Washington
The Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission’s February 6, 2025, agenda and meeting materials are available.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Arizona
The Board of Pharmacy posted an agenda for the Virtual Task Force/Stakeholder Meeting being held on January 29 to discussion and consider possible action related to the US Pharmacopeia (USP) – Compounding practice standards.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Arkansas
The Retailers’ Day at the Capitol is on January 29.
Also in Arkansas, HB 1150, filed by Rep. Jeremiah Moore (R) and Sen. Kim Hammer (R), prohibits PBMs from owning pharmacies in the state. The bill was referred to the House Committee on Insurance and Commerce.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
California
On January 17, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) issued a news release detailing the Department’s work to expand support for Medi-Cal members impacted by the Southern California wildfires. DHCS swiftly implemented key administrative flexibilities to protect Medi-Cal members in affected regions of the state. These efforts included simplified Medi-Cal enrollment and renewal processes, waived requirements to access prescription medications and medical devices and other flexibilities to ensure all Medi-Cal members have access to care during this emergency. Additionally, DHCS is actively seeking further federal flexibilities to expand support for impacted Medi-Cal members and providers.
Also in California, beginning January 17, the federal Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) activated the Emergency Prescription Assistance Program (EPAP) for specific zip codes in California to help uninsured residents replace prescription medicines and/or certain medical equipment lost or damaged in the 2025 Los Angeles Fires. EPAP has been activated through March 15, 2025. To locate participating pharmacies, visit EPAP Enrolled Pharmacies.
Also in California, on January 17, DHCS began hosting a weekly Medi-Cal Rx Pediatric Integration webinar. Webinars will be held every Friday from 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm PST to support partner readiness. Partners, including pharmacy providers and prescribers, should plan to attend a webinar prior to the implementation of Medi-Cal Rx Pediatric Integration on January 31. More information is available on the Medi-Cal Rx Education & Outreach webpage.
Finally in California, the Department of Health Care Services posted the following alerts and weekly notice on the Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal:
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Florida
Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) issued an Emergency Order (EO) on January 20, EO 25-13 ,declaring a state of emergency, which allows for state officials to make critical resources available to communities ahead of any potential storm impacts.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Idaho
Additional PBM reforms, including filing of complaints to report PBM non-compliance with PBM laws, went into effect on January 1. Pharmacies may now send complaints to the Department of Insurance either using the online complaint form or emailing them to pbm@doi.idaho.gov.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Louisiana
NACDS serves on the Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) Advisory Council that will be meeting on February 5 at the Board of Pharmacy offices in Baton Rouge.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Maine
The 2025 budget proposal by Gov. Janet Mills (D) includes a $.70 per prescription tax. The administration claims the proposal is revenue neutral. NACDS is working with the Retail Association of Maine and the Maine Pharmacists Association to engage the governor’s office to find out the motivation and true impact to pharmacies.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.
Massachusetts
On January 22, Gov. Maura Healey (D) announced her Fiscal Year 2026 budget proposal. The proposal includes two relevant sections for pharmacies:
- The Commonwealth may impose a fee on each prescription dispensed in the state by pharmacies which will include retail, hospital, compounding, specialty and 340B pharmacies. The amount each pharmacy shall pay shall not exceed the lesser of the $2.00 per prescription dispensed by the pharmacy, or an amount equal to 6% of the revenues received by the pharmacy. The Executive Office of Human Services (EOHS) is also given the power to enforce this provision through license suspensions, fines and liens. MassHealth has indicated that these new funds will be used to increase the dispensing fees for all pharmacies that dispense prescriptions in the Fee-for-Service Program and to mandate dispensing fee floors for all pharmacies that participate in the MassHealth MCO pharmacy contracts.
- EOHS will seek to create a Universal Adult Vaccine Program. This proposal would expand the current Childhood Vaccination Purchase Trust Fund and require pharmacies to participate in the new program for providing state-sponsored adult vaccines.
NACDS will continue to work with the Massachusetts Chain Pharmacy Council to engage the administration and legislature. A collective meeting had been scheduled for the end of the month with MassHealth and Mercer on the ongoing cost of dispensing study issues. This meeting and others will be moved up sooner.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.
Nebraska
The Department of Health and Human Services posted the durable medical equipment, prosthetic, orthotics and medical supplies (DMEPOS) fee schedule effective January 1, 2025, and published 471-000-507 Nebraska Medicaid Practitioner Fee Schedule for Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetic, Orthotics and Medical Supplies (DMEPOS).
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Nevada
In advance of the Board of Pharmacy’s Public Hearing on January 16 on proposed rules on minimum staffing requirements, NACDS submitted a letter of concern. Rather than imposing burdensome staffing requirements that could limit pharmacies’ ability to deliver pharmacy care, we urged the Board to focus on policy changes that allow pharmacies to deploy innovative pharmacy care models and technologies that improve pharmacy efficiencies and enhance capacity to deliver the level of care that patients demand.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
New York
On January 21, Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) released her budget proposal. The budget includes the following outside sections relevant to pharmacies:
- Pharmacist Vaccinations: Would codify PREP Act authorization for pharmacists to administer a COVID-19 vaccine to children ages 2 years and older.
- Pharmacist Cessation: Would authorize a pharmacist to prescribe and order medications to treat nicotine dependence approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for smoking cessation.
- Pharmacy Tech Vaccinations: Would codify PREP Act authorization for registered pharmacy technicians to administer all vaccines that pharmacists may administer under the supervision of a pharmacist, if they meet training requirements, etc.
- Medical Assistant Vaccinations: Would authorize a medical assistant under the supervision of a physician or a physician’s assistant (PA) to administer vaccinations.
- Controlled Substances: Proposes to align the state’s controlled substance schedules with the US Drug Enforcement Administration.
- Medication Abortion Labels: Would require pharmacies, at the request of the prescriber, to list only the facility name, not the prescriber’s name on prescription pill bottles for mifepristone, misoprostol and other medication abortion drugs.
- Prescriber Prevails: Proposes to eliminate prescriber prevails in Medicaid. The program would have to consider additional information related to coverage, but the program’s determination would be final.
- Medicaid Global Spending Cap: Extends the global spending cap one year through 2026-2027.
NACDS will continue to monitor the budget process in the state and advocate for policy priorities.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.
South Carolina
The Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) regularly offers free Healthy Connections Medicaid training to enrolled Healthy Connections Medicaid providers and their billing agents. These recurring trainings are conducted by SCDHHS’ contracted vendors. Information about the upcoming February-April trainings and to register for a workshop or find additional training resources, please visit the Medicaid Provider Education website or call the Provider Service Center (PSC) at (888) 289-0709. The PSC’s hours of operation are 7:30 am-5:00 pm Monday-Thursday and 8:30 am-5:00 pm Friday.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Texas
Several bills of interest to pharmacies have been filed.
- SB 254 by Sen. Pete Flores (R) allows pharmacists to order and administer immunizations and vaccinations to patients ages three years and older, and to those younger than three years of age, if referred by a physician. It also gives pharmacist’s authority to delegate vaccine administration to a certified pharmacy technician.
- SB 398 by Sen. Kevin Sparks (R) allows a pharmacy technician of a pharmacist’s authority to administer an immunization or vaccine under the supervision of a pharmacist.
- SB 623 by Sen. Charles Schwertner (R) gives the pharmacists the right to determine if a vaccine, including a COVID vaccine, should be administered to a patient.
Also in Texas, the Health and Human Services Commission’s (HHSC) Medicaid Vendor Drug Program (VDP) met with pharmacy stakeholders on January 22. The agenda included updates on the timeline on implementing legislation passed in 2023, and the progress on several pending projects, including adult vaccinations and adding non-drug like Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGM) to the Medicaid formulary.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
California
Assemblywoman Mia Bonta (D) introduced AB 50, legislation permitting pharmacists to provide over-the-counter contraceptives without following the protocols required for prescription contraceptives.
Also in California, the Department of Health Care Services posted the following alerts and weekly notice on the Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal:
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Connecticut
The General Assembly formed a bi-partisan and bi-cameral task force to hear proposals for drug cost containment and PBM regulation in advance of the 2025 legislative session. NACDS participated in the opening meeting on December 4 and will continue to be a presence throughout the working group’s meetings. NACDS has also met with all four co-chairs of the task force to highlight our policy priorities and states that have taken helpful and thorough action. The task force will be breaking down their work into four subcommittees: (1) PBM oversight, (2) Importation and Shortages, (3) Pricing and 340B and (4) Patient Protection, Rare Diseases, and Innovation. These subcommittees will each meet three times. The task force’s final meeting is scheduled for February 11, 2025.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.
Iowa
With an effective date of November 27, the Insurance Division published ARC 8427C as adopted and filed emergency rule making related to timely payment of pharmacy claims.
Also in Iowa, the Insurance Division published ARC 8429C as a Notice of Intended Action. This Notice of Intent is to solicit public comment on the above emergency rulemaking; see ARC 8427C. This proposed rulemaking is related to timely payment of pharmacy claims and providing an opportunity for public comment. Written comments may to submitted to the Division no later than 4:30 pm on December 19. A public hearing will be held on December 19 from 10:00 am-11:00 am.
Finally in Iowa, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Medicaid posted INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 2647-MC-FFS-D – January 2025 Medicaid Pharmacy Program Changes, effective January 1, 2025.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Kentucky
MedImpact, the state Single PBM, issued a communication clarifying that the prohibition on automatic refills does not include 90-day fills.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Massachusetts
On December 6, the Board of Pharmacy published new regulations relative to pharmacy licensing and the Continuous Quality Improvement Program.
Created six new license categories for certain types of pharmacy practice:
- sterile compounding,
- complex sterile compounding,
- institutional sterile compounding,
- non-resident drug stores,
- non-resident sterile compounding,
- non-resident complex non-sterile compounding.
The proposed changes explain which license types are needed for which activities, set forth the eligibility requirements and procedures for obtaining each type of license, and set forth grounds for denial of licensure due to lack of suitability. The proposed changes update requirements related to the change of a pharmacy’s manager of record, location or ownership, pharmacy renovations and the closure of a pharmacy. The proposed changes remove practice standards from this section in order that all such practice standards may be aggregated at 247 CMR 9.00.
Requires pharmacies to establish and implement a “Continuous Quality Improvement Program,” meaning a system for identifying and documenting prescription dispensing errors; notifying affected patients, and health care providers as necessary; analyzing the error to identify causes and contributing factors; and using the information to improve pharmacy systems and workflow.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.
Nebraska
The Medicaid Drug Utilization Review (DUR) Board posted the January 14 meeting agenda.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
New England
The New England States Consortium Systems Organization (NESCSO) contracted with Myers and Stauffer LC to perform a pharmacy cost of dispensing survey for the Medicaid programs of five of the NESCSO member states. State agencies included within the cost of dispensing survey effort include the following: Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. Cost of dispensing surveys were anticipated to be distributed on December 4 to pharmacies that participate in the Medicaid programs in the above referenced NESCSO member states. The due date for the cost of dispensing survey is January 15, 2025. All providers are encouraged to participate. The cost of dispensing survey tools and instructional letters will be posted here by December 4. Myers & Stauffer will host two webinars to answer any questions – December 12 at 3:00 pm and December 17 at 8:30 am. To participate in these webinars, you are required to RSVP to 1-800-374-6858 or disp_survey@mslc.com.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
New Hampshire
On December 18, the Board of Pharmacy will be holding its next regular meeting. The meeting agenda includes proposed rules updates to pharmacy rules 100, 200 and 300. Meetings are held at 9:00 am at 7 Eagle Square, Concord NH 03301. Zoom options are available.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.
New Jersey
On December 9, the Assembly Committee on Financial Institutions and Insurance held a second hearing on A4953, Patient and Provider Protection Act, legislation that includes PBM reforms. NACDS submitted a letter to the Committee Chair Roy Freiman (D) who also sponsored the bill. The bill was amended and recommitted within the committee.
Also in New Jersey, on December 9, the Senate Committee on Health, Human Services, and Senior Citizens held a hearing on A1899 and S1981, companion bills that would expand vaccine and pharmacy technician authority. The bills were approved by the committee and expect action on the Senate floor on December 19. NACDS will continue to advocate for expedited passage of this bill.
Finally in New Jersey, on December 11, the Board of Pharmacy held its regular scheduled meeting. The next meeting is scheduled for January 22, 2025.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.
Oregon
The Division of Financial Regulation recently announced permanent rulemaking repealing 836-053-0025, the regulation of the insulin co-pay amount for health benefit plans for the state, as a result of SB 1508 (2024) effective January 1, 2025.
Also in Oregon, the Division of Financial Regulation recently announced permanent rulemaking amending 836-052-1000, establishing and updating the list of prosthetic and orthotic devices; prohibiting internal or separate limits or caps on prosthetic and orthotic devices, other than the lifetime policy maximum, when permitted by law; and defining when coverage for prosthetic and orthotic device is provided through a managed care organization effective January 1, 2025.
Also in Oregon, the Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) posted an agenda and meeting materials for its December 18 meeting. You must register in advance to participate.
Finally in Oregon, the Oregon Prescription Drug Affordability Board has posted to the website the UPL report for the Oregon Legislature pursuant to ORS 646A.685.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
South Carolina
The Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) will operate on an updated schedule for Healthy Connections Medicaid claims submission and payments to accommodate the December 2024 and January 2025 holidays. Due to observance of the Christmas holiday, December 19 at 5:00 pm is the deadline to submit claims for payment date December 27. Electronic remittance advice will be available December 24. Payments will be dated December 27, as usual. Due to observance of the New Year’s holiday, December 27 at 5:00 pm is the deadline to submit claims for payment date January 3. Electronic remittance advice will be available December 31. Payments will be dated January 3rd, as usual. The schedule will return to the normal payment cycle on January 3, 2025.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.