West Virginia
The Board of Pharmacy launched a pharmacy workload survey that opened on July 7 and will close on August 17. The aggregate data will be used by the Board and a WV Pharmacy Workload Task Force to develop a list of recommended regulatory actions for the Board and the WV Legislature to consider. Individuals interested in participating on the WV Pharmacy Workload Task Force may complete an application by August 17 at 5:00 p.m.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Alabama
The Alabama Board of Pharmacy proposed to adopt regulations under AAC 680-X-2 to establish immunization training requirements for pharmacists, interns, externs, and technicians. Comments are due Aug. 6, 2021.
Also in Alabama, the Alabama Board of Pharmacy proposed to amend regulations under AAC 680-X-2 to correct a statutory citation in the electronic prescription requirements. Comments are due Aug. 6, 2021.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Arizona
The Board of Pharmacy published its July 2021 Newsletter. Highlights include:
- The board recently updated its COVID-19 FAQs to reflect changes because of Executive Order 2020-20 having been rescinded by the Governor's Office effective July 9.
- Various updates to the Controlled Substances Prescription Monitoring Program (CSPMP)
- List of bills signed by Gov. Ducey
- COMING SOON – License and Permit Renewals Information
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
California
The Board of Pharmacy has posted its agenda and meeting materials for the July 28-29 Full Board Meeting.
Also in California, as a reminder, the COVID-19 related waivers to expand remote order entry and remote supervision expired in June 2021. The board is considering only site-specific waivers.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Colorado
The Division of Professions and Occupations held a Stakeholder meeting to receive feedback on the implementation of Colorado House Bill 21-1276, legislation concerning the prevention of substance use disorders proposed draft rules. 2021-7-23_Joint HB21-1276_Stakeholder_Meeting_Notice_Final.pdf – Google Drive
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
District of Columbia
Medicaid has posted the slides from the June 2021 Medicaid Quarterly Pharmacy Forum. The slides include information on several items of importance to pharmacy including participation in the District Addiction Consultation Service Program (DACS) and changes to the billing procedure for pharmacy-based HIV treatment. Also, the slides include a reminder that pharmacists are required to query the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program under certain circumstances, under a 2020 law that was effective on March 16, 2021.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Florida
The Florida Division of Disease Control intends to amend regulations under FAC 64D-3 to establish reporting requirements for all practitioners and enrolled coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccine providers administering such vaccines.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Kentucky
With a rise in the Delta variant, Gov. Andy Beshear (D) recommended this week that masks be worn in certain settings by unvaccinated customers and employees, including those working in retail and restaurants. The Governor and Department of Public Health Commissioner Stack encouraged unvaccinated Kentuckians and those in jobs that require consistent contact with the public to take additional precautions, including:
- All unvaccinated Kentuckians should wear masks indoors when not at home;
- Kentuckians at higher risk from COVID-19 due to pre-existing conditions should wear masks indoors when not home;
- Vaccinated Kentuckians in jobs with significant public exposure should consider wearing a mask at work; and
- All unvaccinated Kentuckians, when eligible, should be vaccinated immediately.
For more information, contact NACDS' Jill McCormack at 717-525-8962
Louisiana: Lawmakers returned to Baton Rouge this week for a four-day special session to try to override bills vetoed by Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) to address transgender sports and the ability to carry a concealed gun without a permit. Both bills failed to receive the two-thirds votes to override the governor's vetoes.
Also in Louisiana, the Department of Health (LDH) has engaged Myers and Stauffer (MS) to conduct a cost of dispensing survey that will be used to evaluate the Medicaid pharmacy reimbursement methodology. The survey will to be mailed in August. LDH and MS will host a pharmacy stakeholder WebEx meeting on Monday, August 2, 2021, at 3 pm CDT, to discuss the scope of the survey and address questions on the overall process.
Webex Instructions:
Presentation Slides (Use the following link in your web browser)
https://mslc.webex.com/mslc/j.php?MTID=m83c00c0a8d023dcf9aebde63f4b5899d
Presentation Password: BMyH4QEtp27
If you join through a web browser, there will be an option for Webex to call you for the audio portion of the call or to use computer audio. Please select this option if you will be attending both online and over the phone.
If you will be attending by phone only, you can access the conference call line via the information below:
Telephone: 844.740.1564 Attendee code: 161 069 0135
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Maryland
The Board of Pharmacy recently posted an update notice regarding pharmacists, interns and technicians and immunizations under the PREP Act. The notice clarifies that when Gov. Hogan (R) lifted the State of Emergency on July 1, his executive order on pharmacy-based immunizations also expired. However, the notice recognizes that the PREP Act supersedes state law.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Missouri
The Missouri Department of Social Services proposed to amend regulations under 13 CSR 70-20 to remove outdated provisions regarding the return of unused prescription drugs issued to a MO HealthNet (Medicaid) participant. Comments are due July 31, 2021.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Oklahoma
The Board of Pharmacy issued a reminder that the Board of Nursing has a rule that requires the name of the supervising physician to be on the prescription from nurse practitioners.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
South Dakota
The Board of Pharmacy published its July 2021 Newsletter. Highlights include information from the PDMP Director with recommendations to follow if a prescription is suspected of being fraudulent and with information to access Nebraska data. Please recall that the board announced on April 14 that interstate data sharing was established with Nebraska.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Texas
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHSC) announced its submission of an extension application to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for the Texas Healthcare Transformation Quality Improvement Program (THTQIP) waiver under section 1115 of the Social Security Act. The extension request is for approximately 10 years, and reflects the same terms and conditions agreed to and approved by CMS on Jan. 15, 2021. It will allow Texas to continue flexibility to pursue the goals of the existing 1115 waiver:
- Expand risk-based managed care to new populations and services.
- Support the development and maintenance of a coordinated care delivery system.
- Improve outcomes while containing cost growth.
- Transition to quality-based payment systems for managed care and providers.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Colorado
After 16 months under a declared state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic, on July 8th Gov. Jared Polis (D) ended all emergency orders connected with the pandemic.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Delaware
On July 13 Governor John Carney (D) ended the state Public Health Emergency and all Executive Orders. On July 12, the Governor issued a new Executive Order authorizing pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and interns to administer COVID testing and vaccinations.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Mike Sargent at 207-272-6435.
Iowa
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Ohama Field Division is conducting a series of Lunch and Learn sessions related to fraud and abuse associated with promethazine with codeine. Details are available in the flyer that includes link to register. For more information, contact the DEA Diversion Outreach Coordinator Erin Payne.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Louisiana
Effective July 1, 2021, the state adopted a single Louisiana Medicaid Single PDL – Fee for Service and Managed Care Organizations . The Preferred Drug List (PDL)/Non-Preferred Drug List (NPDL) is a list of over 100 therapeutic classes reviewed by the Pharmaceutical & Therapeutics (P&T) Committee.
Also in Louisiana, the Board of Pharmacy Regulation Revision Committee will be meeting in Baton Rouge on August 3rd to numerous proposed draft rules found here – http://www.pharmacy.la.gov/assets/docs/Cmtes/RegRev/Agenda_2021-0803.pdf
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Maryland
The Office of Pharmacy Services has issued an advisory to notify pharmacies that the Medicaid Fee-for-Service (FFS) Program Pharmacy Services call center helpline is returned to live call operations on July 14. If you are interested in directly receiving upcoming advisories, please forward your name, company affiliation and email address directly to: Deborah.washington@maryland.gov
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Missouri
The Board of Pharmacy met virtually on July 14 and 15 to review legislation that was approved by the Missouri General Assembly earlier this year including the new Prescription Drug Monitoring Program/Rx Cares for Missouri law SB 63 effective August 28, 2021. Also, the Board discussed several draft bills for the 2022 legislative session, including proposal to expand access to immunizations by eliminating the prescription order.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
New Hampshire
Governor Chris Sununu (R) signed into law SB155 which provides permanent authority for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to administer COVID testing and pharmacy technicians to administer COVID vaccinations. The law went into effect immediately on July 9, 2021.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Mike Sargent at 207-272-6435.
Ohio
The Board of Pharmacy announced their appointments to the Pharmacy Workforce Advisory Committee.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Texas
The 30-day special session that Gov. Greg Abbott (R) convened on July 8th came to an abrupt halt on July 12th when the many Democrat legislators fled the state breaking a quorum to block a vote on the election integrity bill. Under House rules, all business was suspended because the absent Democrats meant that there were not members present to conduct business.
Also in Texas, the Texas Federation of Drug Stores (TFDS), the Texas Medical Association (TMA), the Texas Pharmacy Association (TPA) sent a joint letter https://www.nacds.org/ceo/2021/0716/PMP-Funding-Letter-vF07.9.21.pdf requesting the legislature appropriate $5.4 million for 2022-23 biennium to fund the Texas State Board of Pharmacy's Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP). It is critical that these funds be appropriated before September 1, 2021, to prevent any PMP usage interruptions. Without funding, these critical tools to help slow and prevent the opioid abuse crisis may cease.
Finally in Texas, the state Comptroller Glenn Hegar's (R) latest revenue estimate released last week in advance of the special session shows the current two-year budget cycle with a general revenue balance of $5 billion for the fiscal cycle that ends on August 31, 2021.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Vermont
Effective July 1, 2021, the Vermont Medicaid program will allow reimbursement for pharmacists providing tobacco cessation counseling. Tobacco Cessation CPT codes 99406 and 99407 will be open for pharmacist to bill with no PA required. Further details are provided in this Vermont communication.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Mike Sargent at 207-272-6435.
Arizona
The Industrial Commission of Arizona posted the 2021-22 Fee Schedule Staff Proposals and Request for Public Comment on June 29. The proposal relates to Workers' Comp claims. The 2021-22 Arizona Physicians' and Pharmaceutical Fee Schedule includes a new product reimbursement methodology including NADAC. A public hearing will be held on July 29.
Also in Arizona, on July 2, Gov. Doug Ducey (R) announced plans to rescind a variety of pandemic-related executive orders (EOs) related to the public health emergency including these pharmacy-related EOs:
- Effective July 1, the following EOs was rescinded:
- Executive Order 2020-17 deferred requirements to renew state agency and board licenses that had an expiration date between March 1, 2020 and September 1, 2020 by six months from the expiration date unless those requirements could be completed online. The timeframe for the deferrals lapsed on March 1.
- Executive Order 2020-58 ensured cost-sharing requirements, such as co-pays and co-insurance, for the COVID-19 vaccine are waived. This policy was codified by congress through the CARES Act.
- Effective July 9, the following EO was rescinded: Executive Order 2020-20 allowed pharmacists to dispense emergency refills of maintenance medications for up to 180 days, minimizing unnecessary trips to the doctor. With legislation expanding availability of telemedicine, obtaining refills is now more accessible.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
California
Pharmacy facility licenses with a PHY prefix may be renewed on the Board of Pharmacy’s website with credit card payment. Online payments may be submitted no more than 60 days prior to the expiration date and allow two business days for processing.
Also in California, the Department of Health Care Services reminds providers that the California poppy and blue and white version of the Benefits Identification Card (BIC) are still be to accepted by providers, and providers must continue to verify eligibility.
Also, the California, the Board of Pharmacy will conduct several committee meetings as follows. The Full Board Meeting will be held on July 28-29; agenda and materials will be posted on the website in advance.
- Licensing Committee agenda for July 14
- Communication and Public Education Committee agenda for July 14
- Enforcement and Compounding Committee agenda for July 15
- Legislation and Regulation Committee agenda for July 15
Also in California, AB 128, the 2021-22 budget bill authorizing Medi-Cal coverage of continuous glucose monitors for adult individuals with type 1 diabetes effective January 1, 2022, has been signed into law (Chapter 21, Statutes of 2021).
Finally in California, the Board of Pharmacy announced the extension of the pharmacy law waiver related to retired or canceled pharmacist licenses until September 1 or when state of emergency ends, whichever is sooner.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.