Iowa

The Board of Pharmacy posted its agenda and meeting materials for the August 24 meeting. Of interest, note the “Review of Proposed Edits to the Board’s Statewide Protocols and Vote on Approval” for Point-of-Care Test and Treat for both Influenza and Strep A. Also, under “Rules and Legislation,” note items #4 related to the PMP and #5 related to registered nurses engaging in the practice of nursing pursuant to a pharmacist’s order.

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

2022-08-19T10:42:11-04:00August 19, 2022|Iowa|

Kentucky

The Emergency Prescription Assistance Program (EPAP) has been authorized in areas of the state impacted by severe storms and flooding. EPAP is a federal program managed by the Department of Health and Human Services, which provides an efficient way for community pharmacies to process claims for prescription medications, vaccines, limited medical supplies and limited durable medical equipment (DME) provided to individuals who are from a disaster area declared by the President and who do not have any form of health insurance coverage. 

Also in Kentucky, The Board of Pharmacy has filed an emergency and ordinary amendment to 201 KAR 2 380, amending the board authorized protocol regulations by removing the specific conditions. Instead, a pharmacist may utilize any protocol approved by the board to provide healthcare services. Additionally, the board approved a new board authorized protocol for Paxlovid. The board list of approved protocols can be found at https://pharmacy.ky.gov/Pages/Board-Approved-Protocols.aspx 

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

2022-08-19T10:41:33-04:00August 19, 2022|Kentucky|

Louisiana

The Department of Insurance (LDI) released a summary report on the process of promulgating Regulation 122, which defines the roles and responsibilities solely within the purview of pharmacy benefit managers and pharmacy services administrative organizations as required by a newly enacted statute, R.S. 22:1660.9(C).

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

2022-08-19T10:40:50-04:00August 19, 2022|Louisiana|

Minnesota

The Department of Commerce has published the 2021 PBM Transparency Report. The Minnesota Pharmacy Benefit Manager Licensure and Regulation Act requires Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) to submit transparency reports to the Department of Commerce. The report summarizes the responses from all PBMs who submitted transparency reports to the Department, pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 62W.06, Sub’d. 2.

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

2022-08-19T10:39:19-04:00August 19, 2022|Minnesota|

Missouri

Pharmacies need to establish policy and procedures, quality assurance programs, and validate the technology prior to the initial use for two new product verification rules that go into effect on August 30, 2022.  

  • 20 CSR 2220-2.011 Electronic Final Product allows pharmacists to use an electronic verification system (EVS) to verify the accuracy of a final prescription. EVS allows the pharmacist to see an exact, clear, and unobstructed visual image of the filled prescription contents and the label affixed to the container. No further manipulation of the prescription occurs after the pharmacist’s electronic verification is complete other than applying the required container lid or seal. Manipulation does not include preparing a finished prescription/medication order for mailing, delivery, storage or bagging the prescription. 
  •  20 CSR 2220-2.012 Technology Assisted Prescription/Medication Order Verification for Interns Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians allows an “authorized pharmacy technician” or an “authorized intern pharmacist” to verify a final prescription using a Technology Assisted Verification System (TAVS) for non-controlled medications only. TAVS is an electronic system that utilizes barcode technology or another electronic process to electronically verify the final medication prescription or medication order has been properly dispensed and to electronically verify the prescription/medication order has been properly labeled for the correct patient. 

Additional summaries of newly revised and recently promulgated pharmacy rules are available in the Board’s latest newsletter. 

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

2022-08-19T10:39:09-04:00August 19, 2022|Missouri|

Nevada

In response to a request from chain pharmacy, September 7 & 8 Board of Pharmacy meeting, the Board will discuss and potentially act on the Adoption of an Emergency Regulation in increase the number of pharmaceutical technicians and pharmaceutical technicians in training that a pharmacist may supervise at one time from four to six. The Retail Association of Nevada (RAN) and NACDS encourage members to send a letter of support in advance of the meeting. 

Also in Nevada, pharmacists can now bill the state’s Medicaid program for hormonal contraceptive and HIV prevention services. The Board posted two guidance documents on the new laws that allow pharmacists to dispense self-hormonal contraceptives without a prescription, and allow pharmacists to prescribe and dispense PEP and PrEP drugs. 

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

2022-08-19T10:36:50-04:00August 19, 2022|Nevada|

New Mexico

The Legislative Health and Human Services Committee in early August to discuss state strategies for prescription drug access, access to pharmacy care, controlling the excessive cost of drugs, and pharmacy supply chain stakeholders (wholesalers, pharmacy benefit managers, manufacturers, and Insurers). 

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

2022-08-19T10:36:13-04:00August 19, 2022|New Mexico|

North Carolina

The North Carolina COVID-19 state of emergency sunsets on August 15, 2022. For more information on how it affects pharmacy practice please click here. 

Also in North Carolina, pharmacy claims processing under Behavioral Health and Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (I/DDs) Tailored Plans. Pharmacy Point of Sale (POS) claims for members enrolled in Tailored Plans will be temporarily managed by NCTracks when the plans launch on Dec. 1, 2022, through March 31, 2023. Beginning on April 1, 2023, these claims will be managed by the Tailored Plans. This change was made due to a key Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) unexpectedly leaving the NC Medicaid market in late 2021, which required some Tailored Plans to procure another PBM. 

There will be no impact to members’ pharmacy benefits during this transition period. From Dec. 1, 2022, through March 31, 2023, member ID cards will not include pharmacy information. A new card will be issued for April 1, 2023, indicating the new RxBin and PCN numbers for the Tailored Plans. 

NC Medicaid will reach out to members, pharmacists, and providers in the coming months with additional information about this transition. For more information, please see the Medicaid bulletin Pharmacy Point of Sale Process at Tailored Plan Launch.  

Finally, please see August 2022 NC Medicaid Pharmacy Newsletter which contains information on the below.  

  •  NC Medicaid Pharmacy Point-of-Sale Billing for Pharmacist-Prescribed Paxlovid 
  • October 2022 Drug Use Review (DUR) Board Meeting 
  • Reminder Regarding the Naloxone Standing Order  
  • Pharmacy Point of Sale Process at Tailored Plan Launch   

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

2022-08-19T10:35:41-04:00August 19, 2022|North Carolina|

Ohio

2022-08-19T10:34:51-04:00August 19, 2022|Ohio|
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