In The States – Page 381 – Weekly news about states

Connecticut

The state legislature adjourned after passage of SB 197 (Public Act No. 18-74), permitting substitution of interchangeable biologic products, and SB 246 (Public Act No. 18-77), directing the Commissioner of the Department of Social Services to make recommendations for automatic fills in the Medicaid fee-for-service program. The legislature rejected a proposal requiring the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program database be checked each time an opioid is filled and also rejected a proposal prohibiting prescriptions of Narcan® (an opioid antagonist) to a family member. With the entire legislature up for re-elections, controversial budget issues were punted until after the election.

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

Karen White2018-06-01T14:42:23-04:00May 24, 2018|Connecticut|

Iowa

Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) signed into law SF 2322 into law, effective 90 days after adjournment, containing a wide-ranging provisions impacting community pharmacy. The bill authorizes the Board of Pharmacy to develop statewide protocols for naloxone, nicotine replacement products and immunizations. Once the statewide protocol for immunizations takes effect, pharmacists will have independent authority to provide immunizations, meaning a local protocol or a prescription from a physician is no longer required. Pharmacists will be able to administer flu vaccines to patients age six months of age and older (currently eighteen years and above, except in public health emergencies). Pursuant to a protocol to be developed by the Board in consultation with the Department of Public Health, pharmacists will be able to administer the final two doses of HPV vaccination to patients eleven years of age and older. The law also permits technician product verification in the community and hospital settings, charging the Board of Pharmacy with issuing rules for implementation. NACDS acknowledges the Iowa Pharmacy Association for its leadership and advocacy efforts to enact this legislation.

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

Karen White2018-06-01T14:41:55-04:00May 24, 2018|Iowa|

Louisiana

The Department of Health has been working towards developing a single preferred drug list (PDL) to be used for both the Medicaid fee-for-service (FFS) and the Medicaid managed care (MCO) programs, thereby replacing the six different Medicaid drug lists currently in use. Comments on the draft PDL will be accepted via email before Thursday, May 31.

Also in Louisiana…On May 22, Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) convened a two-week special session to address a $648 million budget deficit. This is the sixth special session the Governor has called in the past two years. A balanced budget must be enacted by the start of the next fiscal year on Sunday, July 1.

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

Karen White2018-06-01T14:41:10-04:00May 24, 2018|Louisiana|

New York

NACDS joined the Chain Pharmacy Association of New York State and New York pharmacy community to talk with key state legislators during a lobby day focused on drug take back initiatives. Currently, there are several pending legislative proposals in both the Assembly and the Senate. It remains unclear which of these proposals will advance.

Also in New York…NACDS attended the recent meeting of the New York State Board of Pharmacy. During the meeting, Surescripts led a discussion on the quality improvements in electronic prescribing as part of its prescription accuracy initiatives. Also, several board members suggested a discussion of supervising pharmacists’ roles, requirements and responsibilities as a topic for a future meeting.

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

Karen White2018-06-01T14:40:42-04:00May 24, 2018|New York|

South Carolina

HB 4117, sponsored by Rep. Phyllis Henderson (R), was signed by Gov. Henry McMaster (R) on May 18 and was effective immediately. This measure allows drug control to provide data in the prescription monitoring program to the presiding judge of a drug court pertaining to a specific case involving a designated person.

Also in South Carolina…HB 3826, sponsored by Rep. Chip Huggins (R), was signed by Gov. Henry McMaster (R) on May 17. Effective 60 days after signing, this measure requires all prescriptions for Schedule II through V controlled substances to be written on tamper-resistant prescription pads, unless transmitted by fax, orally or electronically.

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

Karen White2018-06-01T14:40:12-04:00May 24, 2018|South Carolina|

Tennessee

SB 2362, sponsored by Sen. Rusty Crowe (R), was signed by Gov. Bill Haslam (R) on May 21. Effective immediately, this measure specifies that a pharmacy or pharmacist has the right to provide an insured information regarding the amount of the insured’s cost share for a prescription drug. The measure prohibits a pharmacy or a pharmacist from being penalized by a pharmacy benefits manager for discussing such information or for selling a lower priced drug to the insured if one is available.

Also in Tennessee…SB 777, sponsored by Sen. Ed Jackson (R), was signed by Gov. Bill Haslam (R) on May 21. This measure makes several changes related to prescribing and dispensing of buprenorphine.

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

Karen White2018-06-01T14:39:53-04:00May 24, 2018|Tennessee|

Florida

Last fall, CMS approved the State Plan Amendment (SPA) for a new Medicaid fee-for-service reimbursement methodology. Subsequently, the Agency for Health Care Administration promulgated a final rule consistent with the approved SPA. Medicaid will begin reimbursing pharmacy providers using the new methodology on Friday, June 15. A subsequent provider alert will outline the plan for scheduling the reprocessing of pharmacy claims retroactive to April 1, 2017 in order to comply with the approved SPA.

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

Michael Angeloni2018-05-25T10:42:18-04:00May 17, 2018|Florida|

Georgia

SB 422, sponsored by Sen. Renee Unterman (R) and signed by Gov. Nathan Deal (R) on May 3, exempts pharmacists acting within their scope of practice from the laws requiring registration of a clinical laboratory for all tests, rather than just capillary blood tests.

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

Michael Angeloni2018-05-25T10:40:44-04:00May 17, 2018|Georgia|

Maryland

The Maryland Medicaid Pharmacy Program will be conducting a stakeholder meeting on Wednesday, June 13 in Baltimore to discuss the mandatory pharmacy cost of dispensing survey that will be conducted this summer. All providers that participate in the Maryland Medicaid Pharmacy Program are invited to attend.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-837-4195.

Michael Angeloni2018-05-25T10:38:59-04:00May 17, 2018|Maryland|