Virginia
The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) has issued an updated COVID-19 standing order to include the latest CDC recommendations.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Washington
The State Health Care Authority (HCA) issued a statement that while they are not able to implement at this time, HCA is working to create a process to meet these legislative mandates in a law passed last year, Substitute Senate Bill 5195. The law requires HCA to reimburse hospitals, behavioral health agencies, or pharmacies who dispense opioid overdose reversal medication to uninsured individuals by January 1, 2022. The plan will include a process to back-dated opioid reversal medication claims to January 1, 2022.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Wisconsin
The 2022 list of 100 most used generic prescribed drugs has just been released. Each Wisconsin pharmacy must provide notice to the public on how it may access the Pharmacy Examining Board list.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.
Alabama
Effective January 1, 2022, the Alabama Medicaid Agency will have contracts with eight companies that offer Medicare Advantage coverage in Alabama: Aetna Better Health, Inc., Arcadian Health Plan, Inc. (Humana), Centene Venture Company Alabama Health Plan, Inc. (Ascension Complete), HealthSpring Life & Health Insurance Company, Inc. (CIGNA), Simpra Advantage, Inc., UnitedHealthcare of the Midlands, Inc., VIVA Health, Inc., and WellCare of Alabama, Inc.
Providers are encouraged to check Medicaid’s Eligibility Verification File, under the Managed Care Section, to determine if capitation payments have been made for recipients during a particular month. If a capitation payment has not been made, providers should refer to Chapter 5 of the Provider Billing Manual, Sections 5.6.1 – 5.6.2, for claims filing instructions. Questions may be directed to Shari Rudd at (334) 353-3403 or shari.rudd@medicaid.alabama.gov.
Also in Alabama, the Board of Pharmacy is reporting that only 35% of licensed technicians have renewed their licenses. Please be aware that the submission of a renewal by the December 31 deadline does not mean that individuals are clear to work on January 1. The renewals must be processed, not just submitted. We recommend that you renew your license NOW, with plenty of lead time to handle any issues that may come up.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Arkansas
The Division of Medical Services rules allowing six refills per month, add certain medications that do not count toward the monthly prescription cap, and allow up to nine medically necessary prescriptions per month for Living Choices Assisted Living Program clients went into effect on January 1, 2022. The rule also specifies that patients must pay for their own medications beyond the maximum benefit, remove the extension of benefits provisions, and revise refill requirements.
Also in Arkansas, the Division of Provider Services and Quality Assurance (DPSQA) issued a COVID-19 Response Manual.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
California
Medi-Cal Rx was implemented on January 1, 2021. The Monthly Bulletin for January has been posted to the Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal.
Also in California, Medi-Cal Rx issued a Share of Cost bulletin to clarify that the process will be unchanged by the implementation of Medi-Cal Rx.
Also in California, Medi-Cal Rx issued an alert announcing that reject code 16 M/I Prescription/Service Reference Number is temporarily suspended. Pharmacy providers may resubmit claims if they receive this rejection.
Also in California, the Board of Pharmacy published its January 2022 monthly update. Note the last item about pharmacy laws effective in 2022.
Finally, the Board of Pharmacy also published a reminder of the new e-prescribing laws effective January 1, 2022.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Florida
The Department of Health has issued a Notice of Meeting/Workshop Hearing. The Board of Pharmacy will conduct a workgroup meeting to discuss white bagging and brown bagging pharmacy practices, February 9, 2022, 1:00 p.m. ET at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Deerfield Beach – Boca Raton, 100 Fairway Dr., Deerfield Beach, FL 33441.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Idaho
The Idaho Administrative Rules Special Edition Bulletin, Volume 21-12SE, December 22, 2021, has been published. The following rules have been adopted by the respective agency and are now pending review by the 2022 Idaho State Legislature for final approval.
- Office of the Attorney General – See “Rules of Administrative Procedure for Consideration of Cooperative Agreements Filed by Health Care Providers” on pages 527-41.
- Department of Health and Welfare – Medicaid Basic Plan Benefits
- See “664. PRESCRIPTION DRUGS: PROVIDER QUALIFICATIONS AND DUTIES” on pages 1778-9;
- “665. PRESCRIPTION DRUGS: PROVIDER REIMBURSEMENT” on pages 1779-83 and
- “666. PRESCRIPTION DRUGS: QUALITY ASSURANCE” on page 1783.
- The Division of Occupational and Profession Licenses pending fee rule – See pages 3350-1 for the Idaho State Board of Pharmacy fees.
Also in Idaho, the Board of Pharmacy published the “Idaho State Newsletter” – December 2021. Below is an outline of its contents. Note the Idaho PDMP (Prescription Drug Monitoring Program) requirement effective November 1, 2021.
- Remaining CPE (Council for Pharmacist Education) credits for 2021
- “Culture of Safety” – Medication events and process improvements in 2021
- Requirement for “Date Sold” in Idaho PDMP
- Technician registration assistance
- 2022 Board Meeting Schedule
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Indiana
The Department of Health issued a new statewide naloxone standing order.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.