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California

NACDS submitted a letter to the Assembly Appropriations Committee in support of SB 966, PBM reform legislation, including provisions prohibiting the use of spread pricing, requiring 100% pass-through of manufacturer rebates to plan sponsors, prohibiting the steering of patients to PBM-affiliated pharmacies and requiring PBMs to obtain a license to operate in the state. 

Also in California, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) announced it will host its quarterly Hearing Aid Coverage for Children Program (HACCP) webinar for medical providers and hearing professionals on August 15 from 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm PDT. For more information and to pre-register, please visit DHCS' HACCP webpage. 

Also in California, the Department of Health Care Services posted the following:  

Also in California, the Board of Pharmacy posted the agenda and meeting materials for the Full Board Meeting being held July 31-August 1. Please note the inclusion of compounding regulations. 

Finally in California, the Department of Health Care Services posted the following alert on the Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal: Reminder: Quantity Limit Restrictions for Anti-Obesity Preparations. 

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

July 25, 2024|California|

Colorado

The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) is hosting a webinar on August 27 to review HCPF major initiatives for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023-2024, priority initiatives for FY 2024-2025 and public health emergency (PHE) unwind insights and opportunities going forward. 

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

July 25, 2024|Colorado|

Florida

The Board of Pharmacy proposes the promulgation of the rules below regarding compounding and to implement new legislation.  

Notice of Development of Rulemaking
Department: Department of Health
Division: Board of Pharmacy
Rule No.: 64B16-27.700
Purpose: The Board proposes the rule amendment to update language regarding compounding.

Notice of Proposed Rule
Department: Department of Health
Division: Board of Pharmacy
Rule No.: 64B16-31.010, 64B16-31.011, 64B16-31.012
Purpose: The Board proposes the promulgation of the rules to implement new legislation.

Also in Florda, effective July 1, 2024, employers who hire minors 14-17 years of age are required to post the Florida Child Labor Law Poster that includes changes to employment restrictions for minors.  

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

July 25, 2024|Florida|

Iowa

The Department of Inspections, Appeals & Licensing (DIAL) announced a meeting of the Pharmacy Health Committee on July 31. The agenda and information to access the meeting are available in the DIAL Public Meeting Calendar. 

Also in Iowa, the Department of Health and Human Services, Iowa Medicaid posted the following: 

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

July 25, 2024|Iowa|

Kentucky

MedImpact, the Medicaid Single PBM, issued a bulletin along with the statewide Naloxone protocol to clarify that the statewide protocol can be used to prescribe the drug in the absence of a physician protocol.

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

July 25, 2024|Kentucky|

Louisiana

The Board of Pharmacy is holding a Public Hearing on August 26 to solicit comments and testimony on proposed regulatory changes on prescription transfers, durable medical equipment (DME) change of ownership, pharmacy technicians and stocking automated dispensing systems. 

Also in Louisiana, the Board of Pharmacy published Bulletin No. 24-02 listing the new laws impacting the practice of pharmacy or Board operations adopted during the Louisiana Legislature's 2024 Regular session that ended in June.

Also in Louisiana, the Board of Pharmacy published its July 2024 newsletter. 

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

July 25, 2024|Louisiana|

Maryland

The Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) invites you to attend the August meeting of its Stakeholder Council at 2:00 pm on August 26 virtually. The agenda and other meeting materials and registration link will be available on the Stakeholder Council page of the PDAB’s website prior to the scheduled meeting. To register for oral public comments and for additional information, please refer to the Stakeholder Council page.

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

July 25, 2024|Maryland|

Massachusetts

On July 22, the House Committee on Ways and Means released H4891, an act relative to pharmaceutical access, costs and transparency, that includes PBM reforms. The bill was brought to the floor of the House on July 24. NACDS worked with the Massachusetts Chain Pharmacy Council to offer several friendly amendments to improve the bill. NACDS will continue to work to ensure final passage of PBM reform in the Massachusetts legislative session that ends on July 31. 

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Mike Sargent at 207-272-6435.

July 25, 2024|Massachusetts|

Missouri

The MO HealthNet (MDH) Pharmacy Program (Medicaid) created several new resources:  

  1. A 15-minute training course on Proper Drug Billing, covering National Drug Codes, how to determine and calculate what quantity to bill, who should bill for white and brown bagged medications and more.
  2. Medicaid Eligibility Codes – Includes descriptions of Medicaid Eligibility (ME) Codes and limited and comprehensive benefits.
  3. Contact Us – Provides provider contacts for MHD and more to assist with your questions
    These resources, as well as many others, can be found on our MHD Education & Training page. 
  4. Provider Training Calendar – to register for a program specific training updated quarterly. 

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

July 25, 2024|Missouri|

Nebraska

Gov. Jim Pillen (R) announced a special session to address property tax reform beginning July 26 through August 15. The governor also recently released his Nebraska Property Tax Plan. Of interest, note inclusion of new revenue from advertising services from among new taxes on numerous goods and services.

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

July 25, 2024|Nebraska|

Ohio

Gov. Mike DeWine (R) signed SB 144, our immunization expansion bill into law at the Ohio State Fair. Early in 2024, NACDS was on the ground in Columbus to help members and partners develop the strategy that made it one of the few bills to make it to the Governor’s desk during a remarkable politically tumultuous year in the Ohio House. Sponsored and expertly championed by Sen. Mark Romanchuk (R), in clear and concise language, the bill simply deleted the age, vaccine-type and prescription restrictions and replaced it with a provision permitting pharmacists and technicians to administer “a vaccine for any disease” to patients aged 5 years and older.

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

July 25, 2024|Ohio|

Oklahoma

The Board of Pharmacy published the July 2024 newsletter. 

Also in Oklahoma, the next meeting of the Board of Pharmacy will be on September 18. 

Finally in Oklahoma, the Office of the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (OBNDD) director Donnie Anderson released a statement on pharmacies filling controlled substance prescriptions written by out-of-state practitioners.  

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

July 25, 2024|Oklahoma|

South Dakota

The Board of Pharmacy posted its July 2024 newsletter, including a Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) update, finalized rule revisions in effect as of June 2, 2024, pharmacist license renewals reminder and the retirement of Kari Shanard-Koenders.

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

July 25, 2024|South Dakota|

Texas

Hurricane Beryl made landfall on the Texas coast and caused significant damage and flooding in numerous counties earlier this month, forcing many to evacuate to temporary locations. The Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) will allow pharmacies to override prescription claims rejected with error codes 79 (Refill Too Soon) or 76 (Plan Limitations Exceeded) for people enrolled in fee-for-service Medicaid, the Children with Special Health Care Needs Services Program and the Kidney Health Care Program that pharmacies identify as affected by Hurricane Beryl. For people enrolled in Medicaid managed care or CHIP, pharmacies should contact the person’s managed care organization (MCO) for instruction. Refer to the MCO Search for each MCO’s contact information and billing codes. Pharmacies can call the Texas Medicaid Pharmacy and Technical Call Center at 800-435-4165, Monday through Friday from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm (central time) to request the override.

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

July 25, 2024|Texas|

Virginia

State Health Commissioner Karen Shelton, MD, distributed a clinician letter to practitioners across the Commonwealth with updates on the national shortage of penicillin G benzathine (Bicillin L–A®) and the ongoing syphilis statewide outbreak trends and clinical manifestations in the state.

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

July 25, 2024|Virginia|

Washington

Gov. Jay Inslee (D) announced two new appointments to his executive team. Pat Sullivan will be director of the Washington State Office of Financial Management, and Sheri Sawyer will be his new executive director of legislative affairs. 

Also in Washington, the Heath Care Authority (HCA) began enrolling eligible individuals into Apple Health Expansion in mid-June with coverage beginning July 2024. Apple Health Expansion is a new program designed to provide full-scope health care coverage to people aged 19 years or older with certain immigration statuses.  

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

July 25, 2024|Washington|

Colorado

Register now for the August 27 Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (HCPF) Stakeholder Webinar on Medicaid priority initiatives for Fiscal Year 2024-2025 and Public Health Emergency Unwind insights and opportunities going forward.

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

July 18, 2024|Colorado|

Florida

The Agency for Health Care Administration (Agency) scheduled a hearing on July 29, 2024, at 1:30 pm for new Rule 59G-4.252, Diabetic Supply Services at the Agency for Health Care Administration (2727 Mahan Drive, Building 3, Tallahassee, FL 32308).

A virtual option or call-in number will not be available for this meeting.

Official notice of the meeting published in Vol. 50/No. 131, of the Florida Administrative Register (FAR) on July 5, 2024. A copy of the notice may be found at www.flrules.org. Please note that a preliminary draft of the reference material, if available, will be posted prior to the meeting on the Rules webpage.

Also in Florida, updated versions of the Medicaid Provider Agreements utilized in initial enrollment and renewal have been created. Starting July 15, 2024, these 2023 versions will be replacing the 2013 versions of the forms that are currently in use and available on the Medicaid web portal in the Enrollment Forms section.

There will be a two-month grace period from July 15, 2024, to September 15, 2024, during which either version of the forms will be accepted when submitting a new application or renewal. Starting September 15, 2024, only the 2023 version will be accepted.

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

July 18, 2024|Florida|

Illinois

Gov. JB Pritzker (D) has signed SB 3268 Medicaid Omnibus legislation which includes a large expansion in the practice of pharmacy which will allow pharmacists to test and treat for influenza, SARS-COV 2, RSV, Group A Strep and adult-stage head louse. The bill also includes PBM transparency provisions.

Also in Illinois, please see the updated Department of Healthcare and Family Services Pharmacist Fee Schedule (updated July 11, 2024).

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

July 18, 2024|Illinois|

Iowa

The Department of Health and Human Services, Iowa Medicaid posted the following:

Also in Iowa, a Presidential Disaster Declaration for individual assistance was approved for four additional Iowa counties affected by extreme rainfall and flooding beginning on June 16, 2024. This declaration allows the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services to offer the Disaster Food Assistance, also known as Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) for Iowans in Buena Vista, Cherokee, O’Brien and Woodbury counties. Disaster Food Assistance uses different qualifying rules than regular SNAP. Those who may not normally qualify for SNAP, based on income, may qualify for Disaster Food Assistance.

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

July 18, 2024|Iowa|
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