Massachusetts
The Massachusetts Board of Pharmacy has just released a new FAQ dealing with COVID-19. The FAQ provides numerous helpful links for pharmacies and pharmacists. More information can be found here.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Mike Sargent at 207-272-6435.
Michigan
In the first week of its lame-duck session, the Senate passed SB 920, legislation with pharmacy regulatory relief provisions that were rescinded when Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s (D) Executive Orders either lapsed or were invalidated by the State Supreme Court. Key provisions pertain to emergency refills, therapeutic interchange, remote supervision, and out of state licensing. It is unclear if or how the House can act on the legislation, however, given the cancelation of session days due to the COVID-19 outbreak among House members and staff coinciding with last week’s visit from Rudy Guliani.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.
Minnesota
The Department of Human Services updated its billing information for pharmacies enrolled in programs for COVID-19 testing and vaccination. Please visit the above link for more information.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.
Ohio
The Board of Pharmacy has asked NACDS to remind pharmacies about their guidance on dealing with expired licenses and NPLEX. Additionally, they are interested in knowing if pharmacies are experiencing any issues with the modification process necessary to input expired licenses. If you have any feedback that you would like NACDS to share with the Board, please forward it to Jill McCormack at jmccormack@nacds.org.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
New York
Governor Andrew Cuomo’s budget and health staff met with NACDS and the Community Pharmacy Association of New York State to discuss issuing an Executive Order to immediately authorize pharmacists to immunize for the COVID-19 vaccine. Additional discussion focused on their commitment to meet the April 1, 2021 deadline for the transition of Medicaid pharmacy benefits from Managed Care back to Fee for Service.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Mike Sargent at 207-272-6435.
Wisconsin
The Department of Health Services will provide a webinar update on the Phase 1a plan for COVID-19 vaccinations on Friday, December 11, at noon. Please register in advance of the webinar. DHS indicates that, if you registered for a previous meeting, you are already registered for future meetings. You can access last week’s webinar on the DHS website. DHS will also continue its weekly webinar on Tuesdays from 9:00-9:30 am.
Also in Wisconsin, the State Disaster Medical Advisory Committee’s Vaccine Subcommittee will meet on Friday, December 11, at 7:00 am Central, while its Therapeutics Subcommittee will meet on Friday, December 11, at 10 am Central.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.
California
The Board of Pharmacy is holding a teleconference full Board meeting on December 10, 2020, to discuss the continuation of COVID waivers. More information on the agenda and how to access the meeting can be found here.
Also in California. The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) published additional COVID-19 emergency guidance for providers, beneficiaries, and the general public. COVID-19 Virus and Antibody Testing additional updates will be posted to the DHCS COVID-19 resource page.
Lastly in California. DHCS announced a new timeline and process changes for the 2021 Medi-Cal Provider Attestation for the enhanced professional dispensing fee. More information can be found here.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Colorado
The General Assembly approved a COVID-19 relief package of 10 bills on Wednesday, ending a three-day extraordinary session called by Gov. Jared Polis (D) focused on addressing disaster relief funding for small business, child care, housing aid, broadband, food insecurity, utility assistance, and public health response.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Iowa
The Department of Human Services (DHS) issued an Informational Letter with details about how Medicaid enrolled pharmacists may order and administer vaccines in compliance with the Iowa Board of Pharmacy Immunizations Statewide Protocol which becomes effective June 1, 2021.
Also in Iowa. DHS issued the report from its 2020 Cost of Dispensing survey. Based on the data collected in the survey, the dispensing fee will increase from $10.07 to $10.38. However, NACDS is working with partners and the State to understand how this will be implemented.
Lastly in Iowa. The Department of Public Health regularly updates its COVID website with new information, including a December 1 update to its COVID 19 Vaccine Information Brief. Please visit the above websites for more information.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.
Kentucky
The Board of Pharmacy has filed an emergency regulation allowing pharmacists, interns, and technicians to order and administer vaccinations for individuals age 3 and up. Pharmacists who choose to take advantage of this regulation must receive 20 hours of ACPE training, otherwise, the state requirement of operating under a protocol must be met.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Michigan
The Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is regularly updating its document entitled “COVID-19 Vaccine Information for Providers” and recommends bookmarking the website to ensure you are accessing the most up-to-date version. Please visit the above websites for more information.
Also in Michigan. The MDHHS Division of Immunizations has released a new online COVID-19 Provider Vaccination Registration form. Pharmacies who plan to participate in the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine may now enroll. There is also a sample COVID-19 Provider Registration form and a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document that has information on how to enroll in the Michigan Care Improvement Registry (MCIR) which is a pre-requisite to applying to be a COVID-19 provider.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.
Minnesota
The Department of Health Services is conducting a webinar series for anyone in health care, with remaining dates of December 8 and 15 at 12:30 pm Central. The WebEx password is COVIDvax!20.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.
Missouri
MOHealthNet reminds its providers about upcoming system updates, including Pharmacy Point of Sale and the Helpdesk. The Pharmacy Point of Sale will not be available for approximately 1.5 hours starting at midnight CDT on Saturday, December 5, 2020, and will be brought up by 1:30 A.M. CDT on Saturday, December 5, 2020. Pharmacies may begin submitting claims after 1:30 A.M. CDT. The Pharmacy Helpdesk will be unavailable on Saturday, December 5, and will be available on Sunday, December 6, 2020, for normal business hours.
Also in Missouri. The State of Missouri COVID-19 vaccine planning team will host Vaccine Planning for Vaccinators meetings on Thursdays from 3-4 pm Central, with its first meeting being held on December 3. The planning team will provide state and federal updates as needed on COVID-19 vaccine production and distribution plans and answer questions from providers who have enrolled with DHSS as COVID-19 vaccinators as well as those who are seeking more information about the process before enrollment. View the vaccinator webpage for more information. To register to attend the December 3 meeting, please register here.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.
New Mexico
On November 24, the Legislature held a one-day special session called by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) authorizing a $329 million aid package for unemployment benefits, grants to small businesses, and aid for families impacted by the COVID pandemic. More information can be found here.
Also in New Mexico. In advance of the December 2 public hearing, NACDS submitted a letter to the Department of Health opposing Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s (D) law passed last session establishing a Wholesale Prescription Drug Importation Program. Specifically, NACDS mentioned that the requirement for pharmacies to report adverse events within 15 or 90 days, depending on the type of event, is not workable and is duplicative of the FDA established process for reporting adverse events. NACDS also raised the issue that the reimbursement must be sufficient such that it is financially sustainable for a pharmacy to participate.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Ohio
The Board of Pharmacy has released updated guidance including FAQs on the administration of COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic. Similar guidance addressing pharmacy technicians is also available here.
Also in Ohio. Medicaid has released the results of its 2020 Fee-For-Service Pharmacy Cost of Dispensing Study conducted by Myers & Stauffer. The survey found that the mean cost of dispensing, weighted by Medicaid prescription volume, was $9.46 per prescription for all pharmacies including specialty pharmacies. For non-specialty pharmacies only, the mean cost of dispensing, weighted by Medicaid prescription volume, was $9.07 per prescription. Based on the results from this survey, ODM stated there will be no change to the current FFS tiered structure.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Pennsylvania
Several bills addressing priority issues in both NACDS’ Scope of Practice and Reimbursement Campaigns were signed into law by Gov. Wolf (D) in the last days of the 2019-2020 Legislative Session. NACDS was instrumental in the passage of these bills, partnering with PACDS and PPA:
- HB 770 became law on November 30 as Act 140 of 2020. Effective immediately, it exempts pharmacies from the antiquated requirement in PA Clinical Lab Act that a “lab supervisor” have past employment in a lab to qualify for state approval to conduct COVID, flu, and strep CLIA-waived testing. In effect, it removes the long-standing barrier to pharmacies ordering and performing end-to-end COVID, flu, and strep tests. The bill also includes language requiring pharmacy technicians to be registered with the Board of Pharmacy and includes language permanently allowing technicians to perform remote data entry. The BOP has 18 months to promulgate regulations around technician registration, however, the remote data entry provision was effective November 30. Note: As members apply to the PA DOH for CLIA-waived approval to conduct these tests, please let us know the outcome.
- HB 941, a PBM pricing transparency bill that includes a prohibition on clawbacks and requires transparency around transmission fees. It also orders a Legislative Budget and Finance Committee study to analyze pricing and reimbursement under the managed care program. Now Act 120 takes effect 60 days from November 25.
- HB 943 prohibits gag clauses in contracts with PBMs. It was effective upon signing.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
South Dakota
The Department of Social Services issued a bulletin indicating that Medicaid now allows prescriptions for certain generic maintenance medications to be filled as a 90-day supply. They provided a list of eligible medications, recommending providers to check it regularly as the list is subject to change. Recipients must first establish compliance and tolerability of the medication before it can be filled as a 90-day supply. To qualify, a recipient must have filled the prescription for the same drug and strength for three 30-day supplies within the previous 100 days.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.
Virginia
The Board of Pharmacy has revised its document HHS Vaccine Allowances for Pharmacists, Pharmacy Interns, and Pharmacy Technicians during COVID-19 Health Emergency and COVID-19 Testing Resource to include additional guidance issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on October 20 which authorizes both “qualified pharmacy technicians” and State-authorized pharmacy interns acting under the supervision of a qualified pharmacist to administer FDA-authorized or FDA-licensed COVID-19 vaccines to persons ages three or older and to administer FDA-authorized or FDA-licensed ACIP-recommended vaccines to persons ages three through 18.
Also in Virginia. The agenda packet for the Board of Pharmacy’s virtual public hearings and the full board meeting scheduled on December 10, 2020, has been posted.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Wisconsin
The Department of Health Services Immunization Program will provide a general update about the Wisconsin COVID-19 Vaccination Plan Friday, December 4, from 10:00-11:00 am for vaccine partners and stakeholders. This webinar will focus on current plans for Phase 1A, which involves priority vaccination for health care personnel. Please register in advance of the webinar. DHS will also continue its weekly webinar on Tuesdays from 9:00-9:30 am. There is no need to pre-register, but vaccinators should submit questions in advance to dhscovidvaccinator@wi.gov. Please click on this link at the time of the webinar.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.
Alabama
The Alabama Medicaid Agency (Medicaid)has released several final rules, effective December 14, 2020, regarding Durable Medical Equipment/Prescription Orders, Preferred Drug List, Reimbursement for Covered Drugs and Services. Summaries for the rules are below with links to access each.
- Final rule to amend regulations under AAC 560-X-13 to allow additional non-physician practitioners to place an initial written prescription or order for certain medical supplies, equipment, and appliances.
- Final rule to amend regulations under AAC 560-X-16 to remove requirements that the clinical pharmacist committee consist of at least one long-term care pharmacist and one independent pharmacist. The rule also allows correspondence to be directed to Medicaid’s authorized representative.
- Final rule to amend regulations under AAC 560-X-16 to change the default pharmacy ingredient cost reimbursement methodology when no average acquisition cost is available from wholesale acquisition cost (WAC) +0% to WAC -4% for brand drugs and WAC +0% for generic drugs, effective Jan. 1, 2021.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
California
The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has decided to lengthen the transition time to the full implementation of Medi-Cal Rx by three months. All current Medi-Cal prescription drug services DHCS and Medi-Cal processes and protocols will remain unchanged and in place until Medi-Cal Rx launches on April 1, 2021. Questions should be referred to RxCarveOut@dhcs.ca.gov.
Also in California. On November 19, the Board of Pharmacy held a virtual meeting to discuss seeking a waiver allowing technicians to administer all vaccines, rather than just influenza as was adopted by the Board in October. Unfortunately, the vote was 5-6, defeating the motion for full expansion. This issue of administering all vaccines will be returned to the Licensing Committee for further discussion at their next meeting. The Board then amended their original policy to include COVID vaccines to be administered by technicians when they become available and that motion passed with a vote of 8-3. As it stands right now, the California Board of Pharmacy policy supports both temporary waivers and permanent adoption of a statute change allowing pharmacy technicians to administer influenza and COVID vaccines.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Colorado
Gov. Jared Polis (D) is planning to convene a special session of the Legislature after the Thanksgiving holiday to address COVID relief.
Also in Colorado. On November 19, the Board of Pharmacy approved emergency rules effective immediately allowing pharmacy technicians to administer vaccines and immunizations (Rule 19). The Board also unanimously supported a motion for permanent rulemaking at their January 2021 meeting.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Florida
The Board of Pharmacy has released a couple of final rules regarding pharmacist test and treat certification and pharmacists/laboratory tests. Summaries for the rules are below with links to access each.
- Final rule to adopt regulations under FAC 64B16-31 to establish standards for collaborative practice and test and treat certifications. The rule specifies that licensees are not required to complete the three-hour continuing education related to minor, nonchronic health conditions if the initial certificate was issued fewer than 12 months prior to the expiration date of the license. The rule is effective Nov. 22, 2020.
- Final rule to repeal regulations under FAC 64B16-27 regarding ordering and evaluation of laboratory tests. The rule is effective Nov. 25, 2020.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Illinois
The Department of Healthcare and Family Services issued a notice with information for Critical Access Pharmacies (CAP) that missed the June 30 self-attestation deadline for the enhanced dispensing fee. To receive enhanced dispensing fees for the current fiscal year July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021, a CAP must self-attest via the MEDI system between July 1, 2020 and November 30, 2020 to meeting the State Plan CAP criteria. CAPs that completed the attestation process after July 1, 2020, and are currently not receiving the enhanced dispensing fee, can expect to start receiving the correct CAP dispensing fee by December 15, 2020. Once the update is complete, CAPs that are not receiving the enhanced dispensing fee may void and rebill affected claims for dates of service back to July 1, 2020. Questions may be directed to the Bureau of Professional and Ancillary Services at 877-782-5565.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.
Iowa
The Department of Public Health issued a new COVID-19 Vaccination Issue Brief on November 17. Topics include vaccine provider enrollment clarifications, vaccine assumptions, and Immunization Registry Information System information. Healthcare provider questions regarding COVID-19 vaccine can be directed to the COVID-19 Vaccine Call Center at 1-800-831-6293 ext. 1 or emailed to COVID19Vaccine@idph.iowa.gov.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.