Colorado
Legislative Day at the Capitol in Tuesday, February 18, 2020.
Also in Colorado... The Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (HCPF) provided an update on the Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Benefit 1115 Waiver demonstration application pending at CMS. HCPF is also in the process of pursuing a State Plan Amendment to include residential and inpatient SUD treatment and withdrawal management services in Medicaid. HCPF convened the SUD Implementation Workgroup meeting in mid-January to discuss various issues including utilization management, care coordination, provider enrollment/billing, capacity development, provider training and support, etc., that need to be addressed prior to the introduction in July 2020 of Medicaid coverage for new SUD treatment benefits. For more information, go to the SUD website.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Iowa
The Iowa Pharmacy Association issued a call to action for HSB 583, legislation expanding pharmacist immunization authority and statewide protocols for strep and flu, asking members living in the districts of the House Human Resources Committee to contact their legislators in support of the bill. NACDS submitted this letter to Committee leadership.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.
Louisiana
The Department of Health’s Medicaid Pharmacy Program announced that effective March 2020, MCOs will add a lock-in component.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Maine
NACDS supported the Retail Association of Maine legislative reception which focused on pending legislation including drug disposal and drug importation initiatives.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Mike Sargent at 207-272-6435.
Michigan
The Department of Health and Human Services announced it would scrap its proposal. NACDS strongly supported the proposal and is engaging with in-state partners about potential next steps.
Also in Michigan… the Board of Pharmacy Rules Committee Work Group will meet on March 6 to discuss Pharmacy General Rules, Pharmacy Technician rules, and Animal Euthanasia and Sedation Rules. More information can be found here.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.
Minnesota
The Department of Human Services announced that its State Plan Amendment was approved for the reimbursement methodology per the CMS Covered Outpatient Drugs Rule that became effective in Minnesota on July 1, 2019.
Also in Minnesota… the Minnesota Pharmacists Association is looking for co-chairs of its Professional and Organizational Affairs Committee. As described by MPhA, "This committee is working on a variety of professional and organizational issues to ensure that we are implementing legislation and providing guidance to the organization to continue to improve and follow the MPhA bylaws." For more information, please contact sarahd@mpha.org.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.
Missouri
The Board of Pharmacy will host a webinar on February 20, 2020 at 12 pm Central to provide a regulatory update. Click here for more information and to register.
Also in Missouri… the Missouri Pharmacy Association's Legislative Day will be held on April 1 in Jefferson City.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.
Nebraska
The Health and Human Services Committee is scheduled to hear LB 1065, NACDS-introduced legislation to expand technician duties, on February 27, at 1:30 pm in Lincoln. NACDS is seeking pharmacists and technicians to testify in support of the bill, especially those living in the 33rd District of bill sponsor Senator Steve Halloran.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.
New Mexico
With less than a week remaining in the 30-day legislative session, NACDS has sent an RxIMPACT Action Alert to members encouraging them to contact their state senator urging passage of HB 42, Rep. Deborah Armstrong’s payment parity bill that creates the opportunity for more community pharmacies to improve patient access to care. NACDS joined the National Community Pharmacists Association, American Pharmacists Association, National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations, and American Society of Health System Pharmacists in a letter of support to legislative leadership. The University of New Mexico College of Pharmacy and students have been activity engaged at the Capitol. They created and excellent video in support of HB 42, the payment parity bill.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
New York
NACDS met with a dozen key state legislators this week to urge their support for the expansion of pharmacist authority to administer immunizations.
Also in New York... NACDS joined the New York pharmacy sector in discussions with the New York State Department of Health on Governor Cuomo's budget proposal which would slash $2 billion from Medicaid. The Budget must be approved by April 1.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Mike Sargent at 207-272-6435.
Pennsylvania
A bill that would preempt municipalities from establishing separate Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMP) has been signed by Gov. Tom Wolf (D). SB 432, began as a bill increasing access to the state PDMP, was amended by Rep. Seth Grove (R), due to members’ concern about the City of Philadelphia passing a law in December requiring pharmacies to report to a new city based PDMP. Now enacted, it will preempt Philadelphia from implementing their PDMP statute. NACDS thanks the Pennsylvania Association of Chain Drug Stores efforts on the ground to address the issue.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Rhode Island
This week NACDS submitted a memo in support of HB 7073 which allows pharmacists to prescribe and dispense hormonal contraceptive patches and self-administered oral hormonal contraceptives.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Mike Sargent at 207-272-6435.
South Carolina
The South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) is beginning 2020 provider revalidation. In the bulletin dated April 20, 2015, providers were informed their enrollment information must be revalidated, per the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). To avoid risk of termination in the Healthy Connections Medicaid program, impacted providers must complete and submit an enrollment application 30 days from the date of their official revalidation notification letter. Providers should NOT begin the revalidation process until they receive notification. The notification contains pertinent information needed to start and complete the revalidation process.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Tennessee
NACDS provided analysis to members and in-state partners on HB.2688, which would require that health plans, pharmacy benefits managers, and pharmacies will make available a patient’s specific prescription cost and benefit information in real-time for usage in a healthcare provider’s prescribing or electronic health record system at the point of prescribing and at the point of dispensing.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Virginia
- HB 1506 and SB 1026, bills that would expand pharmacists' scope of practice have been voted favorable out of their respective chamber of origin, meeting the General Assembly's bill crossover deadline. NACDS has been on the ground with allies and in-state partners in Richmond to promote their advancement. We will continue to support those efforts in the second half of the legislative session as the bills are considered by the opposite chambers.
- SB 830 and HB 1304 also advanced beyond their chambers this week and will be eligible for passage in the opposing chamber. These bills would require pharmacy technicians to receive accredited training and certification
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Washington
Mid-way through the 2020 Legislative Session there are a number of pharmacy-related bills still making their way through the process: House Bill 2251 extends the reporting requirement when dispensing biosimilars to 2025; Substitute House Bill 2438 imposes a 1 cent per MME on manufacturers if more than 100,000 MME’s are dispensed within a quarter; 2nd Substitute Senate Bill 5601 address health care benefit managers including PBM’s; Substitute Senate Bill 6086 addresses pharmacy remote dispensing; 2nd Substitute Senate Bill 6087 limits co-payments and cost-sharing to patients on insulin to $100 per month; and Substitute Senate Bill 6113 creates a central insulin purchasing program which includes among others an independent and a chain pharmacist on the work group.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
West Virginia
SB 544, legislation that amends the West Virginia Code to allow the Board of Pharmacy to promulgate regulations to expand pharmacists and pharmacy interns authority to administer vaccine, has passed the Senate and is scheduled for a hearing this week in the House Health and Human Resources Committee. Specifically, it allows pharmacists and pharmacist interns to administer immunizations in accordance with CDC guidelines to adults and children between 11-17 years of age by prescription.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Wisconsin
The Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin (PSW) is seeking technicians to serve as Board or Committee members for its new Technician Section Board. As described by PSW, “The board and committee meet periodically to discuss technician advancement and provide a voice for the technician profession.” Interested technicians can get involved here.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.
Alabama
The Legislature convened on Tuesday, February 4, 2020
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
California
At the January 2020 Board of Pharmacy meeting, Anne Sodergren was hired as the Board's Executive Officer.
Also in California... In response to the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) announcement that they would be reinstituting the Medi-Cal reimbursement clawback process effective February 10, 2020, that has been on hold since June 14, 2019, the California Pharmacist Association (CPhA) intends to file for a temporary restraining order this week against DHCS to suspend the clawbacks on pharmacies who serve Medi-Cal patients.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Iowa
The Iowa Pharmacy Association’s scope of practice legislation was not advanced by a Subcommittee of the Human Resources Committee after hearing from proponents and opponents of the bill. The legislation seeks to expand pharmacist immunization authority and establish statewide protocol for point of care testing for flu and streptococcus A.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.
Louisiana
Having received unanimous support from NACDS and the other seven Pharmacy organizations that represent all pharmacists within the state, this week the Board of Pharmacy agreed to file legislation that would expand collaborative practice agreements and allow pharmacists to prescribe.
Also in Louisiana... NACDS and other representatives from the Louisiana Pharmacy Congress will be meeting with legislators and business groups this week to solicit their support for payment parity legislation which would ensure that payors may not deny reimbursement to a pharmacist for the provision of a service or procedure within the scope of the pharmacist's license to practice pharmacy.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Maryland
Several bills of interest to pharmacy are scheduled to be heard by their respective committees of reference. If any member wishes to testify, please contact Jill McCormack at jmccormack@nacds.org.
Feb. 13 at 1pm before the Senate Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee -SB 440: Pharmacist Tobacco Cessation
Feb. 18 at 1pm before House Health and Government Operations Committee-
HB 30 – pharmacists administration of vaccines
HB 656 – pharmacists administration of self-administered medications and injectables
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Michigan
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) signed into law SB 340 pertaining to telepharmacy.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.
New Mexico
During week two of the four-week legislation session, payment parity legislation which provides for reimbursement parity for prescribing pharmacists, HB 42 by Rep. Deborah Armstrong, that has broad-based support from NACDS, NMPhA, NMRA, pharmacists and pharmacies, passed the House State Government, Elections & Indian Affairs Committee and was sent to the full House for further consideration. NACDS, NMPhA, NMRA, pharmacists from around the state supported the bill. Also supporting the bill are several of the health plans – Blue Cross Blue Shield, Presbyterian, American Health Insurance Plans, AARP and Young Women United.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.