The South Carolina Board of Medical Examiners recently met and approved the updated Joint Pharmacist Immunization Protocol. The protocol now includes the updated ACIP (Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices) recommendations for Pneumococcal vaccines. You can view a copy here.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
The Drug Utilization Review (DUR) Board recently approved a list of recommended drugs for the Medicaid preferred drug list which will be discussed and finalized at the DUR meeting on July 22, 2022.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
The Board of Pharmacy announced a June 28 meeting; agenda is pending.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
The Health Care Authority’s recently approved second quarter preferred drug list is now available.
Also in Washington, the Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P&T) Committee and Drug Utilization Review (DUR) Board meeting is scheduled for June 15, 2022, to review drug classes for the Washington PDL (Preferred Drug List), and the drug classes for the Apple Health (Medicaid) PDL. This meeting will be held by Zoom online seminar only and you will need to register in advance to receive the meeting link.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Effective May 14, the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development amended regulations under 12 AAC 02 to reduce application, license, registration, and renewal fees for pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, remote and other pharmacies, wholesale drug distributors, outsourcing facilities, and third-party logistics providers.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Effective April 1, 2022, Medicaid began accepting applications for new providers as individual practitioners. Pharmacists that intend to be an Ordering, Rendering, and Prescribing (ORP) provider for pharmacy and medical claim billing, must enroll with Arkansas Medicaid. Applications may be submitted to the Provider Portal. For more information, contact the Provider Assistance Center at (501) 376-2211.
Also in Arkansas, Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) appointed Jennifer Dillaha, M.D., as Director of the Department of Health. Since 2001, she has worked at the Department of Health leading the Agency’s health promotion efforts focused on population-based interventions to improve the health and well-being of all Arkansans. The Governor also appointed Renee Mallory, RN, BSN to the position as interim Secretary of Health.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
The Department of Health Care Services posted the following alerts on the Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal. Please note DUR Claims Edits were not reinstated on May 1 and the Electronic Claims Agreement Submission Deadline has been extended to July 31, 2022. Additionally, the Medi-Cal Rx 180-day prior authorization (PA) transition scheduled to go into effect July 1 will not take place. Medi-Cal Rx will continue to utilize historical PA and claims data beyond July 1. There is no new date for the transition. However, providers will be notified 90 days before the PA transition takes place.
Also in California, the Board of Pharmacy posted its agenda for the May 11 Board Meeting; see link below.
Finally in California, the Board of Pharmacy posted its May update.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
The Illinois Drug & Therapeutics Advisory Board will hold an Ad Hoc meeting on June 7, 2022, to review the ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) class in detail.
Also in Illinois, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services has posted an Updated Medicaid Preferred Drug List Effective 07/01/2022. You may view the new List at the following link.
Also in Illinois, please join the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, in conjunction with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) of the Department of Homeland Security, on Wednesday, May 18th at 8:30 a.m., to learn more about the current cybersecurity threats to retailers and what you can do to help mitigate your risk.
During the online seminar attendees will hear from Steve Lyddon, Protective Security Advisor for CISA, about a variety of topics surrounding cybersecurity including:
Register HERE.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
NACDS submitted comments to the Board of Pharmacy in support of proposed rule changes that would make permanent the temporary allowances for remote processing. These were granted by Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) and the Board of Pharmacy in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency. If adopted, the proposed rule would permit pharmacists to provide remote counseling services and allow certified pharmacy technicians to perform delegated functions at a location that is not a licensed pharmacy.
Also in Iowa, the Board of The Board of Pharmacy has posted its meeting minutes from the March 1, 2022, meeting.
Finally in Iowa, the Department of Human Services issued INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 2337-MC-FFS announcing the following June 2022 Iowa Medicaid Pharmacy Program Changes effective June 1, 2022.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.