New Jersey

NACDS submitted a letter to the New Jersey Board of Pharmacy asking the Board to extend the Remote Processing Pilot until the rulemaking to permanently allow for this activity is finalized. Although the Board has already initiated rulemaking to allow remote processing more broadly, the pilot is scheduled to expire at the end of June and therefore must be extended for participating pharmacies and pharmacy personnel to continue to engage in remote processing activities.

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

2022-06-03T11:48:59-04:00June 3, 2022|New Jersey|

North Carolina

State Health Director Dr. Betsey Tilson issued an updated COVID-19 Vaccine Standing Order that includes booster for patients between 5-11 years old.

You can find all the statewide standing orders for pharmacists at the Department of Public Health website provided here.

Also in North Carolina, the most recent North Carolina Medicaid Pharmacy Newsletter can be found here.

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

2022-06-03T11:48:17-04:00June 3, 2022|North Carolina|

South Carolina

Governor Henry McMaster (R) signed SB628 on May 23, 2022. The hormonal contraceptives bill, which was amended to include Central Fill, will take effect upon the issuance of written joint protocol by the Board of Medical Examiners and the Board of Pharmacy, not later than six months from passage.  

Also in South Carolina, the Department of Health, and Human Services (SCDHHS) has announced it is seeking feedback on its draft “South Carolina Medicaid Quality Strategy.” The draft document is available here on SCDHHS’ website. The agency will collect public comments on the draft document until June 18, 2022. 

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

2022-06-03T11:46:32-04:00June 3, 2022|South Carolina|

Tennessee

Governor William Lee (R) signed SB1859, on May 9, 2022, effective immediately, this legislation requires the board of pharmacy to promulgate rules necessary to ensure that an individual who is blind, visually impaired, or otherwise print disabled has appropriate access to prescription labels, bag tags, and medical guides.  

Also in Tennessee, Governor Lee signed HB2660/SB2457, on May 4, 2022, effective immediately.  This legislation authorizes the Department of Commerce and Insurance to promulgate rules for pharmacy benefit managers and pharmacy benefits. Rules are prohibited from extending, modifying, or conflicting with any provision of the Tennessee Code. The rules must implement PBM audits necessary to ensure compliance; provide additional licensure requirements for PBMs; implement a complaints and administrative hearings process and provide for fees to cover the cost of supervising compliance payable by a PBM subject to an audit. 

Finally in Tennessee, Governor William Lee (R) has signed Senate Bill 2458/House Bill 2661, as amended, Much of this law offers clean-up language to 2021’s Public Chapter 569, and stakeholders advocated for key elements to ensure all provisions can be properly enforced by the TDCI, which align with Arkansas’ law that was defended by the U.S. Supreme Court in Rutledge v. PCMA. Summary points of the law include, medication product reimbursement, update to the professional dispensing fee, patient access, clear determination that this law applies to ERISA plans and a clearly defined role of the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance.  

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

2022-06-03T11:45:42-04:00June 3, 2022|Tennessee|

Texas

On May 18th and 19th. the House Insurance Committee held two days of interim hearings on health care laws adopted in 2021 including the pharmacy specific laws passed – SB (Senate Bill) 1264, HB (House Bill) 1919 and HB 1763. 

Also in Texas, the Board of Pharmacy has many resources available on their website to keep pharmacies connected with the Agency, including General Practice Resources and Coronavirus information. 

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

2022-06-03T11:44:48-04:00June 3, 2022|Texas|

Virginia

On May 27, Gov. Youngkin (R) signed HB 1323 and SB 672, identical bills that mirror pharmacies immunization and testing authority from the federal PREP (Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness) Act. The bills, sponsored by Delegate Bobby Orrock (R) and Senator Siobhan Dunnavant (R), were priorities of VACDS (Virginia Association of Chain Drug Stores) and NACDS. Specifically, the bill allows pharmacist and technicians to administer the full  Centers for Disease Control (CDC) vaccine schedule to patients 3 years of age and older; clarifies that pharmacists can order and administer COVID tests; allows pharmacists to initiate tobacco cessation therapies including prescription drugs under protocol; and requires Medicaid to reimburse pharmacies for the initiation of treatment and vaccines. 

Also in Virginia, The Department of Health has updated the COVID-19 Vaccine Standing Order to reflect CDC/ACIP recommendations from May. 

Finally in Virginia, The Board of Pharmacy has posted the agenda for the June 6th Public Hearing and Full Board Meeting. 

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

2022-06-03T11:42:28-04:00June 3, 2022|Virginia|

Washington

The Health Care Authority (HCA) revised the Emergency COVID-19 Fee Schedule provider billing guidelines under COVID-19 for Apple Health.  

Also in Washington, the Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P&T) Committee and Drug Utilization Review (DUR) Board will be meeting on June 15th to review drug classes for the Washington PDL, and for the DUR Board to review drug classes for the Apple Health (Medicaid) PDL. This meeting will be held by Zoom webinar only. You will need to register for the webinar to receive the meeting link.  

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

2022-06-03T11:41:31-04:00June 3, 2022|Washington|

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