The Department of Human Services, Iowa Medicaid Enterprise (IME) published INFORMATIONAL LETTER No. 2301-MC-FFS regarding a variety of listening sessions for providers scheduled for January and February. IME’s goal for these sessions is to hear from providers with experience related to assorted topics and who have ideas for ways to improve processes and policies associated with these topics.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
At the Regulation Revision Committee (RRC) meeting on January 5th, members revised and approved several proposed legislative bill drafts of interest to chain pharmacies, including (1) amending the prescription monitoring program law to provide limited access to audit trail information to designated representatives of Louisiana Medicaid; (2) require Pharmacy Benefit Managers to obtain a permit from the Board of Pharmacy; (3) revising the definition of collaborative practice and authorizing pharmacists to provide certain patient care services in accordance with statewide protocols developed by the Board’s Public Health and Pharmacy Protocol Advisory Committee and approved by the Board of Pharmacy; and (4) changing the definition of collaborative practice and adding a definition of a collaborative practice agreement authorizing pharmacists to engage in collaborative practice in accordance with rules promulgated by the Board of Pharmacy. The RRC also approved a draft CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments) Waived Testing Policy statement confirming pharmacist’s authority to perform these tests under federal law. The full Board of Pharmacy will be considering all these issues at their February 16th meeting.
Also in Louisiana, the Department of Health (LDH) issued a new Naloxone standing order. They also issued Louisiana Medicaid Pharmacy Point of Sale (POS) Diagnosis Code Requirement and Bypass Diagnosis Codes – Effective January 1, 2022; Louisiana Medicaid Pharmacy Point of Sale Clinical Authorization and Criteria Updates – Effective January 1, 2022; and Louisiana Medicaid Pharmacy Point of Sale Quantity Limits – Effective January 1, 2022
Finally in Louisiana, in advance of the December 28, 2021, Board of Pharmacy’s Public Hearing, NACDS submitted comments in support of proposed rules that make permanent certain authorities for pharmacy technicians and interns authorized under the PREP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) Act. Specifically, the proposed rules would codify authority for pharmacy technicians and interns to administer vaccines, in addition to making other changes to the existing rules that simplify existing administrative requirements for vaccines provided by pharmacy providers. We anticipate that the final rule will be published on March 20, 2022, Louisiana Register, and become effective immediately.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
This week, Governor Hogan announced a 30-day State of Emergency in response to rising COVID-19 metrics in Maryland. The announcement includes Authorization of Booster Shots for 12- to 15-Year-Olds. Gov. Hogan’s press release is also available here.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
The Board of Pharmacy is seeking comments by January 14, 2022, on proposed rules removing geographic restrictions on remote data entry sites and allowing pharmacy technicians and intern pharmacists to perform remote data entry from a site located in another U.S. state or territory.
Also in Missouri, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) selected the Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance Director Chlora Lindley-Myers as President-Elect for 2022.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
The Dept. of Public Health and Human Services issued a Notice of Public Hearing on proposed amendments to ARM 37.85.105, updating effective dates of Medicaid fee schedules; see the relevant section related to outpatient drugs located on pages 1888-9. The public hearing will be held on January 13 and comments are due January 22.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Gov. John Peter “Pete” Ricketts (R) signed Executive Order 21-18, facilitating hospital planning, and ensuring additional healthcare workforce capacity, on December 20, 2021. This extends the current Executive Order 21-15, allowing “pharmacists to have any number of pharmacist interns and pharmacy technicians under their supervision insofar as they determine it necessary within their professional discretion when administering vaccinations”, until March 31, 2022.
Also in Nebraska, the 471-000-540 Nebraska Medicaid Practitioner Fee Schedule for Injectables was updated effective January 1.
Also in Nebraska, the Dept. of Health and Human Services issued a Health Alert Network Update: Omicron Predominant in Nebraska and Therapeutics Updates that includes an update on the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 in Nebraska, NIH’s criteria for identifying and prioritizing those expected to benefit the most from receiving the limited supply of COVID-19 therapeutics currently available and the NIH’s treatment algorithm.
Also in Nebraska, the Board of Pharmacy will meet on January 10 and have posted the meeting agenda. Also, the November 8, 2021, meeting minutes are available.
Finally in Nebraska, the Dept. of Health and Human Services has posted the DUR (Drug Utilization Review) Board January 11, 2022, meeting agenda and DUR Policy Statements (as of July 2021).
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
On New Year’s Eve NYS Governor Kathy Hochul (D) signed into law two pieces of legislation supported by NACDS. The first S3556 strengthens state anti-mandatory mail order (ammo) law. Legislators, concerned that the AMMO law was not operating as intended, passed S3566 to ensure that patients can get their prescriptions at their local pharmacy rather than be directed to mail order by their PBM. In addition, Governor Hochul signed into law S.3762 which provides for licensure and registration of pharmacy benefit managers. The bill also sets forth duties and obligations that PBMs must follow when performing services and allows the department of financial services to enforce the law and receive complaints from consumers, pharmacies, and healthcare providers. Unfortunately, Governor Hochul did veto S6603 which would have provided Medicaid pharmacy payment parity citing the fiscal note as her reasoning.
Also in New York: The State Education Department published its Notice of Adoption of their regulation related to Licensure Examination, Licensure by Endorsement, and Continuing Education Requirements in the Profession of Pharmacy The regulation is effective January 1, 2022 and eliminates the Part III exam requirement. Also commencing with registration periods beginning on or after January 1, 2023, a new requirement for a licensee to complete as part of the 45 hours of formal continuing education at least three hours of formal continuing education acceptable to the department in compounding, among other changes.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.
Here are the links to the latest North Carolina information on COVID vaccinations including the latest statewide standing order issued by Dr. Betsey Tilson on December 22, 2021. COVID-19 Vaccine Provider Guidance Updated December 22, 2021 and Link to Summary Update.
Dr. Tilson has also issued four updated statewide standing orders regarding the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine. These changes were in light of the CDC recommending the administration of Pfizer booster doses for 12–15-year-old.
Also in North Carolina, the Board of Pharmacy published proposed administrative rules concerning pharmacy interns. These rules can be found beginning on Page 1049 (PDF Page 57) of the North Carolina Register at this link. The Board will hold a public hearing on these rules on February 8, 2022. The public hearing will be held remotely. The public can participate on Teams at https://tinyurl.com/jsuk4bjk or may call 336-604-5350, conference ID 903 191 899#. Written comments will be accepted by the Board until February 14, 2022, and should be submitted to Jay Campbell, 6015 Farrington Road, Suite 201, Chapel Hill, NC 27517; fax (919) 246-1056; email ncboprulemaking@ncbop.org.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
The Medicaid Provider e-Newsletter — December 2021 includes articles with information related to pharmacists being able to bill for smoking cessation and continuous glucose monitoring services. Also, the Medicaid Provider Call Center will be unavailable from 12:15 to 2:45 p.m. Central Time on many Fridays in 2022 for staff training; see schedule in the newsletter.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.