Kansas
The Board of Pharmacy has received a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to expand K-TRACS, the state’s prescription drug monitoring program. The Board of Pharmacy will use the money to develop a public awareness campaign for K-TRACS, to conduct an audit of K-TRACS records and to hire a special investigator who will use K-TRACS data to identify suspicious and harmful prescribing patterns.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Louisiana
Beginning September 14, the Medicaid Fee-for-Service Pharmacy Program began to reimburse enrolled pharmacies for influenza vaccines and administration of the vaccines for Medicaid recipients who are nineteen years of age and older when the administering pharmacist is an enrolled Medicaid provider.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Oklahoma
Earlier this month, the Health Care Authority approved an across-the-board Sooner-Care (Medicaid) provider reimbursement rate increase effective Monday, October 1. The three percent increase, or 32-cent increase in the dispensing fee to $10.87 for pharmacies, is effective Monday, October 1.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
California
Gov. Jerry Brown (D) signed into law AB 2789. Effective January 1, 2022, this newly enacted law will require healthcare practitioners authorized to issue prescriptions to have the capability to e-prescribe and would require pharmacies to have the capability to receive these electronic prescriptions. The bill also requires those healthcare practitioners to transmit prescriptions electronically, unless specified exemptions are met. The bill does not require the pharmacy to verify that a written, oral, or faxed prescription satisfies the specified exemptions. Please also see the article in the main body of CEO Issue Update.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Georgia
The Department of Community Health has contracted with Myers & Stauffer LC to conduct a cost of dispensing survey. The survey will be distributed on Thursday, October 11 to all pharmacies participating in the Medicaid fee-for-service program. The survey must be completed by Friday, November 16.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
North Carolina
This week, effective September 19, North Carolina transitioned to the new Controlled Substance Reporting System (CSRS), the state’s electronic prescription drug monitoring program. To assist you with any questions regarding how you interface with this new platform you can call Technical Support at 855-962-4767 (24-hours a day seven-days a week) or email CSRS.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Pennsylvania
The Pharmaceutical Contract for the Elderly (PACE) Program has issued a Provider Bulletin that outlines changes to its policy on coverage of opioids, effective Wednesday, October 10. Please contact Amy Brewer of Magellan Medicaid Administration with any questions.
Virginia
Beginning Wednesday, October 3, pharmacies will have to report any Schedule V drug requiring a prescription and any naloxone dispensed to the Prescription Monitoring Program. The change is the result of a Board of Pharmacy final rule published in the VA Register.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Washington
On September 10, CMS issued a letter to the Health Care Authority stating the agency is “unable to approve Washington SPA 17-0002 as submitted because it does not comply with section 1902(a)(30)(A) of the Social Security Act (the Act), and the applicable federal regulations.”
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Maryland
The Department of Health (MDH) is seeking retail pharmacists to serve on the Drug Utilization Review (DUR) Board. New members will be appointed in January 2019 and applications are due Friday, September 14. Information concerning duties and powers of the board can be found in the latest issue of the Maryland Register. Interested applicants must submit a formal application through the MDH’s Office of Appointments and Executive Nominations. For further information or questions, contact Kim Bennardi of MDH.
California
The Legislature adjourned on August 31. Numerous bills of interest to chain pharmacy have been sent to Gov. Jerry Brown (D) who has until Sunday, September 30 to sign into law, veto, or allow them to become law without his signature.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Illinois
Gov. Bruce Rauner (R) signed into law the following legislation:
- SB 2952 directing the Department of Human Services to adopt rules permitting pharmacists to authorize designees to consult the Prescription Monitoring Program on their behalf, provided the designee has been trained in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
- HB 4707, creating a Prescription Drug Task Force, among whose responsibilities will be to study prescription opioid abuse in the state; study the over-prescribing by physicians of opioids; and recommend any legislation that would have the effect of reducing opioid addiction and abuse. The Task Force will report its findings to the General Assembly by Tuesday, December 31, 2019.
- SB 2524, creating Pharmaceutical Disposal Task Force, a primary duty of which will be to coordinate a statewide public information campaign to highlight the benefits of and opportunities to properly dispose of pharmaceutical products.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.
Mississippi
The Division of Medicaid has placed new requirements on the MississippiCAN Coordinated Care Organizations that will take effect Monday, October 1. The purpose of these requirements is to enable pharmacy providers to identify and separate PBM lines of business in their front-end claims processing systems.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Pennsylvania
NACDS recently learned that beginning August 7, the Department of Human Services (DHS) began paying pharmacies an increased professional dispensing fee (PDF) of $10.00 for Medicaid fee-for-service pharmacy claims. The increased PDF was approved by CMS in late July. Last summer, DHS filed a SPA for NADAC + $7.00 PDF that NACDS opposed. In addition to filing comments with CMS and DHS expressing concerns with the SPA, NACDS met with Medicaid staff and supported the efforts of in-state partners with legislators to oppose the $7.00 PDF.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Texas
NACDS and five in-state partners submitted a letter to the Health and Human Services Commission’s Vendor Drug Program Medicaid Director encouraging open formulary access to the flu vaccine for patients ages 7 years and older so flu vaccines may be administered by a pharmacist and billed to the prescription benefit, without going through the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program. In our letter, we cited data that shows that open formulary access could improve patient access and save Texas money by eliminating the barriers posed by VFC to pharmacy participation.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
California
The Department of Justice which operates the prescription drug monitoring program called CURES is hosting a webinar on Tuesday, August 28 to educate approved healthcare practitioners and pharmacists on how to utilize a new technology system to access information in the CURES database. Registration is available online.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Colorado
The Board of Pharmacy is seeking individuals to volunteer to serve on two short-term task forces to examine certain rules and draft amendments. The rules under review are:
- Rule 6.00.00 Drug Therapy Management
- Rule 17.00.00 Collaborative Pharmacy Practice
- Rule 14.00.00 Other Outlets (Telepharmacy)
Those interested should submit a cover letter indicating your interest in a particular rule and resume to Yukon Morford by Monday, August 20. The Board will review the applicants and select the task force members at its Thursday, September 20 meeting.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Massachusetts
Gov. Charlie Baker (R) signed into law HB 4742 (formerly HB 4866), requiring that on or after Wednesday, January 1, 2020, prescriptions for Schedule II through VI controlled substances must be issued via an electronic prescription from the prescriber to a pharmacy. The law also creates a statewide standing order for the dispensing of naloxone and permits pharmacists to bill the insurer for the person requesting an opioid antagonist dispensed through the standing order. Additionally, pharmacists are not required to determine the identity of the ultimate user and the customer may pay cash for the prescription, if they prefer.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Mike Sargent at 207-272-6435.
Oklahoma
The Board of Pharmacy announced that former Board Member Dorothy Gourley, D.Ph. will serve as interim executive director while the Board conducts a search for a new executive director.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Texas
The Health and Human Services Commission’s Vendor Drug Program announced that on Monday, September 24, they will decrease the daily morphine equivalent dose (MED) limit for people enrolled in the traditional Medicaid fee-for-service program. The new limit will be set at 160 and applied to all opioid prescriptions with exceptions for those people diagnosed with cancer or those receiving palliative or hospice care.
Also in Texas…At its August 7 meeting, the Board of Pharmacy elected pharmacy technician Bradley Miller as vice president and pharmacist Donnie Lewis as treasurer.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
South Carolina
The South Carolina Immunization Coalition is asking for your support to help promote Immunization Awareness Week in South Carolina during Monday-Sunday, August 13-19, by utilizing the tools and resources in this kit. The kit includes a variety of resources to help promote immunizations to all ages, with special focus on adolescents and older adults. By joining this effort, you are committing to share the important message of the importance of vaccines for disease prevention and encourage South Carolinians to check with their health care provider, pharmacist or health department to make sure they are up-to-date on recommended vaccines.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Arkansas
Scott Pace, the Executive Vice President & CEO of the state pharmacists association, announced that he will be leaving the association at the end of September to become a partner at Impact Management Group, a lobbying, public opinion, public affairs and political consulting firm in Little Rock.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
California
On Wednesday, August 29, the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development is holding a hearing on proposed rules to require prescription drug manufacturers to notify and disclose information relating to the cost and pricing of prescription drugs.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Louisiana
The Department of Health (LDH) reported that Mercer received 872 responses to the cost of dispensing survey. LDH will share the complete final report with pharmacy stakeholders soon.
Also in Louisiana…Medicaid Program Integrity (PI) identified approximately $23 million in claims-related overpayments for services over the past 20 years. There are some pharmacy claims that Medicaid will make an effort to collect by offsetting future submitted claims, so LDH sent 479 overpayment letters to pharmacies.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Oklahoma
At the Board of Pharmacy’s emergency meeting on July 25, Executive Director Chelsea Church was fired effective immediately. Church is under investigation by the District Attorney for allegedly offering a high paying job to a Health Department lawyer in exchange for writing rules requiring a pharmacist at medical marijuana dispensaries.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.