The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services has posted a new Provider Notice regarding Emergency Instructions for COVID-19 Home Test Kits. You may view the new Notice here.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Currently the Health Commissioner of the State Department of Health or the Commissioner’s designated public health authority can issue standing orders, prescriptions, or protocols to administer or dispense certain immunizations for individuals who are at least 11 years old. SB 3, a bill that includes a provision that would lower the age limit to five years old, passed Third Reading in the Senate and now advances to the House for further consideration.
Also in Indiana, legislation that would have allowed pharmacists to prescribe hormonal contraceptives failed to get heard in the Senate Health and Provider Services Committee. (SB189)
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
The Department of Public Health published the COVID-19 Therapeutics Information Brief (1.25.22) including the following updates:
The next Therapeutics Information Brief will be February 2.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
The Board of Pharmacy’s Regulation Revision Committee will meet in Baton Rouge on February 2nd to consider several legislative proposals including changing the age thresholds in pharmacy immunization law to match age thresholds in PREP Act. [01-12-2022] Consideration of Legislative Proposal 2022-H ~ Immunizations (Draft #1) If approved by the Committee, the items will be considered by the full Board on February 17th.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Gov. Hogan (R) has issued an Executive Order that provides for staffing flexibility to pharmacies as they engage in COVID-19 vaccinations and testing.
Also in Maryland, the Department of Health has published an Advisory regarding Epidolex prescriptions due to a conflict between the federal and state scheduling process.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
MassHealth has released its most recent Fact Sheet to reflect recent modification in regulations regarding oral contraceptives and 340 drugs.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.
The Board of Pharmacy filed a revised emergency rule effective February 4, 2021, that will allow Missouri licensed interns and technicians located in other states to perform remote data entry.
Also in Missouri, due to system limitation, MO HealthNet will reimburse pharmacy providers $0.01 for the full course of the therapeutic and the full dispensing fee. Pharmacy providers must submit a cost to MO HealthNet in excess of the Professional Dispensing Fee (PDF) to receive full reimbursement of the PDF. MO HealthNet will also cover home tests currently payable at $12 per test plus the PDF.
Finally in Missouri, MO HealthNet in partnership with Missouri Board of Pharmacy’s Rx Cares for Missouri Program and the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services (DHSS), kicked off the “Safe At Home” Patient Safety Opioid Initiative. It allows MO HealthNet to reimburse pharmacy providers who dispense at-home medication disposal packets to eligible MO HealthNet participants who are at risk of experiencing an opiate-related overdose. MO HealthNet has selected DisposeRx® packets as the preferred medication disposal packet. These convenient at-home medication disposal packets will allow MO HealthNet participants to dispose of unused opioids safely and easily, preventing accidental overdoses.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
The Department of Health and Human Services announced the next COVID-19 Medicaid Provider call will take place on February 2 at noon (Central).
Also in Nebraska, the Department of Health and Human Services made available the new COVID-19 Ad Hoc Fee Schedule (1.1.2022), including adjustments to payments for administration of COVID-19 vaccines.
Also in Nebraska, the Department of Health and Human Service posted the revised fee schedule for injectables effective January 1, 2022 REVISED.
Also in Nebraska, the Department of Health and Human Services issued Provider Bulletin 22-05A to notify providers that effective January 15, 2022, OTC COVID at-home tests will be covered by Medicaid. The reimbursement policy is up to $12.00 for a kit containing one test or up to $24.00 for a kit containing two tests is allowed.
Finally, the Department of Health and Human Services issued Provider Bulletin 22-06 announcing changes to the Tobacco Cessation Program. Effective December 26, 2021, enrollment in the Nebraska Tobacco Free Quitline is no longer required to be able to receive tobacco cessation products; enrollment is still encouraged.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Effective January 1, 2022, all controlled substance prescriptions MUST be transmitted to a pharmacy by electronic prescribing, except for the following prescriptions:
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.