Oregon

NACDS submitted comments to the Board of Pharmacy expressing concerns with the current proposals in Divisions 019 and 041 related to safe pharmacy practice conditions. As currently drafted, these proposals give a pharmacist unrestricted authority to close a pharmacy if that pharmacist feels, in their opinion, that staffing is insufficient to fill prescriptions or provide other services to patients; this may result in pharmacy closures across the state. In our letter, we stated current regulations are sufficient to provide the Board with authority to act against pharmacies that are not providing a safe work environment. 

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

2023-02-10T09:47:29-05:00February 10, 2023|Oregon|

Pennsylvania

The General Assembly’s joint Legislative Budget and Finance Committee (LBFC) finally released its study of Pharmaceutical Pricing in the Commonwealth’s Medicaid managed care program this week. The study was mandated by the passage of HB 941 of 2021, legislation that required key reforms to PBM practices in the program. These included prohibiting claw backs, increasing transparency and eliminating spread pricing. Though LBFC cited they had difficulty accessing key data from PBMs and the program, the report makes several recommendations to the General Assembly to tighten up current law, by increasing drug pricing transparency and enforcing the requirement for the release of data. NACDS is working with the Pennsylvania Association of Chain Drug Stores (PACDS), the Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association (PPA) and members to develop legislation to address these issues. 

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

2023-02-10T09:47:01-05:00February 10, 2023|Pennsylvania|

South Carolina

Effective for dates of service on or after March 1, the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) will discontinue the hemophilia program arrangement with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC). Factor services may be provided by any fee-for-service (FFS) enrolled pharmacy provider. Pharmacy reimbursement utilizes the standard basis of payment for the FFS pharmacy benefit at the lowest of:

  • The actual acquisition cost (AAC) plus a professional dispensing fee (PDF) of $10.50; 
  • The states’ maximum allowable cost plus a PDF of $10.50; or, 
  • The usual and customary charges to the public. 

Providers rendering care to Healthy Connections Medicaid members enrolled in FFS Medicaid should direct any questions related to this transition to the Magellan Medicaid Administration call center at (866) 254-1669. The call center is available 24 hours per day. For more information, click here.  

Also in South Carolina, a stolen prescription pad alert has been issued. Please be very cognizant of any controlled substance prescriptions from Kraemer Women’s Care. Please call (803)-956-4018 to verify a prescription before filling.  

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.

2023-02-10T09:46:04-05:00February 10, 2023|South Carolina|

Tennessee

Tennessee Justice Center will be hosting a webinar on March 1, at 11:00 am (Central) focused on how to prepare your team for having conversations with TennCare beneficiaries about their eligibility redetermination.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.

2023-02-10T09:45:25-05:00February 10, 2023|Tennessee|

Texas

House Speaker Dade Phelan (R) announced committee assignments this week.  

Also in Texas, Sen. Pete Flores (R) filed SB 749, legislation making permanent the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREP Act) authority that authorizes pharmacists to both order and administer routine immunizations for individuals three years of age and older. The House companion bill is HB 1105 by Rep. Four Price (R). 

Also in Texas, Rep. Jacey Jetton (R) filed HB 2079, legislation would allow pharmacists to furnish medications for flu, strep and COVID as a result of a positive CLIA-waived test.  

Also in Texas, NACDS is a sponsor of Texas Pharmacy Day at the Capitol on February 28. This is a great opportunity for pharmacists from all practice settings to show unity promoting our legislative agenda. Space is limited, so register now. 

Finally in Texas, after a closed-door session at the quarterly meeting of the State Board of Pharmacy this week, the Board terminated the Executive Director Tim Tucker. 

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

2023-02-10T09:44:45-05:00February 10, 2023|Texas|

Virginia

Companion bills that would allow pharmacists to test and treat for flu, COVID, strep and UTIs (urinary tract infections) under a statewide Board of Pharmacy protocol have passed their Chambers of origin and met the bill crossover deadline, making them eligible to continue to advance. HB 2274 passed the House by a 57-42 vote, while the Senate unanimously adopted SB 948. passed the Senate unanimously. They now go to committees in the opposite chamber for consideration. NACDS continues to collaborate with members and in-state partners to advance these bills that are the final piece in updating Virginia’s law to match the PREP Act. NACDS is also advocating for SB 1418, which would strengthen the Medicaid reimbursement provisions for pharmacy-based services. This bill passed the Senate and will now be heard in the House. 

Also in Virginia, Medicaid has posted a draft bulletin detailing upcoming changes that will rebrand its Fee-for-service (FFS) and managed care programs as Cardinal Care and unify the Medallion 4.0 and Commonwealth Coordinated Care Plus (CCC Plus) managed care programs under a single managed care contract, pending approval by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The bulletin states that the changes will follow a strategic, phased-in implementation, beginning January 1, 2023, and will be fully operational by July 1, 2023. Comments on the draft bulletin are due March 15. 

Finally, in Virginia, the Board of Pharmacy has published a notice outlining recent drug scheduling changes. 

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

2023-02-10T09:44:01-05:00February 10, 2023|Virginia|

Washington

In advance of the February 7 hearing in the Senate Committee on Health and Long Term Care on PBM reform, SB 5213, NACDS registered in support and urged chain members to do so as well. The bill is awaiting further action in Executive Session and must be reported out of the committee of origin by February 17. Because there is a modest fiscal note, it will be sent to the Ways and Means Committee. House companion bill is HB 1253.

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

2023-02-10T09:43:28-05:00February 10, 2023|Washington|

West Virginia

NACDS continues to work on priority issues in West Virginia. HB 2754, that would make the pharmacy immunization allowances from the federal PREP Act permanent in state law, passed the House and is now in the Senate Health and Human Resources Committee. HB 2723, now included in a Senate Rules package, authorizes the Board of Pharmacy to promulgate a rule increasing the pharmacy technician ratio from 1:4 to 1:6. NACDS is also tracking a bill that would provide legislative approval of the PBM rule pursuant to the passage of HB 2263 of 2021. The language is now engrossed in Committee Substitute SB 345 which has passed the Senate and been sent to the House.

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

2023-02-10T09:42:53-05:00February 10, 2023|West Virginia|

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