Joyner2023-03-17T11:20:26-04:00March 17, 2023|Tennessee|

Texas

The deadline to file bills was Friday, March 10^th.

Also in Texas, Rep. Julie Johnson (D) filed HB 3774, legislation providing pharmacists with liability protections when dispensing certain medications that could be used for an abortion.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.

Erica Joyner2023-03-17T11:19:33-04:00March 17, 2023|Texas|

West Virginia

Pharmacy had several important victories in the 2023 Legislative Session that adjourned last week. The Legislature approved several priority pharmacy bills that are now on Governor Justice’s desk for signing. These include SB 345, which gives legislative approval for the PBM Auditing Rule pursuant to the passage of HB 4112 of last session. HB 2754 which adopts PREP Act immunization authority for both pharmacists and technicians at age 3 and deletes the long-standing prescription requirement for childhood vaccines. Lastly, SB 361, an omnibus Rules package that increases the pharmacy technician ratio from 1:4 to 1:6. The same bill also includes a final rule modernizing collaborative practice agreements to allow for population-based care.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.

Erica Joyner2023-03-17T11:18:32-04:00March 17, 2023|West Virginia|