In The States – Page 390 – Weekly news about states

Missouri

On March 5, Gov. Eric Greitens (R) announced a new effort to address the opioid epidemic that includes enforcing physician compliance with the chronic pain treatment guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The initiative directs the Department of Social Services MO HealthNet Division to work collaboratively with the Department of Mental Health and the Department of Health and Senior Services to accelerate the goals of the MO HealthNet Opioid Prescription Intervention Program, which has been in place since 2010.

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

Michael Angeloni2018-03-13T15:09:59-04:00March 9, 2018|Missouri|

Virginia

Legislation that will require pharmacies to report naloxone prescriptions to the prescription monitoring program has passed both chambers and been sent to Gov. Ralph Northam (D) for his signature. Specifically, SB 832 amends the definition of “covered substances” to include naloxone and Schedule V drugs dispensed pursuant to a prescription and requires those drugs to be reported. The bill was an initiative of the Department of Health Professions intended to allow practitioners to track whether patients are filling naloxone prescriptions when they are required under current prescribing guidelines.

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

Michael Angeloni2018-03-13T15:08:01-04:00March 9, 2018|Virginia|

Idaho

Gov. Butch Otter (R) signed HB 354 (Session Law Chapter 10) adding opioid antagonists to the list of drugs required to be reported electronically to the Board of Pharmacy’s Prescription Monitoring Program database. The reporting requirement takes effect Sunday, July 1.

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

Michael Angeloni2018-03-13T15:45:41-04:00March 2, 2018|Idaho|

Iowa

The Iowa Medicaid Enterprise (IME) mailed its 2018 cost of dispensing surveys to pharmacies this week with a deadline for response of Friday, March 30. The determined dispensing fee will take effect Wednesday, August 1. More information is available in the IME Informational Letter NO. 1875-MC-FFS.

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

Michael Angeloni2018-03-13T15:44:22-04:00March 2, 2018|Iowa|

Michigan

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) requirement that Managed Care Organization (MCO) typical providers be enrolled in CHAMPS by March 1, 2018, has been delayed. Additional communication will be issued when a date has been finalized. More information can be found on the Provider Enrollment web page.

Also in Michigan. NACDS attended the Michigan Pharmacists Association (MPA) Annual Convention in Detroit, where MPA honored State Reps. Henry (Hank) Vaupel (R), Scott Dianda (D), Abdullah Hammoud (D) and Bronna Kahle (R) for their contributions to supporting community pharmacy.

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

Michael Angeloni2018-03-13T15:42:42-04:00March 2, 2018|Michigan|

Washington

Engrossed Substitute – ESHB 1047 unanimously passed the Senate. Although it will have to go back to the House of Representatives for concurrence on a technical amendment made in the Senate, it is anticipated the bill will be signed into law by Gov. Jay Inslee (D), creating a statewide, voluntary, drug take-back program, funded by manufacturers. The bill includes local pre-emption and sunsets in 2029, if not reconfirmed by the state legislature.

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

Michael Angeloni2018-03-13T15:13:52-04:00March 2, 2018|Washington|

Nebraska

Gov. Pete Ricketts (R) appointed Matthew Van Patton as Medicaid Director, filling a 10-month vacancy left by the outgoing Calder Lynch, who took a position with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Dr. Van Patton previously served as President and CEO of Cadre Medical Technologies, a healthcare technology company, and also as Chief of Staff for U.S. Rep. Trey Gowdy (SC R-4). He has a doctoral degree in health administration from the Medical College of South Carolina.

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

Michael Angeloni2018-03-13T16:18:44-04:00March 2, 2018|Nebraska|

Arizona

The House of Representatives passed HB 2633, removing certain requirements included in an opioid omnibus bill, enacted earlier this year. At the federal and state levels alike, NACDS is urging policies that would help address the opioid abuse epidemic, and NACDS also points out the burdens and unintended consequences that some new proposals would create, without helping to address the epidemic. Requirements removed by HB2633 include the following:

Pharmacists are not required to verify with the prescriber when presented with an initial prescription for a Schedule II controlled substance that contains an opioid that is written for more than a five-day supply.
Pharmacists are not required to verify with the prescriber a prescription order for a Schedule II controlled substance that contains an opioid that is written for more than 90 morphine milligram equivalents per day.
Pharmacists are not required to verify with a medical practitioner or the Board of Pharmacy whether the medical practitioner has received a waiver for e-prescribing of Schedule II controlled substances that contain an opioid.

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

Michael Angeloni2018-03-13T16:04:40-04:00February 22, 2018|Arizona|

California

The Board of Pharmacy announced its final regulations for pharmacists to furnish, without a prescription, naloxone, an antidote to reverse opioid overdose, became effective January 27, 2016. The San Francisco Department of Health has published a tri-fold brochuretitled “Opioid safety and how to use naloxone—A Guide for Patients and Caregivers”.

Also in California…On Friday, March 2, the Board of Pharmacy is offering pharmacists one hour of free continuing education credit on law and ethics by attending a live recording of a presentation on law and ethics at the California Department of Consumer Affairs—Building Two, 1747 N. Market Blvd., Room 186, in Sacramento.

Also in California…Reminder: Wednesday, February 28 is the deadline to file an attestation claim for the higher professional dispensing fee in the Medi-Cal fee-for-service program. The attestation period for both the 2016 and 2017 calendar years is open until February 28, 2018. Separate attestations must be submitted for each calendar year. The web portal will close at 12 a.m. on Thursday, March 1, 2018, and attestations will not be accepted after that time. The attestation for each calendar year reporting period will determine the professional dispensing fee component of the pharmacy claim reimbursement for claims with dates of service within the State’s following fiscal year. As an example, a 2017 calendar year claim volume attestation will determine the professional dispensing fee for claims within the State’s 2018—2019 fiscal year (dates of service of Sunday, July 1, 2018, through Sunday, June 30, 2019). For additional information, providers may refer to this background information regarding migration to cost-based reimbursement plus a professional dispensing fee or can refer to the Pharmacy Provider Self-Attestation FAQs or the Pharmacy Reimbursement Project webpage on the Department of Health Care Services website.

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

Michael Angeloni2018-03-13T16:03:10-04:00February 22, 2018|California|