In The States – Page 375 – Weekly news about states

Texas

The Health and Human Services Commission’s Vendor Drug Program announced that on Monday, September 24, they will decrease the daily morphine equivalent dose (MED) limit for people enrolled in the traditional Medicaid fee-for-service program. The new limit will be set at 160 and applied to all opioid prescriptions with exceptions for those people diagnosed with cancer or those receiving palliative or hospice care.

Also in Texas…At its August 7 meeting, the Board of Pharmacy elected pharmacy technician Bradley Miller as vice president and pharmacist Donnie Lewis as treasurer.

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

Karen White2018-08-17T09:44:28-04:00August 16, 2018|Texas|

South Carolina

The South Carolina Immunization Coalition is asking for your support to help promote Immunization Awareness Week in South Carolina during Monday-Sunday, August 13-19, by utilizing the tools and resources in this kit. The kit includes a variety of resources to help promote immunizations to all ages, with special focus on adolescents and older adults. By joining this effort, you are committing to share the important message of the importance of vaccines for disease prevention and encourage South Carolinians to check with their health care provider, pharmacist or health department to make sure they are up-to-date on recommended vaccines.

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

Karen White2018-08-03T10:07:11-04:00August 2, 2018|South Carolina|

Arkansas

Scott Pace, the Executive Vice President & CEO of the state pharmacists association, announced that he will be leaving the association at the end of September to become a partner at Impact Management Group, a lobbying, public opinion, public affairs and political consulting firm in Little Rock.

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

Karen White2018-08-03T10:01:10-04:00August 2, 2018|Arkansas|

California

On Wednesday, August 29, the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development is holding a hearing on proposed rules to require prescription drug manufacturers to notify and disclose information relating to the cost and pricing of prescription drugs.

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

Karen White2018-08-03T09:57:56-04:00August 2, 2018|California|

Louisiana

The Department of Health (LDH) reported that Mercer received 872 responses to the cost of dispensing survey. LDH will share the complete final report with pharmacy stakeholders soon.

Also in Louisiana…Medicaid Program Integrity (PI) identified approximately $23 million in claims-related overpayments for services over the past 20 years. There are some pharmacy claims that Medicaid will make an effort to collect by offsetting future submitted claims, so LDH sent 479 overpayment letters to pharmacies.

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

Karen White2018-08-03T09:55:30-04:00August 2, 2018|Louisiana|

Oklahoma

At the Board of Pharmacy’s emergency meeting on July 25, Executive Director Chelsea Church was fired effective immediately. Church is under investigation by the District Attorney for allegedly offering a high paying job to a Health Department lawyer in exchange for writing rules requiring a pharmacist at medical marijuana dispensaries.

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

Karen White2018-08-03T09:52:50-04:00August 2, 2018|Oklahoma|

Texas

The Medicaid preferred drug list (PDL) was again revised effective July 27 to include several products that were inadvertently listed as non-preferred. The PDL is also available through the Epocrates drug information system.

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

Karen White2018-08-03T09:45:26-04:00August 2, 2018|Texas|

Arkansas

Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) appointed pharmacist Lynn Crouse, PharmD, to a six-year term on the Board of Pharmacy.

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

Karen White2018-07-30T09:27:35-04:00July 26, 2018|Arkansas|

South Carolina

The Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) will hold a stakeholder meeting on Tuesday, August 7, from 10:00 am to 12: 00 pm to receive community input on proposed revisions to the state’s Immunization Registry regulation (Regulation 61-120). Proposed revisions will allow DHEC to provide specific data from the Immunization Registry to health plans. Proposed amendments may also include: (1) details regarding the availability and use of a patient portal, which will be a feature of the new Registry; (2) clarifications pertaining to patient consent for the new patient portal and (3) revisions to bring the regulation into conformity with updates and improvements to the Registry and advancements in public health practice. Details about the meeting, including registration to attend, is available online.

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

Karen White2018-07-30T09:01:04-04:00July 26, 2018|South Carolina|