Gov. Tim Walz (D) signed into law the Health and Human Services (HHS) omnibus bill containing a wide range of provisions notable to pharmacy, including language to comply with the CMS Covered Outpatient Drugs final rule. Effective Monday, July 1, or upon federal approval, whichever is later, Medicaid fee-for-service pharmacy reimbursement will be NADAC plus a professional dispensing fee of $10.48. Cost of dispensing surveys will be required every three years, with the initial survey to be completed by Friday, January 1, 2021. The sunset provision to the 2% wholesaler tax was removed, and the tax was reduced to 1.8%. Gov. Walz also signed legislation establishing funding from manufacturers and wholesale license holders, excluding chain pharmacy warehouses, for addressing opioid additions and creating an advisory group. Other key legislative outcomes included PBM regulation, language to facilitate medication synchronization and expanded pharmacist authority to administer intramuscular and subcutaneous injections to treat mental health and alcohol or opioid dependency.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.