Iowa

The Department of Health and Human Services issued INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 2352-MC-FFS outlining the following August 2022 Iowa Medicaid Pharmacy Program Changes effective August 1, 2022.

  1. New Drug Prior Authorization (PA) Criteria
    • Finerenone (Kerendia)
    • Odevixibat (Bylvay)
    • Pegcetacoplan (Empaveli)
  2. Changes to Existing PA Criteria
    • PCSK9 Inhibitors
  3. Point of Sale Billing Updates:
    • ProDUR Quantity Limits
  4. Drug Utilization Review (DUR) Update

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

2022-07-29T10:04:25-04:00July 29, 2022|Iowa|

Louisiana

The Department of Health (LDH) issued a Provider Bulletin to inform all providers rendering services to Louisiana Medicaid members with updates on COVID-19 covered services.

Also in Louisiana, the Board of Pharmacy announced Joe Fontenot, Jr, RPh (registered pharmacists) as their new Executive Director, replacing Malcolm Broussard who retired after serving 23 years.

Finally in Louisiana, the Board issued Bulletin No. 22-01 – Status of Interim Policies From COVID-19 Declaration of Emergency, terminating some of the policies effective May 31, 2022, and further extending some of the policies including the 4:1 pharmacy technician ratio until the end of the calendar year.

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

2022-07-29T10:03:36-04:00July 29, 2022|Louisiana|

Minnesota

The latest issue of the Department of Health’s weekly vaccine update can be found here and includes a link for members to sign up to receive it directly.

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

2022-07-29T10:02:44-04:00July 29, 2022|Minnesota|

Missouri

Effective 8/30/2022, all pharmacies located in the state must post physically or electronically a sign at the pharmacy indicating that the pharmacy is licensed and regulated by the Missouri Board of Pharmacy including the Board’s address, telephone number, and email address. The Board will be mailing each pharmacy a sign at no cost prior to August 15th. An electronic version of the sign will also be available for copying after August 1st. The required sign must be prominently posted near the pharmacy in a manner and location that is easily viewable and readable by the public.

Also in Missouri, the New Preferred Drug Searchable Database for MO HealthNet Pharmacy Program is now live.

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

2022-07-29T10:01:51-04:00July 29, 2022|Missouri|

Nebraska

The Department of Health and Human Services published a Notice of Public Hearing for changes to Nebraska Administrative Code (NAC) Title 172, Chapter 1 – Rules of Practice and Procedure Governing Reinstatement of a Health Professional License.  The hearing will be held on September 6 at 10:00 a.m. Written comments may be provided no later than the day of the hearing.

Also in Nebraska, the Department of Health and Human Services posted a Notice of Public Hearing for changes to 172 NAC – Wholesale Drug Distributors and 172 NAC 134 – Delegated Dispensing Permits. The hearing will be held on September 7 at 10:00 a.m. Written comments may be provided no later than the day of the hearing.

Also in Nebraska, the Department of Health and Human Services posted the following under Drug Utilization Review (DUR) Resources:

Finally in Nebraska, the Department of Health and Human Services published Provider Bulletin 22-13: Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccinations effective June 17.

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

2023-10-10T09:02:15-04:00July 29, 2022|Nebraska|

New Jersey

The New Jersey Board of Pharmacy recently released a letter on its determination to extend the Remote Processing Pilot Program.

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

2022-07-29T09:58:39-04:00July 29, 2022|New Jersey|

New York

As you are aware, late in 2021 several PBM legislative packages were signed into law. Now as the NYS Department of Financial Services is developing regulations, the Department is seeking public comment on a series of issues. Those requests for comments can be found on the Department of Financial Services website:  www.dfs.ny.gov/pbm.

 The most recent Department request is for public comments about the applicability of the Pharmacy Benefit Manager (“PBM”) laws set forth in New York Insurance Law Article 29, as well as the need for rules to be promulgated thereunder, on PBM conduct while credentialing and re-credentialing pharmacies into a PBM network. View the Request for Public Comments (PDF)

Responses should be emailed to PBM@dfs.ny.gov, with “PBM2022-05” included in the subject line. Failure to include “PBM2022-05” in the subject line may result in your comment not being considered. The deadline for responses is September 9, 2022.

Also in New York, NYS Medicaid recently held a pharmacy sector meeting and discussed the work being done to ensure a smooth transition for pharmacy benefits from Medicaid Managed Care to Fee for Service (FFS). Here are the NYSDOH Pharmacy Benefit transition slides presented at the July 20th Medicaid meeting.

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

2022-07-29T09:57:10-04:00July 29, 2022|New York|

North Carolina

All immunizing pharmacists who vaccinate NC Medicaid beneficiaries, NC Medicaid wants to hear from you on how you bill for vaccine and vaccine administration to NC Medicaid. Please take 1 minute to answer three simple questions to help us determine if we can help make claims processing an easier process for you. Please respond by August 1, 2022.

Also in North Carolina, the Board of Pharmacy has been made aware that a pharmacy has implemented a policy whereby its prescription processing system will not allow an NP- or PA-issued prescription to be processed without the supervising physician’s name and other information.

A supervising physician’s information is not required on NP (Nurse Practitioners)- or PA-issued prescriptions. On February 1, 2021, the NC Medical Board amended the prescribing authority rule for physicians’ assistants by removing the supervising physician information requirement for prescriptions written by physicians’ assistants.

On August 1, 2021, the NC Medical Board amended the prescribing authority rule for nurse practitioners by removing the supervising physician information requirement for prescriptions written by nurse practitioners.

Prior to the Medical Board’s 2021 rule amendments (as detailed in long-standing Board guidance, see Item 2403), the absence of a supervising physician’s name and telephone number did not render a PA- or NP-issued prescription “invalid,” “illegal,” or otherwise ineligible for dispensing under the North Carolina Food Drug and Cosmetic Act or the North Carolina Pharmacy Practice Act.

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

2022-07-29T09:55:56-04:00July 29, 2022|North Carolina|

Pennsylvania

The Wolf Administration issued a press release announcing they have amended the Physician General’s Naloxone Standing Order to include ZIMHI. The announcement encouraged state residents to print the standing order and bring it to pharmacies to request the prescription. NACDS reminds members that PA has a program to reimburse pharmacies for Naloxone copays when the customer is reluctant to fill a script due to the copay cost. This federally funded program runs on the current PACE adjudication platform but is open to any Pennsylvanian regardless of whether they have state or private/commercial insurance.

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

2022-07-29T09:54:38-04:00July 29, 2022|Pennsylvania|
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