Colorado

On January 31, the Senate Health and Human Services Committee held a hearing on SB19-005, a bill that creates the “Colorado Wholesale Importation of Prescription Drugs Act”, under which the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing shall design a program to import prescription pharmaceutical products from Canada for sale to Colorado consumers.

Also in Colorado…HB 19-1077, legislation allowing a pharmacist to dispense an emergency supply of chronic maintenance medications under certain circumstances to a patient without a prescription passed the House on January 28.

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

2019-02-05T14:20:23-05:00January 31, 2019|Colorado|

Louisiana

The Department of Health Bureau of Health Services Financing will be holding a public hearing on Thursday, February 28 on proposed rules amending the Pharmacy Benefits Management Program changing the pharmacy ingredient cost reimbursement methodology from average acquisition cost (AAC) to the national average drug acquisition cost (NADAC).

Also in Louisiana…The Board of Pharmacy finalized regulations that took effect on January 20 modifying the prescription monitoring program regulations to include naloxone as a drug of concern, thus requiring reporting and tracking for public health purposes.

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

2019-02-05T14:19:07-05:00January 31, 2019|Louisiana|

Ohio

The Board of Pharmacy published guidance reminding dispensers that effective Tuesday, March 19, they will be required to report certain products containing naltrexone to the Ohio Automated Rx Reporting System (OARRS). The guidance encourages dispensers to work with their vendors to ensure any system updates that may be needed are in place by the deadline.

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

2019-02-05T14:17:26-05:00January 31, 2019|Ohio|

Pennsylvania

In its first meeting of 2019, the House Insurance Committee favorably reported HB 195, legislation facilitating medication synchronization and requiring insurers to allow for prorated copays and full dispensing fees for partial fills. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Eric R. Nelson (R) and supported by the Pennsylvania Association of Chain Drug Stores, now goes to the full House for consideration.

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

2019-02-05T14:16:08-05:00January 31, 2019|Pennsylvania|

Texas

The Health and Human Services Department published the quarterly Medicaid preferred specialty drug list.

Also in Texas…HB 577/SB 420, legislation that pharmacies support that would eliminate the requirement to check the prescription monitoring program when refilling certain controlled substances prescriptions, were introduced at the request of NACDS by Rep. Senfronia Thompson (D) and Sen. Dawn Buckingham (R).

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

2019-02-05T14:14:33-05:00January 31, 2019|Texas|

Maryland

The Medicaid Pharmacy Program announced, effective Monday, January 28, Kapyay® ER will no longer be preferred over its generic equivalent. The current Preferred Drug List (PDL) is available on the website.

Also in Maryland…The Medicaid Pharmacy Program announced, effective Friday, February 15, Reyataz® capsules will no longer be preferred over its generic equivalent.

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

2019-02-05T14:12:42-05:00January 25, 2019|Maryland|

Massachusetts

This week, Gov. Charlie Baker (R) released his Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 budget request which includes a proposal for a 15 percent tax on opioid manufacturers on gross receipts from the sale of opioid products. This tax income would be used to pay for the $48 million proposed increase for treatment and other services. The total amount budgeted for these services will be $266 million. In addition, the Governor’s budget contains a provision which would give MassHealth the ability to negotiate directly with drug manufacturers over price and use a public rate-setting process for the high-cost prescription drugs similar to how rates for other Medicaid services are set.

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.

2019-02-05T14:12:07-05:00January 25, 2019|Massachusetts|

New York

In April 2017, the Medicaid fee-for-service pharmacy reimbursement was adjusted to NADAC plus a $10.02 professional dispensing fee. This month, the Department of Health will start the process to retroactively adjust pharmacy claims that were adjudicated effective April 1, 2017 through February 21, 2018. The Department expects this repricing to take place over the course of several months and anticipates that it will be completed by the end of December 2019. Janet Elkind, pharmacy director for Medicaid, has stated that 77 percent of pharmacies will see an increase, six percent will see no change, and 16 percent see a reduction during this readjustment period.

New York…Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) recently released his budget. Additionally, 30-day budget amendments will be released on Thursday, February 14. Among the various provisions are a series of PBM proposals and a prohibition on selling any tobacco products by pharmacies. The legislature will debate the budget and complete the budget process by Monday, April 1.

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.

2019-02-05T14:09:31-05:00January 25, 2019|New York|

Virginia

This week, hearings were held for HB 2559, Board of Pharmacy legislation, that provides for certain exemptions from the requirement, effective Wednesday, July 1, 2020, that any prescription for a controlled substance that contains an opioid be issued as an electronic prescription.

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

2019-02-05T14:07:48-05:00January 25, 2019|Virginia|

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