In The States – Page 299 – Weekly news about states

Colorado

Concerned about pharmacies’ capacity to provide flu vaccines this fall during a time when the health care system is stressed due to COVID, the Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) is asking pharmacies to complete a readiness survey by Monday, August 17, 2020. This survey is intended to gather information from pharmacies about their capacity to provide influenza vaccine for the 2020/2021 influenza season.

Also in Colorado. The Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) Division of Insurance adopted an emergency rule establishing coverage and cost-sharing requirements for claims related to testing and treatment of the coronavirus (COVID-19). The rule also adds requirements for access to prescription drugs during the COVID-19 public health emergency allowing covered persons to obtain refills of up to 90 days of prescription drugs before the scheduled refill date so that covered persons are ensured an adequate supply of medications. Pursuant to the rule, carriers shall not apply a different cost-sharing amount for an early refill of a prescription. The rule expires on November 15, 2020.

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

Michael Angeloni2020-08-14T10:48:22-04:00August 14, 2020|Colorado|

Kentucky

The Board of Pharmacy has published a final rule amending regulations under 201 KAR 2 to update the responsibilities of pharmacists and pharmacist interns under supervision. The rule also removes references to “immediate” supervision and clarifies language. The rule was effective July 3.

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

Michael Angeloni2020-08-14T10:47:20-04:00August 14, 2020|Kentucky|

Louisiana

Medicaid open enrollment for Healthy Louisiana, the Medicaid managed care program, begins on October 15, 2020, and runs through November 30, 2020. During this time, beneficiaries have an opportunity to choose a new health plan or remain with their current plan.

Also in Louisiana. On August 13, the Board of Pharmacy discussed NACDS supported proposed rules regarding technician ratios and technicians administering immunizations.

Also in Louisiana. The Department of Health issued an informational bulletin summarizing temporary changes in provider policies and managed care practices. This bulletin is to inform all providers rendering services to Louisiana Medicaid members, including members of all Medicaid managed care organizations (MCO) on issues including but not limited to, Laboratory Testing of Suspected Patients, Laboratory Testing using High Throughput Technology, Testing and Treatment Coverage, and COVID-19 Counseling and Evaluation and Management Services.

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

Michael Angeloni2020-08-14T10:46:19-04:00August 14, 2020|Louisiana|

Maryland

The Maryland Department of Health has released a bulletin that added the NCPDP-recommended billing code to its approved codes for billing for COVID-19 specimen collection. Details on the bulletin can be found here.

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

Michael Angeloni2020-08-14T10:44:57-04:00August 14, 2020|Maryland|

Mississippi

The Board of Pharmacy issued a proposed rule that amends regulations under Title 30, Part 3001, Article IV to change the number of required continuing education hours that a licensed pharmacist must take that address opioid abuse to two hours. Comments on these proposed changes are due August 21, 2020.

Also in Mississippi. The Board of Pharmacy also issued a proposed rule that amends regulations under Title 30, Part 3001, Article VII, to require a pharmacist in charge to be physically present at a facility for at least 50% of the time or 20 hours per week. The rule also would require that a permit for a pharmacy becomes inactive if an application for a new pharmacist in charge is not submitted within 15 days. Comments to the proposed changes are due August 21, 2020.

Lastly in Mississippi. The Board of Pharmacy issued a proposed rule to adopt regulations under Title 30, Part 3001, Article XLVIII to establish standards and procedures for delivering pharmacy services through a telehealth system that monitors the dispensing of prescription drugs and provides for related drug use review and patient counseling services by an electronic method including audio, video, still image capture, and store and forward. Comments are due August 21, 2020.

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

Michael Angeloni2020-08-14T10:43:24-04:00August 14, 2020|Mississippi|

Nevada

The Board of Pharmacy issued a proposed rule to amend regulations under NAC 453 adding certain substances to schedule I; providing that certain drug products that contain CBD are not a controlled substance; removing certain drug products that contain CBD from the list of controlled substances on Schedule V, and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Comments on these proposed changes will be accepted but no due date has been specified by the state.

Also in Nevada. On August 6, the legislature adjourned the 6-day special session. Only 11 bills were passed, most notably a bill expanding access to mail-in ballots for the November general election, providing limited liability protections from COVID for businesses, and certain government entities and non-profit organizations.

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

Michael Angeloni2020-08-14T10:42:08-04:00August 14, 2020|Nevada|

New Mexico

On August 5, the Environment Department (NMED) filed an emergency amendment to require employers to report positive COVID-19 cases in the workplace to the NMED Occupational Health and Safety Bureau within four hours of being notified of the case. The emergency rule is effective for 120-days, or until December 3, 2020, unless NMED proposes and the Environmental Improvement Board adopts a permanent rule. Guidance documents can be found here.

Also in New Mexico. The Board of Pharmacy approved the recommendations by the Board’s Practice Committee for a new protocol allowing pharmacists to treat patients with a positive CLIA-waived result. The five treatment areas under the new protocol are flu, strep, HIV PEP, and COVID-19. Notably, the new protocol includes language allowing the treatments to be FDA approved or FDA Emergency Use Authorizations (EAU). Certain COVID-19 tests have received authorization from the FDA that classify them as CLIA-waived tests. The protocol must now gain approval from both the Medical and Nursing Boards in August who may then return the revised protocol to the Board of Pharmacy for final approval. Protocols can be found here.

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

Michael Angeloni2020-08-14T10:36:31-04:00August 14, 2020|New Mexico|

Ohio

The Board of Pharmacy posted guidance to remind pharmacies about their Pharmacy Personnel Licensure and Registration Requirements. Guidance can be found here.

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

Michael Angeloni2020-08-14T11:18:54-04:00August 14, 2020|Ohio|

Texas

The Health and Human Services Commission announced that effective September 1, 2020, the Vendor Drug Program (VDP) will implement a uniform opioid policy across fee-for-service and managed care programs to encourage appropriate use and reduce opioid over-prescribing. The opioid policy does not apply to people receiving hospice care or palliative care, treatment for cancer, residents of a long-term care facility or another facility for which residents receive opioid substitution therapy for the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD), or other people they elect to exempt based on an objective, confirmable physical pathology known to cause severe chronic pain not ameliorated by other therapies and for which opioid treatment is appropriate. According to the announcement, if diagnoses are not available in the medical data, exemptions will be handled on a case-by-case basis through the prior authorization process. More information can be found here.

Also in Texas. The Department of Insurance adopted an emergency rule that requires health benefit plans to extend established prior authorization approvals for drugs by 90 days and requires plans to authorize payment for a one-time additional 90-day supply of a covered drug. The rule also requires plans to cover prescription drugs from out-of-network pharmacies with no additional cost-sharing when the enrollee cannot obtain them in-network, requires plans to make alternative drugs available in the event of shortages, and prohibits plans from requiring an enrollee signature at the point of delivery. Also, the rule prohibits plans from refusing or reducing payment for a prescription drug based on the fact such a drug was delivered by a local pharmacy. The rule expires on September 27, 2020 (see page 2378 in the link: https://www.sos.state.tx.us/texreg/pdf/backview/0410/0410is.pdf).

Also in Texas. On August 8, Governor Greg Abbott extended his Disaster Declaration for all Texas counties in response to COVID-19 for another 30-days. Originally issued on March 13, 2020, the Disaster Declaration provides the state with a variety of resources to effectively serve Texans as the Lone Star State continues to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

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

Michael Angeloni2020-08-14T11:21:20-04:00August 14, 2020|Texas|