On March 26, the Board of Pharmacy will be holding its regularly scheduled meeting at 9:30 am; virtual participation is available. The Legislative Committee will be meeting immediately prior to the Board meeting and discussing pharmacist’s “right to refuse” and flavoring prescriptions.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.
The Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) scheduled a hearing for Rule 59G-1.010, F.A.C., Definitions on April 3 from 2:00 pm to 2:30 pm.
LOCATION:
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. 50, of the Florida Administrative Register (FAR) on March 12, 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 workshop on the AHCA Rules web page.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
On March 18, Gov. Grad Little (R) signed HB 527,legislation putting into statute the current practices of pharmacy that were either part of rule or standard procedures, but not codified. This will give stability to the changes that have helped to expand access to pharmacy services in the state.
Also in Idaho, HB 596, related to PBM (Pharmacy benefit managers) reform, was amended, and passed the Senate. It has been referred to the House Health & Welfare Committee for concurrence. This legislation would add new definitions; outline requirements that make contracts with pharmacies transparent and fair; require PBMs (Pharmacy Benefit Managers) to provide transparent pricing on drugs and require PBMs (Pharmacy benefit managers) to report to the Department of Insurance in a transparent way.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
The Board of Pharmacy is seeking pharmacist feedback by March 29 on the pharmacist’s use of the Collaborative Drug Therapy Management Committee’s adopted 2023 Statewide Protocols for Influenza, Group A Streptococcal Pharyngitis and Urinary Tract Infection (UTI).
Also in Kansas, the Board of Pharmacy reminded pharmacies that prescriptions should only be reported to K-TRACS after they are sold and picked up by the patient, mailed or sent out for delivery. Prescriptions that are filled but not yet sold or are placed on hold for future pickup should not be reported to K-TRACS until they have been sold and picked up by the patient. Information about submitting void and revised records is available in the K-TRACS Dispenser Guide for use by software vendors.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
MedImpact recently issued communications to pharmacies regarding the State of Emergency Override and opportunities to reverse claims affected by the migration of Medicaid fee–for–service claims.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Two new final rules were published in the March 20 Louisiana Register, effective immediately. The PMP rule streamlines the CDS (controlled dangerous substance) license reinstatement process, updates the facility CDS license change of ownership procedures, and adds a new subsection to address changes to CDS license status. The Pharmacist Application rule removes the requirement to submit an application for initial pharmacist licensure to the Board at least 30 days prior to any examination.
Also in Louisiana, the 2024 regular session of the Louisiana legislature convened on March 11. The Louisiana Alliance of Retail Pharmacies and NACDS’ top priority this session is to advance a PEP/PrEP bill, HB 579, filed by Rep. Wayne McMahen (R). The bill has been referred to the House Health and Welfare Committee.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) announced it is expanding interim pharmacy payments to include pharmacies that are part of Maine-based health systems, in response to the continued disruption of MaineCare’s pharmacy claims due to the national cyber security issue with Change Healthcare. The amount of the interim payment for these Maine health system-based pharmacies will equal 75% of the average weekly MaineCare reimbursement to each qualifying pharmacy before the disruption. The payments already in place for independent and safety net pharmacies will continue to equal 100% of the average weekly MaineCare reimbursement amount from before the disruption, as these pharmacies are more dependent on MaineCare pharmacy revenue to continue ongoing operations.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.
Pharmacy reached an important milestone in our effort to make PREP Act immunization authority permanent as our companion bills, SB 18 and HB 76, both passed their respective chambers of origin last week. We are cautiously optimistic that the bills will pass in the opposite chamber prior to sine die.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
On March 19, the State Department of Health Commissioner signed a standing order regarding the new law authorizing pharmacist dispensing of hormonal contraception. The standing order signed by the State Health Commissioner pertains to three types of self-administered hormonal contraceptives that are approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration to prevent pregnancy, which include the following:
Pharmacists who choose to participate can dispense up to 12 months of a self-administered hormonal contraception of the individual’s preference and covered under insurance.
Also in New York, the Office of Health Insurance Programs of the State Department of Health has approved the release of the February 2024 Medicaid Update. The update includes:
Pharmacy:
Policy and Billing:
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.