New York

NACDS joined the New York State pharmacy associations in a Medicaid meeting to discuss details of the Governor’s budget proposal. New details include that the Medicaid Managed Care Medication Adherence provision would allow managed care plans to consider—not mandate—medication synchronization. Of high interest is a new proposal to institute an opioid surcharge of two cents per morphine milligram equivalent on the first sale of opioid prescriptions in the state. At the meeting, the state confirmed that they would target pharmacies as the first sale in the state. The state anticipates this will generate $170 million the first year of implementation. The stated goal of the surcharge is to prevent opioid addiction and prescribing. The budget will be completed by Sunday, April 1.

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

2018-02-14T20:49:04-05:00January 25, 2018|New York|

North Carolina

Medicaid reached out to the North Carolina Retail Merchants Association regarding reports that numerous pharmacies in the western part of the state are reporting little or no inventory of brand name Tamiflu (which is a preferred product on the North Carolina Medicaid Preferred Drug List). The Department has confirmed with Roche that there is no market shortage of brand name Tamiflu and other wholesalers also confirmed there was plenty of inventory with more on the way. Please contact your store operations professionals to check your Tamiflu inventory. North Carolina Medicaid would appreciate any assistance you may be able to provide to make sure your pharmacies throughout North Carolina have adequate inventory of brand name Tamiflu for North Carolina Medicaid beneficiaries.

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

2018-02-14T20:47:41-05:00January 25, 2018|North Carolina|

Arizona

Gov. Doug Ducey (R) called for a special session in January to combat the opioid crisis. The Arizona Department of Health Services has developed 12 policy recommendations to address the opioid crisis, including “requiring” e-prescribing, ending dispensing of controlled substances by prescribers, and requiring pharmacists to check the prescription drug monitoring program prior to dispensing.

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

2018-02-14T21:09:20-05:00January 18, 2018|Arizona|

California

Pharmacy laws passed by the legislature and signed by Gov. Jerry Brown (D) that took effect January 1, 2018, are available on the Board of Pharmacy’s website in Pharmacy Law Changes for 2018 under the “Popular Pages” heading. The online Law Book under “Popular Pages” also has been updated with new laws for 2018.

Also in California…A new pharmacy provider Self-Attestation Claim Volume Process for Medi-Cal fee-for-service started in mid-January and will continue through the end of February. The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is implementing a new fee-for-service reimbursement methodology for covered outpatient drugs. Part of this new methodology is a two-tiered professional dispensing fee based on a pharmacy provider’s total (Medi-Cal and non-Medi-Cal) annual pharmacy claim volume ($13.20 if less than 90,000 claims per year; $10.05 if 90,000 or more). Reporting the claim volume is a self-attestation process, which will be submitted electronically. Pharmacy providers seeking the higher of two professional dispensing fees as part of the forthcoming reimbursement changes for covered outpatient drugs should either refer to the Pharmacy Provider Self-Attestation FAQs or call the Telephone Service Center at 1-800-541-5555.

2018-02-14T21:08:05-05:00January 18, 2018|California|

New Mexico

The Legislature convened its 30-day fiscal only legislative session on January 16. For the first time in years, the state has a budget surplus.

2018-03-13T16:29:45-04:00January 18, 2018|New Mexico|

Louisiana

Effective January 16, the Department of Health renewed a standing order for naloxone allowing participating pharmacists to dispense naloxone to laypeople including caregivers and family and friends of an opioid user.

Also in Louisiana…Effective January 1, 2018, the final rule of the Department of Health, Board of Pharmacy, amended regulations under LAC 46.LIII, Chapter 9 to require pharmacy technician candidates to demonstrate proof of enrollment in a training program to qualify for the candidate registration was adopted. The rule also requires the training program selected by the candidate to be accredited by a national accreditation organization approved by the board. In addition, the rule requires applicants to demonstrate successful completion of a nationally accredited training program and makes technical changes regarding continuing education records and the scope of practice. Finally, the rule allows for additional board-approved technician certification examinations, clarifies terminations of enrollment, deletes a notification requirement for training programs and revises practical experience requirements for candidates enrolled in training programs.

2018-03-13T16:32:28-04:00January 18, 2018|Louisiana|

Idaho

The state legislature unanimously approved the Board of Pharmacy’s rule re-write eliminating over half the Pharmacy Practice Act word count, almost three quarters of the restrictions on practice, and reducing the Act to just six categories of licensure.

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

2018-03-13T16:30:44-04:00January 18, 2018|Idaho|

Oklahoma

In a letter to Speaker of the House of Representatives Charles McCall (R), a growing coalition of stakeholders urged support for legislation that would mandate e-prescribing. The letter also refutes several erroneous claims made recently by the President of the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons.

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

2018-02-14T21:01:44-05:00January 18, 2018|Oklahoma|

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