The Board of Pharmacy (OSBP) is transitioning to a system where all new licenses and license renewals must be paid for through our online store on the OSBP website. Beginning July 1, 2021, the OSBP will only accept credit card payments (Mastercard or Visa) or Electronic Fund Transfers (EFT). Payments can be made at the following website. https://pay.apps.ok.gov/OSBP/payments/
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D) announced that he is nominating Alison Beam to be the next Secretary of Health, with the departure of Dr. Rachel Levine to work in the Biden Administration. Prior to her nomination as the Secretary of Health, Ms. Beam served as the Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Tom Wolf. She also previously served as the Chief of Staff to the Insurance Commissioner. In that capacity, Alison guided interactions with regulators, legislators, and national trade associations and developed and implemented internal response strategies.
Also in Pennsylvania. With Sec. Levine’s departure, Pennsylvania Acting Physician General Wendy Braund has issued an updated standing order for Naloxone for the general public, effective January 23. Please visit the above link for more information.
Lastly in Pennsylvania. Following the receipt of a letter NACDS cosigned with the PA Pharmacy Coalition, the Department of Human Services (DHS) issued a revised Medical Assistance Bulletin announcing they will pay the Medicare rate for the COVID-19 administration fees retroactive to December 1. Claims do not need to be resubmitted. The Bulletin also clarified that the pharmacy NPI should be in the “billing and rendering provider” field; however, they still require an MA-enrolled prescriber’s NPI in the “referring prescriber” field. Additionally, they’ve added CPT codes for the future AstraZeneca vaccine.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
In January, the South Carolina Enterprise Information System (SCEIS) will begin issuing 1099 forms to South Carolina Healthy Connections Medicaid providers. These forms will be for the calendar year 2020. In July 2019, the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) transitioned the payment of Medicaid claims to the State of South Carolina’s consolidated accounting system, SCEIS. SCEIS requires payments to be issued to a single bank account for each taxpayer identification number (TIN), either a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) or a Social Security Number (SSN). To make the transition to SCEIS, the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) required Healthy Connections Medicaid group providers with multiple National Provider Identifier (NPI) numbers and/or multiple Medicaid Provider Numbers associated with a single TIN to designate one NPI and Medicaid Provider Number combination (a specific provider) to receive payment through SCEIS. The payments for all providers associated with that TIN were then made to the designated bank account for the NPI and Medicaid Provider Number combination. For more information on this transition, visit https://vip.scdhhs.gov/sceis/. In January 2021, SCEIS will begin issuing 1099 forms for the calendar year 2020 to Healthy Connections Medicaid providers. The 1099 forms will be issued to the NPI and Medicaid Provider Number combination designated by the provider and will include payments for all NPIs, and Medicaid Provider Numbers associated with the TIN. Providers will be responsible for any additional required breakdown of 1099 information. If you have any questions regarding 1099s for the calendar year 2020, please contact the Provider Service Center at (888) 289-0709.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Gov. Greg Abbott (R) will deliver his State-of-the-State address on February 1, 2021, to provide an update on the state’s response to the coronavirus pandemic and lay out his priorities for the 87th Legislature.
Also in Texas. the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Advisory Committee held its quarterly meeting on January 19. The vendor Appriss shared information on the product enhancements to NarxCare program. The current statute requires all Texas licensed pharmacies are required to report all dispensed controlled substances C-II-V records to the PMP no later than the next business day after the prescription is filled.
Also in Texas. The Board of Pharmacy is scheduled to host a videoconference meeting on February 2, 2021. More information can be found at the following website: https://ldh.la.gov/covidvaccine/
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
HB 2079, sponsored by Del. Sam Rasoul (D) has been reported unanimously from the House Health Welfare and Institutions Committee. The bill would allow pharmacists to prescribe HIV Pep and PreP treatment; CDC immunizations to adults; tuberculin purified protein derivative for tuberculosis testing; and drugs, devices, controlled paraphernalia, and other supplies and equipment available over-the-counter, 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 the over-the-counter equivalent. A joint workgroup of the Boards of Pharmacy and Medicine would be charged with developing protocols for each. NACDS filed a letter of support for the bill which is an extension of legislation we were instrumental in passing in 2020 that allowed pharmacists to prescribe contraceptives and offer other therapies. The bill now goes to the full House for a vote.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
The Alabama Board of Pharmacy published a final rule to amend regulations under AAC 680-X-2 to revise parenteral sterile therapy requirements to reflect the renewal cycle. The rule also requires pharmacists performing high-risk sterile compounding to complete an additional 4-hour, board approved high-risk program. In addition, the rule requires sterile compounding pharmacists to complete 2 continuing education hours each renewal cycle. The rule is will be effective on February 14, 2021.
Also in Alabama. The Board of Pharmacy published a final rule to amend regulations under AAC 680-X-2 to revise preceptor training requirements to reflect the renewal cycle. The rule is also effective on February 14, 2021.
Also in Alabama. Effective immediately all references to “Reenrollment” will be replaced with the term “Revalidation” to match current Medicare terminology. These changes will be made to all future letters sent to providers referencing the re-enrollment program/processes as well as information contained on the Provider Enrollment website. Providers are also now able to begin uploading their completed revalidations through the secure provider web portal. Additional instructions for uploading revalidation applications and documentation can be found on the Provider Enrollment and Form page under the Revalidation section on the Medicaid website here.
Lastly in Alabama. The Board of Medical Examiners posted a proposed rule to adopt regulations under AAC 540-X-26 to establish requirements for collaborative practice between physicians and pharmacists. The rule would add requirements for collaborative drug therapy management agreements, standards for physicians, reporting, patient care protocols, and the formulary. Comments are due February 4, 2021.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
The Legislature convened on Monday, January 11, and is expected to last 60 days
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) Medi-Cal is on track for April 1, 2021, to move from managed care to fee-for-service. DHCS has received approval from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for numerous projects, including the transition of the Medi-Cal pharmacy benefit from managed care to fee-for-service. For more information about Medi-Cal Rx, please visit DHCS’ dedicated Medi-Cal Rx Transition website: Medi-Cal Rx: Transition
Also in California. DHCS submitted a State Plan Amendment (SPA) 20-0046 to CMS, which seeks to set reimbursement for COVID-19 testing administered to Medi-Cal students in schools at 70 percent of the Medicare reimbursement rates. The effective date of this SPA is February 1, 2021.
Also in California. The California Department of Public Health released new guidance on vaccine prioritization on January 7. The guidance recognizes the need to balance the prioritization of scarce vaccine resources to achieve community immunity for all Californians by noting situations in which the health departments and providers may offer doses promptly to people in lower priority groups, including provider flexibility to eliminate vaccine spoilage.
Also in California. The Board of Pharmacy reminded pharmacies that they must register their mobile vaccination clinics/hubs where their pharmacist and pharmacy technicians are providing vaccinations outside the pharmacy. All that is required is the pharmacy name and license, and records related to vaccinations should be kept at the pharmacy to be made available if needed for an inspection. Chain companies can provide one list of all their licensed pharmacies in California where there is a mobile COVID vaccine clinic or COVID vaccine administration outside the pharmacy. For more information contact Amber Dillon at Amber.Dillon@dca.ca.gov.
Also in California. The Board of Pharmacy provided guidance on new compliant security prescription forms for instances where a prescriber may not have utilized a compliant security prescription form for a controlled substance on and after January 1, 2021, as required by Assembly Bill 149 (Statutes of 2019). For additional information, go to the Joint Statement and FAQs from the California Department of Justice, the California State Board of Pharmacy, and the Medical Board of California.
Also in California. On January 7, the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) approved the Pharmaceutical and Sharps Waste Stewardship Program Regulations, which are effective immediately.
Also in California. The Administration’s Medi-Cal reform initiative that got delayed last year due to COVID was revised and released last week. The CalAIM executive summary is attached and here is a link to the website.
Lastly in California. In case you missed it, before the holidays, the California Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) issued an order waiving restrictions on pharmacy technicians related to administering COVID-19 vaccinations with specific conditions: DCA Waiver DCA-20-103 Order Waiving Restrictions on Pharmacy Technicians Relating to Administering COVID-19 Vaccines.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
The Legislature convened on Wednesday, January 13th for a 120-day session, and is scheduled to adjourn on May 12.
Also in Colorado. The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) Department’s substance use disorder services (SUDS) is now available to Medicaid members effective January 1, 2021. More information can be found here.
Lastly in Colorado. The Board of Pharmacy will hold a virtual public hearing on January 21, 2021, on a proposed rule revising pharmacy standards for refrigerator and freezer storage, allow pharmacy technicians to administer immunizations, and simplify the recordkeeping requirements for pharmacists and pharmacies relating to vaccine administration.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.