The Board of Pharmacy issued guidance on a recent amendment to the federal PREP Act that added retired and inactive pharmacists and pharmacy interns and certain student pharmacists to the list of health care professionals authorized to administer COVID-19 vaccines. The PREP Act provides immunity from liability for covered persons.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Effective March 22, the Office of Pharmacy Services (OPS) will be updating the incentive fee for all FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccines administered by pharmacy providers. The new incentive fee will be $40 for the administration of each dose of the vaccine. The incentive fee will be the same regardless of the vaccine and the number of doses required for the vaccination. Payment for the ingredient cost should be $ 0.01. See Advisory 224 for more information.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
The Division of Medicaid published a final rule to amend regulations under Title 23, Part 224, Chapter 1, to provide for coverage of vaccine administration by pharmacists. The rule is effective April 1, 2021.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
The North Carolina Medicaid Department issued a proposed rule to require Medicaid recipients to get a 90-day supply of non-controlled, maintenance medications and remove the requirement that Medicaid (or a managed care company after July 1, 2021) would have to pay NADAC or the State MAC Price for the prescription. More details can be found at the above link on page 8. Comments can be submitted here and are due April 12, 2021.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Outpatient pharmacies in Ohio must now store all schedule II controlled substance dangerous drugs in a “securely locked, substantially constructed cabinet or safe,” which must remain locked and secured when not in use. Ohio Admin. Code 4729:5-5-23(A)(5). Schedule II substances can no longer be dispersed among a pharmacy’s stock of dangerous drugs. Pharmacies may store schedule III through V controlled substance dangerous drugs with schedule II controlled substance dangerous drugs in a safe or cabinet or continue to disperse them among non-controlled substances. For more detail see page 45 of the updated Inspection Guide. Though it was originally effective December 1, 2020, the Board of Pharmacy delayed implementation of this new requirement until March 31, 2021, because of COVID-19.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
NACDS has learned that the PALS application process for the Authorization to Administer Injectables for Pharmacy Interns has been released. Interns should log into or create a PALS account and select Board of Pharmacy then “Authorization to Administer Injectables for Pharmacy Interns.” The Board is asking that pharmacy interns who previously submitted an intent to immunize also now register through this process.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
The South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) is updating guidance on how providers should submit requests and inquiries related to Medicaid eligibility. The Eligibility Administrative Support Team (EAST) will no longer process inquiries via its fax or email address. Effective immediately, all provider updates and inquiries should only be submitted via the procedures outlined in this ALERT.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
The Board of Pharmacy published a proposed rule to revise Chapter 16 of the Wyoming Pharmacy Act Rules to include the COVID-19 vaccines, ease requirements for administering vaccines, and update the incorporated CDC recommended vaccination schedules. The proposal currently is in effect as an emergency rule, expiring April 8, 2021. Comments are due May 8, 2021.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
The Board of Pharmacy published a proposed rule that would amend regulations under AAC 680-X-2 to clarify provisions on the non-disciplinary administrative penalty for late renewal of a license, permit, registration, certification, or similar document. A hearing is scheduled for April 21, 2021, in Birmingham. Comments are due April 10, 2021.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.