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.
Medicaid published the following bulletins related to the Managed Care Program:
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
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.
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.
The deadline to file bills was Friday, March 10th.
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.
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.
Reminder, effective October 1, 2022, the Alabama Medicaid Agency removed the requirement of absence of alcohol and illicit drug use by recipients for the prior approval of antiviral drugs used in the treatment of hepatitis C. A copy of the patient’s drug and alcohol screening lab report is no longer required. All other criteria remain, including the patient consent form with the patient’s and physician’s signature, which must be submitted with requests.
The updated Prior Authorization (PA) request form and criteria booklet should be utilized by the prescriber or the dispensing pharmacy when requesting a PA.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) vetoed SB (Senate Bill) 1248, legislation repealing several components of the sunrise process for scope expansion, including pharmacy.
Also in Arizona, on March 6, SB 1254 (Senate Engrossed), legislation repealing the requirement for a Schedule II opioid prescription that is directly dispensed by a pharmacist and that is not for the immediate administration to the ultimate user to have a red cap, failed to pass the House Health and Human Services Committee by a 3-4 vote.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
HB (House Bill) 1007, legislation establishing a statewide protocol that would allow pharmacists to diagnose and assess conditions for HIV and to dispense PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) and PEP (Post Exposure Prophylaxis), was amended in the House Committee on Public Health, Welfare and Labor.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.