In The States – Page 365 – Weekly news about states

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, was introduced at the request of NACDS by Rep. Senfronia Thompson (D) and Sen. Dawn Buckingham. SB 420 was referred to the Senate Health & Human Services Committee which makes it now eligible for an early hearing.

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

Karen White2019-03-19T12:45:54-04:00February 22, 2019|Texas|

Nevada

Two pharmacists were recently appointed to the Board of Pharmacy. Jade Jacobo, PharmD, JD, RPh, is a pharmacy manager with Walmart, and Gener Tejero is a Las Vegas infusion pharmacist.

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

Karen White2019-03-19T12:43:59-04:00February 22, 2019|Nevada|

Montana

HB 231, legislation expanding vaccinations provided by pharmacists down to seven years of age, has passed out of the House Human Services Committee.

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

Karen White2019-03-19T12:41:37-04:00February 22, 2019|Montana|

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.

Also in Louisiana…The Board of Pharmacy announced the integration of the prescription monitoring program data into electronic health records (EHRs) and pharmacy management systems across the state. The goal is to minimize any workflow disruption by providing near-instant and seamless access to critical controlled substance prescription history information of patients to both prescribers and pharmacists directly within their EHRs and pharmacy management systems.

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

Karen White2019-03-19T12:38:48-04:00February 22, 2019|Louisiana|

Idaho

Gov. Brad Little (R) signed into law HB 10, creating the first multi-state pharmacy licensure compact. The goal is to have a pharmacist’s license function similarly to a driver’s license that would be universally recognized.

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

Karen White2019-03-19T12:35:27-04:00February 22, 2019|Idaho|

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.

Also in Colorado…SB19-079, legislation mandating electronic prescribing of controlled substances which passed the Senate earlier this month without any opposition, will be heard in the House Public Health Committee.

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

Karen White2019-03-19T12:32:39-04:00February 22, 2019|Colorado|

California

The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) announced that they are targeting the Medi-Cal pharmacy fee-for-service reimbursement rate changes to begin Saturday, February 23. DHCS will retroactively adjust impacted claims with dates of service between April 1, 2017 and February 23, 2019.

Also in California…The Department of Health Care Services is reminding pharmacies that the online attestation portal opened for fee-for-service Medi-Cal pharmacy providers seeking the higher of two professional dispensing fees as part of the forthcoming reimbursement changes for covered outpatient drugs will end on Thursday, February 28.

Also in California… NACDS and the California Retailers Association submitted a joint letter to the Senate Business and Professions Committee in support of AB 149, legislation allowing for a staggered implementation of the new serialized number requirement. Under AB 149, serialized numbers on security forms for controlled substances would take effect no later than Wednesday, January 1, 2020. In addition, the measure would authorize dispensers to fill prescriptions written on otherwise valid forms that do not meet the new serialized number requirement until Friday, January 1, 2021.

Also in California… Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed an executive order last month that seeks to create a single purchaser for prescription drugs. Specifically, the order seeks to create negotiating leverage for prescription drug costs by moving all purchasing of high-cost, “high-priority” pharmaceuticals to one entity and, with respect to Medi-Cal, all pharmacy services to fee-for-service.

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

Karen White2019-03-19T12:29:23-04:00February 22, 2019|California|

Arkansas

There are several bills of interest to chain pharmacies that are expected to be heard in the House Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee in the next two weeks, including HB 1278, a bill allowing pharmacists to vaccinate anyone 7 years of age and older without a prescription; HB 1164, legislation allowing pharmacists to dispense oral contraceptives without a prescription and HB 1269related to substitution of interchangeable biosimilars.

Also in Arkansas…The Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously passed SB 174, legislation supported by chain pharmacies and Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) that mandates electronic prescribing of controlled substance prescriptions. The full Senate is expected to take action soon.

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

Karen White2019-03-19T12:26:34-04:00February 22, 2019|Arkansas|

Nebraska

NACDS submitted a statement to the Banking, Commerce and Insurance Committee conveying general support for LB 442, legislation that would facilitate pharmacists to provide medication synchronization services.

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

Karen White2019-02-22T08:48:41-05:00February 14, 2019|Nebraska|