In The States – Page 268 – Weekly news about states

Oklahoma

Two bills supported by chain pharmacies are advancing through the committee process in the first house. SB 398 would eliminate the statutory requirement for pharmacists to have an order from a licensed prescriber to administer an immunization, making it consistent with the current practices in place during the pandemic. SB 392 is payment parity legislation that would provide reimbursement to a pharmacist for services if the insurer pays for those same services when provided by other health care professionals.

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

Michael Silber2021-03-19T14:21:54-04:00March 19, 2021|Oklahoma|

Pennsylvania

Gov. Tom Wolf (D) announced that he has nominated Dr. Denise A. Johnson, M.D., FACOG, FACHE, to serve as Pennsylvania’s physician general. Dr. Johnson will serve as acting physician general until she is confirmed by the Senate. Dr. Johnson was most recently Chief Medical Officer at Meadville Medical Center. She is board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology by the American Board of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. She also serves on the Governor’s Commission for Women.

Also in Pennsylvania, the Department of Insurance (DOI) published a bulletin urging health insurers providing coverage to residents in the Commonwealth to continue exercising flexibility to make both COVID-related services and non-COVID-related services available to enrollees, including COVID testing, immunization, and telehealth.

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

Michael Silber2021-03-19T14:19:22-04:00March 19, 2021|Pennsylvania|

South Carolina

The Joint Pharmacist Administered Vaccines Committee revised the Protocol for Pharmacist Administered Vaccines. This revision has been reviewed and approved by the SC Board of Medical Examiners. The updated protocol moves flu to age 3 and up and adds the COVID vaccine to the list of approved vaccines. The protocol can be found here.

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

Michael Silber2021-03-19T14:17:57-04:00March 19, 2021|South Carolina|

Tennessee

TennCare has released a new provider notice regarding COVID-19 vaccine pharmacy claims. This notice contains two important updates. One includes the addition of Johnson & Johnson vaccines and the single-dose administration payment. The other update involves a newly established Collaborative Pharmacy Practice Agreement (CPPA) to order and administer COVID-19 vaccines for the State’s TennCare population, which includes CoverKids and CoverRx.

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

Michael Silber2021-03-19T14:15:46-04:00March 19, 2021|Tennessee|

Texas

The Board of Pharmacy issued two final rules that went into effect on March 14. One final rule amends the notification requirements for pharmacists who sign prescription orders for dangerous drugs under a written protocol, and another final rule clarifies that the requirement to consult the Prescription Monitoring Program before dispensing opioids, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, or carisoprodol is limited to outpatient prescriptions.

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

Michael Silber2021-03-19T14:14:27-04:00March 19, 2021|Texas|

Virginia

HB 2097 has passed both Chambers and is on its way to Governor Northam for signature. The bill, sponsored by Del. Sam Rasoul (D), is a continuation of the pharmacy protocol bill that NACDS, VACDS, and VpHA jointly championed and passed last year that was enacted in January. HB 2097 would further expand pharmacists’ ability to initiate testing and/or treatment for certain conditions including HIV and Tuberculosis under the protocol. It also would allow pharmacists to dispense over-the-counter drugs, devices, controlled paraphernalia, and other supplies and equipment covered by the patient’s health carrier when the patient’s out-of-pocket cost is lower than the out-of-pocket cost to purchase an over-the-counter equivalent of the same. The measure requires the Board of Pharmacy, in collaboration with the Board of Medicine and the Department of Health, to establish protocols for these services by November 1, 2021.

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

Michael Silber2021-03-19T14:13:23-04:00March 19, 2021|Virginia|

Washington

The Health Care Authority submitted a Medicaid state plan amendment (SPA 21-0012) providing the state flexibility to automatically enroll COVID-19 vaccine administration providers that have already completed Medicare application processes for participation. It also allows the Medicaid program the flexibility to not require NPIs for the administration of vaccines to Medicaid recipients during the public health emergency.

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

Michael Silber2021-03-19T14:03:21-04:00March 19, 2021|Washington|

California

NACDS, jointly with the California Retailers Association and the California Pharmacists Association sent Gov. Gavin Newsome (D) a letter requesting no further delays in the April 1, 2021, planned implementation of the Medi-Cal Rx program. In the letter, we questioned why some providers continue to seem ill-prepared given the nearly two years of lead time given all the collaboration and planning that has been taking place. Further, we stated that both patients and providers are counting on a benefit that is easier to navigate, improves access to pharmacies, and improves California’s drug-price negotiating power. Despite these efforts, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) subsequently announced that the transition of Medi-Cal pharmacy services from managed care to fee-for-service is being delayed again and will NOT occur on April 1, 2021, due to the need to review conflict avoidance protocols with respect to the Centene acquisition of Magellan. DHCS stated that they plan to announce further info in May. More information on the announcement can be found here.

Also in California, CalAIM is a multi-year initiative by the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) to improve the quality of life and health outcomes of Californians by implementing broad delivery system, program, and payment reform across Medi-Cal. The DHCS released for public comment draft requirements documents for two components of CalAIM, (1) Enhanced Care Management (ECM) and (2) In Lieu of Services (ILOS). More information can be found on the CalAIM webpage. The public comment ends on March 12, 2021. Comments should be submitted to CalAIMECMILOS@dhcs.ca.gov.

Also in California, The Board of Pharmacy’s Enforcement and Compounding Committee held a virtual meeting on February 18 on white bagging. More information on the meeting can be found here.

Lastly in California, effective February 2, the state Department of Justice issued a final rule amending provisions on access to and use of the Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System (CURES), a database of Schedule II, III, and IV controlled substance prescriptions dispensed in the state.

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

Michael Angeloni2021-03-19T13:52:16-04:00February 19, 2021|California|

Florida

The Board of Pharmacy issued a proposed rule to amend regulations under FAC 64B16-31 to clarify the list of chronic health conditions for which a pharmacist can provide to patients of a collaborating physician pursuant to a pending Collaborative Pharmacy Practice Agreement. Comments and hearing requests are due March 8, 2021.

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

Michael Angeloni2021-02-19T11:04:43-05:00February 19, 2021|Florida|