The House Health Care and Wellness Committee is holding a work session on December 1 to take written and virtual testimony on pharmacy benefit manager impacts on prescription drug costs. NACDS will provide members with the agenda and our comment letter before the hearing.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Pharmacist registrations expire December 31, 2022. The Board of Pharmacy is accepting pharmacist license renewals ONLINE ONLY at www.albop.com. The renewal fee is $100 plus $100 for a controlled substance permit. If you are changing your name, send proof of legal name change BEFORE YOU REGISTER ONLINE. If you fail to renew your license by December 31, 2022, but you continue to work as a pharmacist in any way, you will be subject to late fees and discipline. For more information, please contact the Board of Pharmacy directly at 205-981-2280.
Also in Alabama, please see these updated ALERTS for billing for Stand-alone COVID-19 Vaccine Counseling for Recipients Under Age 21 and billing for Stand-alone Vaccine Counseling to Recipients Under Age 21.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
The Board of Pharmacy’s statutes and regulations booklet has been updated to reflect sections 1 – 10 of HB 145, the new pharmacist and pharmacy technicians expanded practice law passed this year. The October 2022 booklet reflects these changes to AS 08.80:
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
The Board of Pharmacy has announced an additional meeting of the Standard of Care Ad Hoc Committee schedule for November 16 and posted an agenda for the meeting.
Also in California, the Department of Health Care Services posted the following alerts and weekly notices on the Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal. Please note the Medi-Cal recoupment announcement in “Recommencement of Pharmacy Retroactive Claims Adjustments” document; these recoupments are set to begin in January 2023.
Finally in California, Medi-Cal posted the following:
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
As of September 29, 2022, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued a major disaster declaration for the following Florida counties affected by Hurricane Ian (DR-4673): Brevard, Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Flagler, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Monroe, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, and Volusia.
The Agency for Health Care Administration (Agency) announced it will ensure reimbursement for all services provided in good faith to eligible Florida Medicaid recipients in FEMA designated counties during the Disaster Grace Period. The Agency is defining the Disaster Grace Period for Hurricane Ian as September 29, 2022 through November 30, 2022.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
This notice implements the section of Public Act 102-0103 that allows pharmacists to bill and be reimbursed for patient care services for hormonal contraceptives. This new policy is effective with dates of service on and after August 1, 2022, and applies to the Medicaid fee-for-service (FFS) program and the HealthChoice Illinois (HCI) managed care organization (MCO) plans.
Also in Illinois, this notice provides an update on coverage of the new COVID-19 bivalent boosters. The update applies to claims for customers covered under traditional Medicaid fee-for-service (FFS) and the HealthChoice Illinois (HCI) managed care organization (MCO) plans.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Magellan published a provider notice outlining September Preferred Drug List changes in Medicaid.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
The Board of Pharmacy quarterly meeting is scheduled on November 15 and 16 at the Board’s office in Baton Rouge. Prior to the meeting, the agenda and public meeting binder will be accessible here.
Also in Louisiana, Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) appointed 5 members to the 17-member Board of Pharmacy.
Finally in Louisiana, on October 19th, the Medicaid Fee for Service (FFS) Pharmacy Program announced the implementation of an electronic drug prior authorization application to achieve a more streamlined authorization process.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
NACDS reminds members that the mandatory Medicaid Cost of Dispensing Surveys are due back to Myers & Stauffer on November 16. Myers and Stauffer mailed and emailed the surveys to pharmacies on October 19. You can access the survey documents, download an electronic version, and find instructions for responding on behalf of multiple locations on Myers & Stauffer’s Minnesota webpage.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.