California
Pharmacies installing or discontinuing drug take-back collection receptacles can now electronically notify the Board of Pharmacy. Requirements for drug take-back services, including collection receptacles and mail-back envelopes, are in California Code of Regulations, Title 16, Article 9.1.
Also in California…The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) announced plans to implement a new Medi-Cal fee-for-service cost-based reimbursement methodology in late 2018. After system implementation, DHCS intends to make retroactive adjustments for all claims with dates of service between April 1, 2017, and the date of system implementation.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Idaho
The Idaho Immunization Coalition is conducting an educational adult immunization workshop on Wednesday, December 5 for healthcare professionals that will offer Continuing Education credits. This is a great opportunity for pharmacists and immunizing pharmacy technicians to attend an interdisciplinary event that delivers a clear message advocating for adult immunizations. Pharmacies have seen an increased role in providing adult immunizations and this workshop will discuss some of the common barriers encountered in the community setting. Additional information and online registration are available now.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Iowa
CMS approved the State Plan Amendment (SPA) to increase the professional dispensing fee from $10.02 to $10.07 effective November 1. State statute requires a cost of dispensing survey every two years. $10.07 reflects the results of the 2018 survey. More information can be found in the Department of Human Services’ Informational Letter No. 1959-MC-FFS.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.
Louisiana
Effective October 24, Medicaid fee-for-service set a quantity limit on epinephrine injections at four boxes of two syringes (eight syringes total) per rolling 365 days. The Department of Health also announced that due to the current shortage of certain products, the prior authorizations will be automatically approved.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Texas
On October 30, NACDS, in partnership with seven pharmacy groups in Texas, hosted a Pharmacy Advocacy Training Day at the Capitol. The purpose of the meeting was to educate pharmacists on how to discuss issues with legislators and staff. The Executive Director of the Board of Pharmacy Allison Benz welcomed the 65 chain and independent pharmacists, encouraging them to be active in their various associations, and to engage both at the Capitol and the Board of Pharmacy meetings. A Senior Advisor for Gov. Greg Abbott (R) applauded the pharmacy groups for coming to the Capitol united on certain issues. Media pundits from the Quorum Report and Texas Tribune shared insights on Texas politics and the Speaker of the House’s race. Rep. Donna Howard (D) and Rep. Drew Darby’s (R) Chief of Staff offered advice on how to present issues to legislators and staff. Prior to the afternoon group meetings scheduled with 78 legislative offices, pharmacists engaged in role playing activities to hone their skills.
Also in Texas…The Health and Human Services Commission Vendor Drug Program (VDP) announced that they expanded the age range for optional coverage of the flu vaccine through the pharmacy benefit as of October 19. With this change, plans have the option to allow pharmacies to bill for flu vaccines provided to beneficiaries ages seven years and older in a pharmacy setting.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Alabama
Effective Thursday, November 1, the Medicaid Agency will begin implementing limits on short-acting opiates for opioid naíve recipients. Details are available on the website. Also, the override form and criteria have been posted. Additionally, prescribers and pharmacists may access the printable Recipient Information Sheet online.
Georgia
Gov. Nathan Deal (R) called a special session of the legislature on Tuesday, November 13 to take immediate action and lead the way in spurring economic recovery after the heavy damage caused by Hurricane Michael.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Kansas
The Board of Pharmacy’s Technician Task Force will submit language to the Board recommending increasing the current 3:1 pharmacy technician to pharmacist ratio to 6:1 provided half the technicians are certified.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Mississippi
On October 1, the Division of Medicaid (DOM) began requiring an FDA-approved indication or compendia-supported indication for each stimulant prescription. It has come to DOM’s attention that the MississippiCAN pharmacy claims systems do not interface with the medical claims systems and may not be able to perform a search for diagnoses in the past 24 months of medical claims. The fee-for-service system is capable of performing this look-back function. To ensure that stimulant prescriptions process without delay or the need for prior authorization, DOM advises providers to write the diagnosis and ICD-10 code on each of their patient’s ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) prescriptions. Pharmacy providers must then enter the ICD-10 code on prescription claims. A list of FDA-approved or compendia-supported indications covered by DOM, along with corresponding ICD-10 codes, can be found on DOM’s Pharmacy Resource webpage.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Missouri
Gov. Michael L. Parson (R) named Rep. Todd Richardson (R), currently Speaker of the House, to become Medicaid Director effective Thursday, November 1. Speaker Richardson will be replaced by House Speaker Pro Tem Elijah Haahr (R), who was already selected to succeed Speaker Richardson in 2019 but will assume the interim speaker role in the meantime.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.
Pennsylvania
This week, Gov. Tom Wolf (D) signed two pharmacy-backed bills into law, including HB 353 and HB 270. HB 353 requires e-prescribing for all controlled substances effective one year from the date of governor’s signing on October 28. Wolf also signed HB 270, which expands income guidelines for the Pharmaceutical Assistance Contract for the Elderly (PACE) program, estimated to make an additional 14,500 senior citizens eligible for the PACENET pharmacy benefit. NACDS participated in negotiations with the Wolf Administration that resulted in an amendment to the bill that would allow retail pharmacies to perform medication synchronization for PACE beneficiaries and includes a provision that allows for a pro-rated co-pay and requires the payment of the full dispensing fee for partial fills to synchronized medications.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Iowa
Effective Saturday, December 1, the Medicaid pharmacy copayment for prescriptions drugs and refills will be $1.00 regardless of a drug’s status on the Preferred Drug List. For more information, please contact Harry Rossander at the Department of Human Service Bureau of Policy Coordination or NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.
Michigan
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) issued a letter to providers with information about its enforcement of certain dispensing limits on opioids designed to align with safe prescribing guidelines and statutory requirements.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.
Missouri
The Board of Pharmacy is holding its final Patient Safety and Compliance Seminar of the year on Tuesday, October 23 in Columbia. Visit the website for additional details and online registration.
Also in Missouri… the Board launched “Rx Cares for Missouri,” a community public awareness program promoting medication safety. The campaign highlights appropriate ways to take prescription medication, tips for talking with a pharmacist, recognizing the effects and signs of prescription drug misuse, avoiding medication mistakes and proper medication disposal. The campaign will also bring awareness about services provided by pharmacists such as medication management and counseling, medication review and assessment, developing medication treatment plans, administering vaccines and other prescribed medication and monitoring and evaluating the patient’s response to therapy to increase medication outcomes.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.
Pennsylvania
HB 353, requiring all controlled substances to be prescribed electronically is on its way to Gov. Tom Wolf (D) for his signature. The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Tedd Nesbit (R), passed both the House and Senate unanimously. It will be effective one year after it is signed. NACDS thanks Rep. Nesbit and Sen. Richard Alloway II (R) for their leadership on this issue and the Pennsylvania Association of Chain Drug Stores for its on-the-ground advocacy.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
California
As required by AB 40 that was signed into law last year, the Department of Justice (DOJ) established a method of system integration whereby approved healthcare practitioners and pharmacists may use a qualified health information technology system to access information in the CURES database. This week, DOJ launched the CURES Information Exchange Web Service (IEWS), creating a webpage that provides instructions on how to sign up.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Colorado
NACDS submitted comments to the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) on proposed rules pertaining to the reporting requirements for payers submitting data to the All-Payers Claims Database. In our letter, we asked that a pharmacy’s reimbursement be based on the services provided, not in any way be tied to or negatively impact a pharmacy’s reimbursement (product and/or dispensing fees) for prescription drugs.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Mississippi
Effective Thursday, November 1, the Division of Medicaid (DOM) is implementinga mandatory billing policy whereby providers must identify 340B purchased drugs on claims. This billing policy is in response to CMS’ requirement that DOM define its policies and oversight activities related to 340B purchased drugs as outlined in CMS State Release No. 161, dated October 26, 2012. This represents a mandatory change to DOM billing policy only and will not impact 340B reimbursement.
Also in Mississippi…The Mississippi Headache Symposium will be held on October 17-18. All licensed healthcare providers interested in improving outcomes for headache sufferers are welcome to attend.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Pennsylvania
The Department of Human Services issued a Medical Assistance Bulletin last week announcing that on August 8 Medicaid implemented an increase in the pharmacy Professional Dispensing Fee (PDF) from $7.00 to $10.00, based on negotiations with CMS regarding the SPA filed last year. Additionally, Medicaid intends to process retroactive payments to April 1, 2017. Retroactive payments will be processed during the fourth quarter of 2018 and will be received by providers by the end of the current calendar year. The Medical Assistance Bulletin states that the increase is a result of CMS’ concern that the originally-proposed $7.00 PDF did not reflect the PDFs of neighboring states. The amended SPA has been approved by CMS. NACDS thanks the Pennsylvania Association of Chain Drug Stores and the Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association for joining with us to advocate with both CMS and the legislature on this critical issue.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Texas
Recently appointed Board of Pharmacy public member, Daniel Guerrero of San Marcos, toured an HEB pharmacy where pharmacy staff demonstrated the basics of how a prescription is filled. They also administered a flu shot and discussed the pharmacist’s role in providing immunizations, health care screenings and MTM.
Also in Texas… At the recent hearing of the Joint Interim Committee on Prescribing and Dispensing Controlled Substances, two chain pharmacists testified on behalf of NACDS and the Texas Federation of Drug Stores. Jeremy Ashley with Brookshire Grocery Company urged lawmakers to support mandatory e-prescribing of controlled substances. Tomson George with Walgreens asked that legislators clarify the requirement that pharmacists are not required to check the prescription monitoring program for refill medications specified in HB 2561 signed into law last year.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Kansas
NACDS participated in a meeting of the Board of Pharmacy’s Technician Task Force which is exploring expanding the current pharmacy technician-to-pharmacist ratio from 3:1 up to 6:1, if four of the technicians are certified.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Montana
NACDS presented before the Board of Pharmacy requesting elimination of the current 3:1 pharmacy technician-to-pharmacist ratio and expansion of pharmacy technicians’ duties. The Board agreed to eliminate interns from the current 3:1 ratio. Further consideration of pharmacy technician issues will take place at a future Board meeting.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Washington
NACDS attended the last of three workshops, hosted by the State Department of Health, addressing the proposed rules to implement recently enacted drug disposal legislation. NACDS requested clarifying language that would provide a process for pharmacies who are denied participation in the drug disposal program to seek an appeal.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Arkansas
In advance of the September 26 Board of Pharmacy meeting, NACDS submitted comments on proposed changes to Regulation 7 regarding prescription transfers. Our letteradvocated for enhanced technician roles to improve access to patient care services by allowing pharmacy technicians to be involved in the prescription transfer process.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Colorado
In advance of the September 14 Medical Services Board public hearing, NACDS submitted a comment letter supporting the proposed rule adding pharmacists as providers.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.