In The States – Page 214 – Weekly news about states

Vermont

Effective October 1, 2021, Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) systems and supplies will be available ONLY through retail pharmacy channels and will no longer be accepted via DME provider channels. Prior authorization requirements that had been waived temporarily because of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency will be reinstated. Prescribers may send prescriptions electronically to the pharmacy or hand write prescriptions for patients. Claims will adjudicate in “real time” through the Pharmacy Point of Sale (POS) system which will allow for faster and easier access for patients.

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

Erica Joyner2021-09-24T12:58:41-04:00September 24, 2021|Vermont|

Washington

The Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee and Drug Utilization Review Board are meeting virtually on October 20th at 9 AM to review drug classes for the Apple Health (Medicaid) PDL. To preregister and access the meeting materials, go to WA P&T Committee.

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

Erica Joyner2021-09-24T12:57:34-04:00September 24, 2021|Washington|

West Virginia

The Insurance Commissioner recently released the Insurance Bulletin No. 21-07 regarding how recent legislation impacts the state’s network adequacy requirements. Of note, the bulletin emphasizes that any sub-networks for specialty drugs that consist of only mail order pharmacies violates the state’s network adequacy standards.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

Erica Joyner2021-09-24T12:56:09-04:00September 24, 2021|West Virginia|

Alabama

Alabama Pharmacy Association has partnered with the Tennessee Pharmacists Research and Education Foundation to offer live OSHA training. If you are a pharmacist providing immunizations or CLIA-waived testing services, or a pharmacy technician or other health care professional assisting with these services, you must have live OSHA training on bloodborne pathogens every year. The Tennessee Pharmacists Research and Education Foundation (TPREF) is offering a webinar that meets all of OSHA’s training requirements, including the live component. This webinar will provide attendees with one (1.0) contact hour of live ACPE Continuing Education. More information and registration can be found here.

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

Erica Joyner2021-09-17T09:31:02-04:00September 17, 2021|Alabama|

California

NACDS and the California Retailers Association (CRA) submitted the following letters to Gov. Gavin Newsom (D):

a joint letter urging the governor to sign into law AB 1064, legislation authorizing a pharmacist to independently initiate and administer any vaccine that has been approved or authorized by the FDA and received an ACIP individual vaccine recommendation published by the CDC for persons 3 years of age and older,
a joint letter urging the governor to sign into law SB 409, the Board of Pharmacy’s legislation permanently authorizing pharmacists to perform CLIA-waived testing services, including COVID-19 and flu tests and
a joint letter expressing significant concerns with specific provisions AB 1533, the Board of Pharmacy sunset legislation. These provisions would allow the Board of Pharmacy to levy penalties of up to $150,000 on chain community pharmacies that would be excessive and disproportionate to the violations in question, which may jeopardize access to critical healthcare services.

Also in California, NACDS submitted a joint letter with the California Retailers Association to the Board of Pharmacy on an issue pertaining to the state’s electronic prescribing mandate that will go into effect in 2022. Specifically, chain pharmacy encouraged the Board to clarify compliance requirements for the transfer of unfilled electronic controlled substances between pharmacies considering the federal DEA requirements and existing NCPDP standards for Electronic Prescribing of Controlled Substances that constrain what pharmacies can currently do.

Also in California, SB 362, legislation sponsored by the United Food and Commercial Workers and the California Pharmacists Association, that prohibits chain community pharmacies (75 or more stores under one ownership in California) from establishing pharmacy quotas as defined in the bill with certain exceptions, passed both chambers and was sent to the governor for signature. Capitol Advocacy, on behalf of NACDS and CRA, advocated for amendments refining the definition of “quota” and creating exceptions related to measurement and evaluation of performance, competence or quality of care provided to patients by a pharmacist or pharmacy technician.

Finally in California, Both the agenda and meeting materials for the Board of Pharmacy meeting on September 23 are posted. Note: Agenda Item VI. Strategic Planning Session will include the results of the 2021 Environmental Scan conducted earlier this year.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

Erica Joyner2021-09-17T09:29:13-04:00September 17, 2021|California|

District of Columbia

The Department of Healthcare Finance will hold its virtual Quarterly Pharmacy Provider Forum on September 21 from 10-12am and September 22 from 1-3pm. The content for both is the same. To RSVP and receive meeting link, contact Allison Williams.

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

Erica Joyner2021-09-17T09:27:53-04:00September 17, 2021|District of Columbia|

Florida

Effective October 1, 2021, fee-for-service (FFS) pharmacy claims must identify prescribers by their National Provider Identifier (NPI) and the prescribers must be actively enrolled with Florida Medicaid or the claims will be denied at the point of sale. Prescribers must be enrolled with Florida Medicaid in accordance with Title 42, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 455.410(b). This requirement does not pertain to pharmacists, state-authorized pharmacy interns, and qualified pharmacy technicians who administer pediatric and COVID-19 immunizations under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act. Pharmacy claims must continue to identify the administering pharmacist by Florida pharmacist license number (i.e., PSXXXXXXX), submitted as the prescriber ID in the National Council for Prescription Drug Programs (NCPDP) field 411-DB for the following vaccines and immunizations covered under the PREP Act, in accordance with or identified by the Advisor Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP CDC vaccines). More information can be found here.

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

Erica Joyner2021-09-17T09:26:53-04:00September 17, 2021|Florida|

Illinois

The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services has posted a new Provider Notice regarding Prior Approval Requests for Synagis Continued through September 30, 2021. You may view the new Notice at the following link:

Also in Illinois, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services has posted an Updated Preferred Drug List Illinois Medicaid October 1, 2021. You may view the Updated List at the following link.

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

Erica Joyner2021-09-17T09:25:01-04:00September 17, 2021|Illinois|

Louisiana

The Department of Health (LDH) hired Patrick Gillies to serve as the new Medicaid Director.

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

Erica Joyner2021-09-17T09:23:56-04:00September 17, 2021|Louisiana|