In The States – Page 346 – Weekly news about states

Washington

The Washington Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission, after two years of work and input from stakeholders has completed the re-write of the pharmacy rules, putting them into four main categories: 1) General Provisions, 2) General Licensing, 3) Professional Standards, and 4) Operational Standards. The final draft will be sent to the Code Revisor’s Office prior to being sent out to all stakeholders for final comments and public hearing. The re-write, similar to what was done in Idaho, eliminated obsolete rules.

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

Michael Angeloni2019-10-31T09:02:54-04:00October 31, 2019|Washington|

California

The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) Pharmacy Benefits Division announced that for a limited time period – October 28 through November 22, 2019, DHCS will have an online application for the Alternative Payment Option for Pharmacy Retroactive Payment Adjustments.

Provider mailers were sent out on October 17th to the Pharmacy Providers mailing address.
The October Medi-Cal Pharmacy Bulletin introduced the option and timeframes to the providers – http://files.medi-cal.ca.gov/pubsdoco/bulletins/artfull/ph201910.asp#a1
The Retroactive Claim Adjustment Frequently Asked Questions have also been updated to reflect the new option.  http://files.medi-cal.ca.gov/pubsdoco/ncpdp/Pharmacy_Retroactive_Claim_Adjustments_faq.asp

Also in California… Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D) appointed Anthony Wright to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D) 18-member single-payer health care commission called the “Healthy Californians for All Commission” that is tasked with making health care more affordable, transparent and assessible.

Additionally in California… Jon R. Roth, MS, CAE, CEO of the California Pharmacists Association (CPhA), announced his resignation, effective, January 10, 2020. Mr. Roth is moving to the Dallas County Medical Society as its Executive Vice President & CEO.

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

Michael Angeloni2019-10-24T11:40:57-04:00October 24, 2019|California|

Colorado

HB19-1242 – Regulate Pharmacy Technicians will require all pharmacy technicians to obtain a certification or provisional certification from the Board of Pharmacy (Board) by March 30, 2020. At the Board’s October 3rd Rulemaking Hearing, rules affecting pharmacy technicians were adopted effective November 30, 2019, in order to allow pharmacy technicians enough time to prepare to apply for and become certified by March 30, 2020. Applications for pharmacy technician certification and provisional certification will be available early 2020. The fee for a pharmacy technician certification or provisional certification will be $57. Additional information related to the new pharmacy technician certification requirements will be posted on the Board’s website – https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/dora/Pharmacy?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery#_blank

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

Michael Angeloni2019-10-24T11:38:48-04:00October 24, 2019|Colorado|

Ohio

NACDS reminds members that the Ohio Department of Medicaid has published an RFI seeking providers’ input on Managed Care Procurement and encourages members to respond to the RFI and share their company’s experiences with and suggestions for improving the Managed Care system. Currently, there is no due date for submissions; it will be announced two weeks prior to closing.

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

Michael Angeloni2019-10-24T11:37:30-04:00October 24, 2019|Ohio|

Oklahoma

Governor Kevin Stitt (R) appointed public member Jason Willeford to serve on the Board of Pharmacy, replacing Stephen Dudley.

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

Michael Angeloni2019-10-24T11:36:17-04:00October 24, 2019|Oklahoma|

Pennsylvania

The Department of Human Services has issued a Bulletin stating their intention to move to a single Preferred Drug List (PDL) for both the fee-for-service and managed care programs on Jan. 2, 2020. The new PDL is attached to the Bulletin for your reference.

Also in Pennsylvania… Act 96 of 2018, the law mandating the use of e-prescribing for controlled substances is effective Thursday, Oct. 24th. Mandatory e-prescribing is a critical policy initiative for NACDS that we actively successfully lobbied for along with our pharmacy partners in the Commonwealth. For further information see the FAQs published by the Department of Health.

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

Michael Angeloni2019-10-24T11:34:12-04:00October 24, 2019|Pennsylvania|

Texas

Gov. Greg Abbott (R) appointed Donna Montemayor, R.Ph. with HEB, and Rick Tish, a public member from Spring, to serve a 6-year term on the Board of Pharmacy. The Governor also reappointed Bradley Miller, Ph.T.R. and Donnie Lewis, R.Ph. to serve a second term.

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

Michael Angeloni2019-10-24T11:31:45-04:00October 24, 2019|Texas|

California

The Board of Pharmacy has developed a plan to allow pharmacist applicants who took the invalidated CPJE to retake the exam, at no cost, on either November 16 at approved out-of-state test centers or on November 17 at in-state test centers. Information on how to schedule the exam was mailed to applicants. Updated information about the CPJE investigation is posted on the board’s website at CPJE Update – 10/16/19.

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

Michael Angeloni2019-10-18T08:59:07-04:00October 17, 2019|California|

Louisiana

NACDS provided the Pharmacy Congress with revised draft bill language that would expand pharmacists’ scope of practice and provide payment parity. NACDS is working to secure broad support from all pharmacy stakeholders to find bill sponsors and promote the legislation in 2020.

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

Michael Angeloni2019-10-18T08:56:53-04:00October 17, 2019|Louisiana|