Georgia
he 2020 Georgia legislative session will resume on June 15, 2020 at 10:00 am. The discussion will focus upon the announced 14% cuts across the board to the state budget, which constitutionally must be passed by the end of the June.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Indiana
Medicaid has announced that they have resumed the pre-COVID 19 process for early refill requests in both the fee-for-service and managed care process, effective for dates of service on or after June 1st.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Kentucky
Gov. Andy Beshear has signed an executive order that extends previous orders allowing pharmacists to dispense 30-day refills. This order will be in effect until July 7, 2020.
Also in Kentucky... The Department of Medicaid awarded contracts to Aetna Better Health of Kentucky, Humana Health Plan and Wellcare Health Insurance of Kentucky, United Healthcare and Molina Health Care. The latter two companies are new to the program. The new contracts will be effective in Jan. 2021.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Maryland
Medicaid has published an Advisory with updated NDC codes for pharmacies to bill for COVID-19 testing specimen collection.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Mississippi
Notice of the Board of Pharmacy announces a statewide standing order to authorize dispensing and administration of naloxone by pharmacists licensed to practice in the state. The order is effective May 18, 2020 and expires May 18, 2021.
Also in Mississippi... Proposed rule of the Division of Medicaid would amend regulations under Title 23, Part 214, Chapter 1, Rules 1.12 to add standards that remove the beneficiary signature requirement for prescription drug delivery during a national or statewide emergency. The rule also would add to the list of facilities exempted from certain beneficiary signature requirements. No hearing is not scheduled on this rule. Comments are due June 27, 2020.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Missouri
The Missouri Board of Pharmacy published an update outlining which COVID-19 related waivers from Executive Order 20-04 would expire on June 15, 2020 and which waivers are extended until September 1, 2020. Waivers to expire June 15th include practice by out of state pharmacists and technicians, albuterol substitution, emergency dispensing, and dispensing verified medication by technicians and pharmacy interns when the pharmacist is not physically present in the pharmacy.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.
New Mexico
The legislators will return to Santa Fe on June 18, 2020 for a special session on the budget deficit caused by plummeting oil and gas prices, combined with lower gross receipts taxes because of the COVID restrictions. While the Roundhouse will be closed to the public, all committee hearings and floor sessions will be webcast. Any employees and media entering the building will be required to undergo a COVID-19 test; however, legislators will not be required but will be highly encouraged to do so too. All employees will also be required to undergo a COVID-19 test before the start of the special session to enter the Roundhouse. Legislators will not be required to undergo a test, but will be highly encouraged to do so.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Ohio
The Board of Pharmacy released a notice this week regarding fraudulent verbal and paper prescriptions for promethazine/codeine
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Oklahoma
Notice of the Insurance Department announces LH Bulletin 2020-03 to advise health insurers and health maintenance organizations on coverage of COVID-19 antibody testing. The department provides information on CPT codes for such tests and expects insurers to cover costs associated with FDA-approved antibody tests.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Texas
NACDS, the Texas Federation of Drug Stores, and H-E-B pharmacists Doug Read and Jay Bueche, met with New Braunfels Sen. Donna Campbell, an emergency room physician. During the Zoom meeting, we promoted our scope regulatory and legislative agenda, including expanding technician duties and eliminating arbitrary ratios, expanding access to immunizations without a prescription. We also asked the Senator to urge Gov. Greg Abbott to allow pharmacists to test now for COVID and treat later when the vaccines become available.
Also in Texas... Continuing to advocate for the removal of the remaining barrier to pharmacist COVID-19 testing, NACDS, the Texas Federation of Drug Stores, and other Texas pharmacy organizations with the help of the Executive Director of the Board of Pharmacy (BOP) Allison Benz and the Board president, Julie Spier with Albertsons, finally convinced Gov. Greg Abbott to acknowledge that the federal HHS April 8th guidance document and May 19th advisory opinion clearly authorize pharmacist ordering and administration of COVID-19 testing without any physician involvement. Texas BOP FAQ‘s that provide official guidance on pharmacist testing have been updated to that effect.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Alabama
Effective July 1, 2020 the Alabama Medicaid Agency will remove prior authorization (PA) from Mometasone nasal spray (generic Nasonex) and Modafinil (generic Provigil). Brand Nasonex and Provigil will now require PA. They will also update the Preferred Drug List to reflect the quarterly updates. The updates can be found here.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Arkansas
The Board of Pharmacy will be conducting its June 9, 2020 Board meeting via Zoom. For more information on the agenda and conference information, go to the Board’s website the morning of the meeting – https://www.pharmacyboard.arkansas.gov/june-2020-board-meeting/22100446
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
California
NACDS is seeking member comments on Board of Pharmacy approved regulations changing pharmacist consultation requirements that now require either the consultation occur within 10 minutes or a return business call within one business hour. The regulations are currently under final review at the Office of Administrative Law.
Also in California... The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) that oversees Medi-Cal announced that Director Brad Gilbert is retiring in June.
Also in California... The Board of Pharmacy adopted an Emergency rule under 16 CCR 1747 to establish standards for initiating and providing to patients’ HIV preexposure and postexposure prophylaxis and related recordkeeping requirements. The rule was effective April 30th and expires October 27, 2020.
Also in California... In advance of the June 2nd Assembly Appropriations Committee hearing, NACDS and the California Retailers Association weighed in on two issues important to chain pharmacies. We submitted a joint letter supporting legislation which will extend for five years the sunset on existing law that allows pharmacists to furnish sterile syringes without a prescription (AB 2077-Ting). We also submitted a joint letter opposing a bill which would prohibit pharmacies from automatically contacting prescribers to authorize a prescription for any dangerous drug or device for more than a 7-day supply refill without authorization from the prescriber or patient. The bill also requires a pharmacy to obtain separate authorization for each prescription and would prohibit a pharmacy from requesting more than the number of refills authorized in the original prescription. (AB 2983-Holden).
Also in California... The Board of Pharmacy posted important information for pharmacies that were vandalized, looted or set on fire during recent violence in California.
Also in California... The Board of Pharmacy is scheduled to meet on June 18, 2020 via teleconference. The agenda and instructions on how to join the meeting will be posted on the meetings page at the Board’s website.
Also in California... Expecting a delay in processing payments for license renewals submitted by mail during the last week of June and first two weeks of July, the Board of Pharmacy recommends that if your license expires June 30 or July 1, 2020, you need to mail payment by June 11, 2020 to ensure the online verification system accurately reflects your renewal status process during the delay period. Alternatively, pharmacists, advance practice pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and designated representatives can renew your license online, and the processing of online renewal payments will not be delayed.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Nevada
The Board of Pharmacy alerted pharmacies to remain vigilant during this period of social unrest as criminals may seek the opportunity to gain access to controlled substances.
Also in Nevada... The Board of Pharmacy met on June 3rd via conference call. Link to agenda and meeting materials – https://bop.nv.gov/uploadedFiles/bop.nv.gov/content/board/ALL/2018_Meetings/5.15.2020.June%202020%20Amended%20Agenda.p
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
New Mexico
Primary elections were held on Tuesday, June 2nd. Early returns indicate that four powerful incumbent Senate Democrats may have lost their primary contests: John Smith – Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Mary Kay Papen – Senate President Pro Tempore, Clemente Sanchez, Chairman of the Senate Corporations and Transportation Committee, and Richard Martinez, Former Chair of Senate Judiciary Committee.
Also in New Mexico... On June 18, 2020, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is convening a special session on the budget. The state shortfall for the next fiscal year is estimated to be as high as $2.8B due to plunging oil and gas revenues and the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, there is an estimated shortfall between $368M and $483M for the current fiscal year.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
New York
The New York State Legislature has passed S.8182A/Hoylman/A.10508-A Paulin which authorize licensed pharmacists to administer any approved vaccine for COVID-19. The bill will proceed to the Governor for review and signature before year’s end.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.
North Carolina
NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) issued a request for qualifications from vendors to provide COVID-19 testing and contact tracing. NCDHHS is seeking to create a pool of qualified vendors to support the response to COVID-19 by providing diagnostic and antibody testing including specimen collection and laboratory processing and contact tracing. The RFQ can be found here. The first deadline to respond to the RFQ is 2 p.m. on June 9, 2020. Qualified applicants will be notified on June 17, 2020. This is a rolling qualification process and vendors will be able to submit a response by the first of very month through December. In addition, the NCDHHS anticipates issuing future RFQs for other functions beyond testing, lab capacity and contact tracing.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Ohio
Rep. Bill Roemer (R) has introduced HB 673. This legislation authorizes licensed pharmacists and pharmacy interns to administer immunizations for COVID-19. Specifically, this measure states that licensed pharmacists and pharmacy interns are authorized to administer COVID-19 immunizations to individuals aged seven and older. Additionally, it allows for pharmacists to conduct COVID-19 diagnostic and antibodies tests. The House Local and State Government Committee heard proponent testimony this week. NACDS is on record supporting the bill.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Pennsylvania
Pharmacy Caucus Co-Chair, Sen. Judy Ward (R) issued a co-sponsorship memo for a bill that would exempt a pharmacy or pharmacists from the laboratory experience requirements, clearing a barrier remaining to pharmacists to perform COVID-19 testing.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Texas
NACDS is drafting expanded scope legislation for the 2021 session.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Alabama
Alabama Medicaid Agency has issued an ALERT stating that all previously published expiration dates related to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) emergency are once again extended. The new expiration date is the earlier of June 30, 2020, the conclusion of the COVID-19 National emergency, or any expiration date noticed by the Alabama Medicaid Agency through a subsequent ALERT.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Arkansas
NACDS was successful in placing an op-ed on vaccinations signed by Steve Anderson in Talk Business and Politics, an on-line Arkansas publication that covers business and political communities. The opinion letter title was “For COVID-19 vaccinations, all signs point to pharmacists.”
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
California
NACDS continues to try to remove the remaining laboratory requirement in California that poses a barrier to pharmacies expanding COVID-19 testing. NACDS and our in-state partner, the California Retailers Association, followed up with the California Department of Public Health Testing Task Force and Health and Human Services Agency providing detailed information from other states on the safe administration of these tests by pharmacies not subject to such laboratory requirements.
Also in California... As the June 30, 2020 end of the fiscal year approaches, the Board of Pharmacy is encouraging pharmacists, advance practice pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and designated representatives are encouraged to renew your license online to avoid a possible delay in processing.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Colorado
Colorado General Assembly reconvened on Tuesday, May 26th with a number of major changes in place at the Capitol to keep legislators safe.
Also in Colorado... Legislation NACDS supported, HB20-1061, that would allow pharmacists to provide HIV medications to patients, was heard in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee on May 27th.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Georgia
Emergency rule of the Board of Pharmacy adopts regulations under GAC 480-2-0 to waive certain practical examination licensing requirements for pharmacy professionals in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The rule was effective May 18th and shall be effective for the duration of the emergency and for a period of not more than 120 days thereafter.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.