In The States – Page 117 – Weekly news about states

Massachusetts

In advance of the May 11 Public Health Emergency ending, the Massachusetts Board of Pharmacy announced the following on May 4:

In response to the continued public health need for vaccinations, the Board will not be enforcing the supervisory ratios set out in 247 CMR 8.06(3) at licensed pharmacies that are providing vaccination services provided that the following conditions are met:

A maximum ratio of one pharmacist to six support staff is not exceeded; and
at least three support staff are interns and / or certified, licensed pharmacy technicians.

Due to continued staffing shortages, the Board does not intend to take enforcement action against pharmacies that perform and reconcile perpetual inventory counts at least every 15 days as long as back-counts are performed after each prescription is filled.
Pharmacists, interns and pharmacy technicians may administer vaccines to individuals who are 5 years of age and older in accordance with Policy 2023-02: Vaccine Administration.
COVID-19 Control Measures, including COVID-19 tests, may be dispensed or administered in accordance with Policy 2023-03: COVID-19 Control Measures.

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

Michael Silber2023-05-05T10:05:04-04:00May 5, 2023|Massachusetts|

The Department of Insurance has posted a draft rule pursuant to the PBM Licensure and Regulation Act. NACDS is currently reviewing the rule and intends to file comments by the June 9 deadline. If there are comments you’d like us to include in the letter, please send them to Jill McCormack by close of business on May 26,, 2023.

Also in Michigan, the Board of Pharmacy will hold a public hearing on Pharmacy – General Rules NOH 6.2.2023.pdf on June 2, 2023 at 9:00 a.m.. Written comments can be submitted to BPL-BoardSupport@michigan.gov. The open comment period ends June 2 at 5:00 p.m.

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

Michael Silber2023-05-05T10:04:36-04:00May 5, 2023|Michigan|

Minnesota

The Conference Committee on SF 2995, the Health Budget Bill, has been appointed and is currently meeting to produce a final bill. The Conferees include Senators Boldon, Kupec, Wiklund, Abeler and Morrison; and Representatives Keeler, Liebling, Pinto, Schomacker and Bierman. Several key pharmacy provisions are in the mix including:

Pharmacy benefit carve-in to Fee-for-Service
Pharmacy Technician immunization authority
Payment for pharmacy services
Requirement for on-going Cost of Dispensing surveys

NACDS has been working with the Minnesota Retailers Association, the Minnesota Pharmacy Association and members to help advance and support these provisions throughout the session. Once the conference committee report is finalized, the bill will go before the General Assembly for approval.

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

Michael Silber2023-05-05T10:03:20-04:00May 5, 2023|Minnesota|

Montana

On May 1, Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) signed SB 112 (Chapter Number: 322), legislation allowing pharmacists to prescribe certain medications with limitations. In the coming months, the Board of Pharmacy will promulgate rules.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

Michael Silber2023-05-05T10:02:46-04:00May 5, 2023|Montana|

Nevada

SB 57, legislation that includes PBMs in the definition of administrators and creating licensing requirements, passed the Senate on April 25 was heard in the Assembly Commerce and Labor Committee on May 3.

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

Michael Silber2023-05-05T10:02:12-04:00May 5, 2023|Nevada|

New York

On May 2, Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) signed A 1060: pharmacists administered contraceptives into law.

On the May 1 weekly NYRx Medicaid Pharmacy Benefit transition call, the State Department of Health reminded pharmacies that for the billing process for immunizations, there are different codes to use when billing for multiple vaccines and administration in the same day. Please see the following guidance.

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

Michael Silber2023-05-05T10:01:26-04:00May 5, 2023|New York|

North Dakota

The North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology Unit and the North Dakota State University Department of Public Health are excited to announce an opportunity for approximately 15-18 North Dakota pharmacists to complete the Antimicrobial Stewardship Certification Program through the Society of Infectious Disease Pharmacists. Please see the document linked here for more information regarding the certification program curriculum and how to apply. Interested pharmacists must complete the application (PDF Form or Word document) and return it to Emily Perry by 5:00 p.m. on June 30. If you have any questions, please contact Emily Perry, Antimicrobial Stewardship Lead at NDSU’s Center for Collaboration and Advancement of Pharmacy, at 701-552-2784 or by emailing Emily.Perry@ndsu.edu

Also in North Dakota, Gov. Doug Burgum (R) signed SB 2041, legislation that caps cost-sharing for insulin and medical supplies for insulin dosing and administration for enrollees in the public employee retirement system. It does not limit out-of-pocket costs on an insulin pump, an electronic insulin-administering smart pen or a continuous glucose monitor.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

Michael Silber2023-05-05T10:00:54-04:00May 5, 2023|North Dakota|

Ohio

The Board of Pharmacy is accepting comments for various rule sets up for the five-year rule review process. Comments are due to the Board on May 31 and should be posted here.

Also in Ohio, the state’s SBPM, Gainwell, announced the launch of their call center’s virtual agent, GABBYTM. GABBYTM is an interactive voice response system that offers several self-service functions, including checking claim statuses, member eligibility and prior authorizations. You can watch GABBYTM in action using this link.

Finally in Ohio, Gainwell will begin phase 5 of the re-implementation of Prior Authorization (PA) on May 9, 2023, on specific drug classes. Of note, the PA reimplementation only applies to new, initial authorizations, and it does not apply to those patients who have previously taken the drug supported by recent claims history prior to May 9. Phase 5 includes the following drug classes:

Analgesic Agents: NSAIDS 
CNS Agents: Anti-Migraine Agents (Acute, Cluster Headache, Prophylaxis), Anticonvulsants, Antidepressants, ADHD Agents, Atypical Antipsychotics, Parkinson’s Agents, Restless Legs Syndrome, Sedative-Hypnotics (Non-Barbiturates)
Compounding Agents (Bulk Chemicals/Powders, Vehicles, Bases)
Gastrointestinal Agents: Anti-Emetics, Crohn’s Disease, Hepatic Encephalopathy, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) with Diarrhea, Ulcerative Colitis, Unspecified GI 
Infectious Disease Agents: Antibiotics – Cephalosporins, Macrolides, Quinolones, Tetracyclines
Infectious Disease Agents: Antifungals
Infectious Disease Agents: Antivirals – Herpes, HIV

Please reference the Unified Preferred Drug List (UPDL) posted on the SPBM portal to see products that require a PA. PAs may be submitted via phone, fax, mail and the SPBM portal. Additional PAs are planned for reimplementation in a similar, incremental fashion during the second quarter of 2023. Please direct questions to the Gainwell Help Desk at 1-833-491-0344.

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

Michael Silber2023-05-05T10:00:08-04:00May 5, 2023|Ohio|

Oregon

The Oregon Health Authority issued a meeting notice for the Immunization Policy Advisory Team on June 1 from 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m. The meeting will be conducted via Zoom and requires registration in advance using this link. Registrants will receive a confirmation email with additional information to join the meeting. The draft agenda appears below and the final agenda will be available by sending an email request to imm.info@oha.oregon.gov three days before the meeting date. It will also be available during the Zoom meeting. See additional details in the notice below.

Agenda: Draft items include:

Public comment
Athletes and COVID-19 vaccine
Immunization uptake
Data analysis – small numbers policy
2022 population-based rates for 2-year-olds
2023 school immunization update
COVID-19 vaccine and therapeutics commercialization
COVID-19 vaccine updates

Also in Oregon, the Oregon Health Authority published a Notice of Proposed Rule Making amending Prior Authorization Approval Criteria Guide & Preferred Drug List DUR/P&T Actions. Written comments may be sent to hsd.rule@odhsoha.state.or.us no later than 5:00 p.m. on June 21.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

Michael Silber2023-05-05T09:58:49-04:00May 5, 2023|Oregon|