In The States – Page 156 – Weekly news about states

Arkansas

Attorney General Leslie Rutledge announced a lawsuit against drug manufacturers and Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) for manipulating and inflating insulin and drug prices in Arkansas. In the complaint filed in Pulaski County, Attorney General Rutledge alleges that Novo Nordisk, Sanofi, and Eli Lilly conspired with Express Scripts, Caremark and Optum to significantly increase their revenues by unfairly and deceptively driving up the costs of insulin, making insulin, and other diabetic treatments unaffordable for many diabetics in Arkansas and creating an enormous financial burden for Arkansas consumers.

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

Michael Silber2022-06-03T12:01:41-04:00June 3, 2022|Arkansas|

California

The Board of Pharmacy announced its June meeting schedule.

June 16, 2022 – Petitioner Board Meeting
• June 22, 2022 – Standard of Care Ad Hoc Committee Meeting
• June 22, 2022 – Medication Error Reduction and Workforce Ad Hoc Committee Meeting

Also in California, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) appointed Jessica Crowley to the Board of Pharmacy. Having held a variety of positions within CVS pharmacy between 2010-2020, Dr. Crowley has been a staff pharmacist for Pavilions Pharmacy since 2020. She is a member of Lambda Kappa Sigma, United Food and Commercial Workers, the California Pharmacists Association and Phi Lambda Sigma.

Also in California, this week, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) announced its plans for Medi-Cal Rx Reinstatement of Claim Edits and Prior Authorizations. DHCS along with Magellan hosted a series of webinars to provide an overview of a phased approach for reinstatement of safety edits and prior authorizations and the phasing out of the Transition Policy. Stakeholder feedback has been fundamental to the reinstatement design and will remain a critical component throughout the reinstatement process. DHCS is requesting stakeholder feedback to refine the approach to reinstatement. Stakeholders who would like to submit comments may do so through the close of business on June 10 via email to Reinstatement@dhcs.ca.gov.

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

Age Restrictions on Psychotropics Updated (June 1)
Medi-Cal Rx Monthly Bulletin for June (June 1)
Changes to Contract Drugs List (CDL) (June 1)
Changes to Contract Drugs List (CDL) – Over-the-Counter Drugs (June 1)
Updates to the Medi-Cal Rx Provider Manual (June 1)
Maximum Allowable Ingredient Cost (MAIC) 30-Day Pharmacy Provider Notice (June 1)
Medical Supplies Prescriber Updates (June 1)
Diabetic Supplies Updates (June 1)
Medi-Cal Rx Checkwrite Schedule – State Fiscal Year 2021-22; Hold Notation Update (May 27)
Reminder: Fiscal Year Two-Week Fee-For-Service Hold for Specific Provider Payments (May 27)
Medi-Cal Rx Weekly Wrap-Up for May 20-26 (May 27)
Changes to Family PACT Pharmacy Formulary (May 26)
Medi-Cal Rx Updated FAQs (May 23)
Medi-Cal Rx Weekly Wrap-Up for May 13-May 19 (May 20)
Submitting a Claim – Best Practices (May 19)

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

Michael Silber2022-06-03T12:01:07-04:00June 3, 2022|California|

Illinois

Governor JB Pritzker (D) has signed HB4595, on May 13, 2022, effective July 1, 2022, this legislation amends the state’s insurance contract and provides that a contract between a pharmacy benefit manager or third-party payer and a covered entity under the 340B program may not contain certain provisions.

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

Michael Silber2022-06-03T11:57:35-04:00June 3, 2022|Illinois|

Kentucky

On June 1, Medicaid filed concurrent emergency and ordinary regulations making changes to the 340 (B) program and increasing the frequency of permitted dispensing fees for drugs to treat substance abuse disorders to weekly.

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

Michael Silber2022-06-03T11:57:06-04:00June 3, 2022|Kentucky|

Louisiana

The Department of Health (LDH) has recently updated its Medicaid COVID-19 vaccine billing schedule adding reimbursement for booster doses for ages 5-11.

Also in Louisiana, LDH requested NACDS remind pharmacies that file claims with Louisiana Medicaid must enroll in Medicaid’s new web‐based provider enrollment portal by June 30, 2022. Any existing Medicaid providers that do not submit an application to initiate the screening process through the new portal will have their claims denied.

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

Michael Silber2022-06-03T11:56:25-04:00June 3, 2022|Louisiana|

Maine

Last year, the legislature passed LD 8 which established a prescription drug take-back program in Maine for pharmacies. Pharmacies will have the choice of a secure collection kiosk or offering customers a voucher for a mail-back envelope to properly dispose of unused prescription medications. Drug manufacturers are due to submit a plan to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) by July 1, 2022.

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

Michael Silber2022-06-03T11:55:16-04:00June 3, 2022|Maine|

Maryland

A bill, HB299, allowing pharmacists to administer injectable medications for the treatment of sexually transmitted infections became law last week and will be effective Oct. 1, 2022, pending the adoption of regulations.

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

Michael Silber2022-06-03T11:54:30-04:00June 3, 2022|Maryland|

Michigan

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHSS) has updated the Medicaid PDL (Preferred Drug List) effective 6/1/2022.

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

Michael Silber2022-06-03T11:53:48-04:00June 3, 2022|Michigan|

Missouri

Pharmacy technician licenses expired May 31, 2022. Any technician that did not renew cannot work until the Board office has renewed their license. While the online renewal option ended on May 31st, a paper renewal is available online.

The Department of Commerce and Insurance’s (DCI) Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) is opening its application portal for pharmacies to receive and dispense the oral antivirals Paxlovid and Lagevrio (Molnupiravir) to COVID-19 patients with prescriptions.

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

Michael Silber2022-06-03T11:52:44-04:00June 3, 2022|Missouri|