In The States – Page 145 – Weekly news about states

Oregon

The Oregon Health Authority’s Immunization Policy Advisory Team (IPACT) will meet September 1 via Zoom. To register in advance for this meeting, use this link.

Also in Oregon, the Oregon Health Authority released its 2021 Coordinated Care Organization (COO) Metrics Report. Although statewide performance showed improvement on most of the 14 incentive measures, the exceptions were two immunization measures related to youth immunizations which were down 7.7% for adolescents and 8.3% for immunizations received by the child’s second birthday. These continue to be affected by the disruptions in preventive care that occurred during the pandemic.

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

Michael Silber2022-08-19T10:34:06-04:00August 19, 2022|Oregon|

Texas

The Board of Pharmacy adopted the pharmacy counseling waiver and non-sterile compound rules at the August 2nd meeting. A summary of all the rules adopted is available here.

Also in Texas, the Board of Pharmacy created an infographic clarifying for pharmacists the requirement to check a patient’s controlled substance history in the Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) before dispensing opioids, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, or carisoprodol. The Board inspectors have found that some integrated pharmacy management systems require that the pharmacist manually initiate a report request by clicking to “View/Show Report” and access the full controlled substance history report for the patient to comply with the mandated PMP lookup requirement. However, if your integrated pharmacy management system loads both the patient score and the full patient report, the pharmacist does not need to load the report separately to be compliant with the mandate.

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

Michael Silber2022-08-19T10:49:41-04:00August 19, 2022|Texas|

California

Medi-Cal posted the following:

News: “Coming Soon: Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine Authorization” – The Department of Health Care Services is aggressively pursuing the necessary system and operational changes required to enable successful claims adjudication for administration of the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine. (August 3)
News: “New Provider Financial Data Request Form Available” – Providers should use the Financial Data Request Form for questions regarding missing warrants, copies of Remittance Advice Details (RADs), accounts receivable transactions, and copies of 1099s. (August 3)
News: “New Approval Messages for COVID-19 Uninsured Group User Guide” was posted to the Medi-Cal News – COVID-19 Uninsured Group (UIG) coverage will be updated with new approval messages for qualifying individuals. (July 29)
Alert: “Temporary Problem for Real-Time Eligibility Transactions” – The Medi-Cal Program has been affected by a temporary problem that has affected all providers using CalPOS leased line connection for Real-Time eligibility transactions. (July 29)

Also in California, the Department of Health Care Services posted the following alerts on the Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal.

Enteral Nutrition Updates to the List of Covered Enteral Nutrition Products, Effective September 1, 2022, and December 1, 2022 (August 1)
Medi-Cal Rx Monthly Bulletin for August (August 1)
Changes to Contract Drugs List (CDL) (August 1)
Updates to the Medi-Cal Rx Provider Manual (August 1)
Electronic Claims Agreement – Submission Deadline Extended (July 29)
Medi-Cal Rx Weekly Wrap-Up for July 22-28 (July 29)

Finally in California, the Board of Pharmacy communicated the following:

NEW Pharmacy Law Waiver: Prescriber Dispensing of Tecovirimat (TPOXX or ST-246) Oral Antiviral Medication to Emergency Room Patient (BPC sections 4068(a)(1), 4068(a)(5), 4068(a)(6), 4076.5 and 4427.2(a))
Next Standard of Care Committee Meeting – August 25, 2022 (NEW DATE)
Notice of Second Modified Text to amend sections 1793.5 and 1793.6 and to add section 1793.65 to Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations related to Pharmacy Technicians and Second Modified Text; written comments will be accepted until August 17, 2022.
Effective January 1, 2023, Order of Adoption amending Division 17 of Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations, section 1715.65, related to Inventory Activities and Inventory Reconciliation Reports of Controlled Substances

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

Erica Joyner2022-08-05T09:43:18-04:00August 5, 2022|California|

Iowa

The Board of Pharmacy published the following rulemaking.

Adopted (effective August 31, 2022)
- ARC 6416C adopted and amends Chapter 3, “Pharmacy Technicians”, and Chapter 6, “General Pharmacy Practice” related to pharmacist delegation of technical functions.
- ARC 6417C adopted and amends Chapter 8, “Universal Practice Standards”, and Chapter 19, “Nonresident Pharmacy Practice”
- ARC 6418C adopted and amends Chapter 12, “Precursor Substances”

Notice of Intended Action (Comments may be submitted until 4:30 p.m. on August 16, 2022.)

- ARC 6421C amends Chapter 23, “Care Facility Pharmacy Practice”.
- ARC 6422C amends Chapter 41, “Outsourcing Facilities”.
- ARC 6423C amends Chapter 14, “Public Information and Inspection of Records”.
- ARC 6424C amends Chapter 12, “Precursor Substances”.
- ARC 6425C amends Chapter 10, “Controlled Substances”.

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

Erica Joyner2022-08-05T09:41:58-04:00August 5, 2022|Iowa|

Massachusetts

The Massachusetts legislature completed, and Governor Charlie Baker (R) signed into law the state budget — HB (House Bill) 5500, which included several provisions of interest to pharmacies.

Mandatory Reporting by PBM (Pharmacy Benefit Manager) for State Agency Managed Care Contracts. The report must be filed with the Legislature by February 15, 2023, on the financial performance of the managed care and accountable care organizations, as well as their effectiveness in serving the MassHealth recipients.

Funding for Public Awareness Campaign Relative to Prescriptions for Contraceptives

Funding for Programs to Combat Opioid Addiction

Expanding Protection for Reproductive Rights – This law provides legal protections for Massachusetts health care providers, including pharmacists, from prosecution by out-of-state jurisdictions for legally protected health care and reproductive health care services and products, including contraceptives, provided in Massachusetts to out-of-state residents. This language protects these providers from criminal prosecution and associated civil lawsuits from states that prohibit access to legal health care and reproductive health services and products. This bill also provides for one statewide standing order to be issued to authorize the dispensing of emergency contraception by licensed pharmacists. This language would replace

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.

Erica Joyner2022-08-05T09:40:53-04:00August 5, 2022|Massachusetts|

Mississippi

The Mississippi Division of Medicaid (DOM) is in the process of implementing a new Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS) – which will include a new Provider Portal – known as MESA: Medicaid Enterprise System Assistance. The new system, going live at the beginning of October, is being developed by Gainwell Technologies.

Before switching over to the new system, every Medicaid-enrolled provider, clearing house or billing services vendor that currently submits electronic data transactions (for example, filing claims) to DOM must undergo Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) registration and testing with Gainwell Technologies. This process for ensuring the secure transmission of electronic information is required of all states when implementing a new system.

Medicaid providers are asked to identify their designated staff member, someone who is already involved in the submission of claims or other electronic transactions within the current provider portal, and direct them to this page on DOM’s website:

This also applies to any trading partner or billing services vendor that submits claims on behalf of a provider.

The website provides step-by-step instructions and supporting materials on how to register as a trading partner through an online portal and test electronic transactions. Providers are asked to begin this process as soon as time allows.

If providers have any questions about which representatives should be designated to follow these steps, please contact Gainwell’s Help Desk at MS_EDI_Helpdesk@dxc.com.

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

Erica Joyner2022-08-05T09:39:18-04:00August 5, 2022|Mississippi|

Nebraska

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) announced the next COVID-19 Medicaid Provider call will take place on September 7 at noon (Central). Call details will be posted at this website one week before the call. Also, a recording of the August 3 COVID-19 provider call is now available.

Also in Nebraska, the DHHS (Department of Health and Human Services) posted the COVID-19 Fee Schedule July 2022 (Revised 7.28.22).

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

Erica Joyner2022-08-05T09:37:30-04:00August 5, 2022|Nebraska|

New York

Governor Kathy Hochul (D) issued an executive order that declares a state of emergency due to the spread of the monkeypox virus and directs all relevant state agencies to assist local governments in responding to the outbreak.

The executive order grants healthcare providers, including pharmacists, emergency permission to administer monkeypox vaccines through August 28, 2022.

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.

Erica Joyner2022-08-05T09:36:04-04:00August 5, 2022|New York|

Oregon

The Board of Pharmacy issued a Public Meeting Notice and published the agenda and meeting materials for its next meeting to be held August 10-12, 2022.

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

Erica Joyner2022-08-05T09:34:11-04:00August 5, 2022|Oregon|