In The States – Page 377 – Weekly news about states

Mississippi

Effective July 1, the Division of Medicaid (DOM) allowed certain physician-administered drugs to be billed and reimbursed as either a medical claim or a pharmacy point-of-sale (POS) claim. Currently, many physician-administered drugs may only be billed as a medical claim. In order to implement this change, DOM has created a new category of drugs and drug-system devices, which may be billed as either medical or pharmacy POS claims. This new category is known as Clinician Administered Drugs and Implantable Drug System Devices (CADD). The list of drugs included in the CADD category is available online. To create the current list, DOM identified the drugs where reimbursing only by medical claims has caused the greatest access issues and targeted those for the CADD category. Additional drugs may be added to the category in the future.

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

Karen White2018-07-13T09:51:35-04:00July 12, 2018|Mississippi|

Alaska

Gov. Bill Walker (I) has received SB 32, biosimilar legislation allowing pharmacists to substitute interchangeable biologic products. The governor has 20 days from July 10 to sign or veto the bill, or it will be enacted without his signature.

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

Karen White2018-07-13T12:24:23-04:00July 12, 2018|Alaska|

Washington

The Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission (PQAC) held an emergency meeting to discuss the Medical Quality Assurance Commission’s (MQAC) request seeking a formal Attorney General’s Opinion regarding the use of the term “diagnosis” in a Collaborative Drug Therapy Agreement. Pharmacists, practitioners, or patients currently utilizing a Collaborative Drug Therapy Agreement may also wish to submit comment. Note that you must notify the Attorney General by Friday, July 13that you intend to provide comment. The Attorney General’s Office will then provide information on how and when the comments should be submitted. If you would like, the PQAC would appreciate a copy of the comments you submit to the Attorney General. These can be copied to the PQAC email address.

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

Karen White2018-07-13T09:40:35-04:00July 12, 2018|Washington|

Pennsylvania

An Administration Budget Proposal that would have required data collection from pharmacies next year, in anticipation of a pharmacy tax the following year, was rejected by the House and Senate Republican Caucuses and did not make it into the final budget.

Also in Pennsylvania… two measures championed by pharmacy made advancements as the General Assembly broke for summer recess:

HB 1800 – Medication Synchronization – was passed out of the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee, received two floor considerations and then was re-referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee for a Fiscal Note. We anticipate final action on this bill when they reconvene in the fall.

HB 353 – Mandatory E-Prescribing for Controlled Substances – After extensive negotiations with the Pennsylvania Medical Society (PMS), the bill was voted out of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee last week with support from a number of allies. This bill also had two floor considerations and then was re-referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee for a Fiscal Note. We also anticipate this bill moving forward in the Fall.

Also in Pennsylvania… In the June 12, 2018, Provider Bulletin, PACE announced new edit criteria for benzodiazepines, sedative hypnotics, muscle relaxants and opioids effective Monday, July 23.

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

Karen White2018-06-29T08:46:07-04:00June 28, 2018|Pennsylvania|

Florida

Effective Thursday, July 5, the final rule of the Department of Health, Board of Pharmacy, amends regulations under FAC 64B16-28 regarding requirements for use of automated pharmacy systems (APS) in community pharmacies. The rule specifies that pharmacies may use an APS if system operation is under the supervision of a pharmacist or is located within the prescription department, adjacent to the prescription department or on the establishment of the licensed pharmacy. The rule also specifies that the system must include a mechanism to ensure that the patient or an authorized agent of the patient can communicate with a pharmacist responsible for dispensing the medical drug product. In addition, the rule revises additional requirements for patient accessed automated pharmacy systems.

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

Karen White2018-06-29T09:17:46-04:00June 28, 2018|Florida|

Tennessee

Effective Sunday, July 1, all gabapentin products will be Schedule V controlled substances in the state of Tennessee as a result of the enactment of HB 1832 (Public Chapter Number 1040). Gabapentin is also known under the brand names Neurontin, Horizant, Gralise, Gabarone and Fanatrex.

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

Karen White2018-06-29T08:42:34-04:00June 28, 2018|Tennessee|

Oregon

Effective June 19, the Board of Pharmacy had published a final rule amending regulations under OAR 855-019 to allow any person, having once lawfully obtained naloxone, to possess, distribute or administer it for the purpose of reversing an opiate overdose. The rule also requires oral counseling on the use of naloxone be offered by pharmacists rather than require that such counseling be provided.

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

Karen White2018-06-29T09:04:55-04:00June 28, 2018|Oregon|

Idaho

Beginning Sunday, July 1, there will no longer be a pharmacy technician to pharmacist ratio. This rule change has been approved by the State Board of Pharmacy and the state legislature.

Also in Idaho… Starting Sunday, July 1, qualified pharmacists in Idaho will be able to prescribe medications for select common conditions, including seasonal influenza, strep throat and urinary tract infections, as well as statins for patients with diabetes. The new prescribing ability results from a State Board of Pharmacy rule approved by the state legislature.

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

Karen White2018-06-29T09:14:33-04:00June 28, 2018|Idaho|

New York

The New York State legislature passed legislation (A02857D/S1043D) authorizing pharmacy interns to administer immunizations.

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

Karen White2018-06-29T09:07:40-04:00June 28, 2018|New York|