Oregon
The Board of Pharmacy posted the agenda and meeting materials for its October 12-14 meeting.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Rhode Island
Please find the October 2022 provider update here.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Texas
The Board of Pharmacy has moved to the George H. W. Bush State Office Building. Their new mailing address is Texas State Board of Pharmacy, 1801 Congress Avenue, Suite 13.100, Austin, TX 78701. All telephone numbers, emails and faxes remain the same.
In advance of the October 3 Texas House Select Committee on Health Care Reform, NACDS submitted a statement recommending allowing pharmacists to permanently order and administer CDC/ACIP -recommended vaccines for ages 3 and older; permitting certified pharmacy technicians to also administer vaccinations to the same age group; and initiate corresponding treatment pursuant to the result of CLIA-waived tests.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Washington
The Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission (PQAC) is conducting an accessible labeling capability assessment survey to assess current pharmacy practices around providing accessible labeling options to patients, including whether such options are already made available, and what technological, financial, or resource-based obstacles prevent such options from being offered. PQAC filed a rulemaking inquiry (CR-101) to consider new and amended rules related to prescription label accessibility standards on issues pertaining to both visual/print disability access and the translation of prescription drug information for individuals for whom English is not a primary language.
Also in Washington, the Health Care Authority (HCA) is publishing quarterly updates to many of the Apple Health billing guides effective October 1, 2022.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Wyoming
The Joint Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions Committee will meet October 13-14 to finalize interim work and prepare for the 2023 General Session. The agenda includes PBMs at 3:30 p.m. on October 13.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Arkansas
On September 19, the Insurance Department (AID) issued Rule 118, a final rule regulating Pharmacy Benefit Managers.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
California
The Department of Health Care Services posted the following alerts and weekly notices on the Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal.
- Diabetic Supplies Updates: Changes to the Lists of Covered Diabetic Test Strips and Lancets and Covered Self-Monitoring Blood Glucose Systems (Glucometers), Control Solutions, and Lancing Devices, Effective November 20, 2022 (September 20)
- Medical Supplies and Enteral Nutrition Coverage Reminder (September 19)
- Now Active – Physician Administered Drug Policy Updates (September 16)
- Now Active – Reinstatement of Limited Prior Authorization Requirements for 11 Drug Classes (September 16)
- Medi-Cal Rx Weekly Wrap-Up for September 9-15 (September 16)
- Informational Claim Message: Prescriber Enrollment (September 15)
- Medi-Cal Enrollment for Ordering, Referring, Prescribing Providers (September 15)
Also in California, Medi-Cal posted the following:
- Billing Update for Bebtelovimab Use for COVID-19 Treatment (September 20)
- National Correct Coding Initiative Quarterly Update for October 2022 (September 16)
- Addition of Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine (September 16)
- Medi-Cal Update – Durable Medical Equipment and Medical Supplies – September 2022 – Bulletin 564 (September 16)
- Medi-Cal Update – Pharmacy – September 2022 – Bulletin 1023 (September 16)
- New Laboratory Test for Orthopoxvirus is a Medi-Cal Benefit (September 16)
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Delaware
The Office of Controlled Substances Controlled Substance Advisory Committee Meeting scheduled for September 28 is cancelled. The next meeting will be held on November 30 at 9:00 a.m.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Georgia
Beginning this week, the Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) will provide cash assistance of up to $350 for active enrollees in Medicaid, PeachCare for Kids, SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), and/or TANF government benefit programs.
Georgians with email addresses registered with DHS will receive virtual payments by eGift card, this is separate from current benefit payment cards. Plastic cards will be mailed to eligible Georgians who do not have their email address listed in Gateway.
The virtual payment card is a Mastercard prepaid card that works exactly like a debit card – and will live in the recipient’s digital wallet (Apple, Google, Samsung Wallets). The virtual payments can also be used via keyed entry anywhere that accepts Mastercard payments, not just online.
Also in Georgia, the Georgia Pharmacy Foundation is offing a free CPE (Continuing Pharmacy Education) online seminar, Pharmacy Well Being – Strategies to Mitigate Burnout, presented by PharmWell, on Thursday, November 17, 2022, 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm. CLICK HERE to register.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.