California
The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) posted these resources to provide further resources to assist with Medi-Cal Rx Reinstatement.
- Medi-Cal Rx Reinstatement: Phases II-III: Easy access to resources and support
- FAQ: Frequently asked questions regarding Medi-Cal Rx Reinstatement
- DHCS Medi-Cal Rx Reinstatement slide deck
- Medi-Cal Rx Reinstatement information page: Select Medi-Cal Rx Reinstatement tab, located on the left
For further questions, email Medi-Cal Rx Education & Outreach. DHCS values your input. Please complete this short survey to provide feedback.
Also in California, this week, the Board of Pharmacy issued a notice to be “Beware of Scam Calls” as a result of licensees reporting being victimized by scam callers claiming to represent the “California State Board of Pharmacy” (Board) or another government agency.
Finally in California, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) posted the following alerts and weekly wrap-ups on the Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal:
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
District of Columbia
The Board of Pharmacy’s June newsletter has been published.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Florida
Consumers can purchase qualifying disaster preparedness supplies exempt from tax during the two 2023 Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holidays, May 27- June 9, 2023, and August 26-September 8, 2023.
Also in Florida, the Board of Pharmacy is developing amendments to Rule 64B16-27.650 regarding additional immunizations or vaccines which may be administered.
Finally in Florida, the Board of Pharmacy proposes amending Rule 64B16-28.108 regarding dispensing medication to a blind or visually impaired patient. More information can be found here.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Illinois
Due to the access to care issue for bronchodilation medications for customers with asthma and other respiratory issues, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) will temporarily remove the prior authorization requirements for generic albuterol sulfate inhalers, effective immediately. Pharmacy providers with questions may contact the Bureau of Professional and Ancillary Services at 877-782-5565 for FFS claims, or the applicable MCO.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Indiana
The Health Coverage Programs (IHCP), Medicaid, issued a bulletin updating the prior authorizations, preferred dug list and over-the-counter formularies approved at the May meeting of the Drug Utilization Review (DUR) Board.
Also in Indiana, IHCP announced pharmacy benefit COVID updates in response to the expiration of the public health emergency (PHE).
Also in Indiana, the Office of the Secretary of Family and Social Services (FFSA) recently adopted a rule clarifying electronic signatures.
Also in Indiana, last week Gainwell Technologies migrated the Indiana Medicaid system (CoreMMIS) to the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Cloud. IHPC’s Provider Healthcare Portal also migrated to AWS as part of this initiative.
Finally in Indiana, on July 5, 2023, the FFSA will adopt a single Medicaid formulary, called the statewide uniform preferred drug list (SUPDL), which will align members enrolled in Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP), Hoosier Care Connect or Hoosier Healthwise managed care entity (MCE) with the fee-for-service (FFS) formulary.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Iowa
The Department of Health and Human Services published the following:
- INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 2454-MC-FFS – June 2023 Iowa Medicaid Pharmacy Program Changes
- INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 2455-MC-FFS – Premiums and Co-payments for Medicaid, Healthy and Well Kids in Iowa (Hawki), Iowa Health and Wellness Plan (IHAWP), Medicaid for Employed People with Disabilities (MEPD)
Also in Iowa, the Board of Pharmacy posted the June 2023 newsletter including the following articles:
- Hazardous Drug Labeling Regarding Administration by Nonpatient
- Rules Adopted Relating to Bronchodilators and Opioid Antagonists for Schools; Practice of Nursing Under Pharmacist Orders
- Approval of OTC Naloxone and the Impact on the Board’s Protocol and Statewide Standing Order
- Opioid Manufacturer Provision of Mail-Back Envelopes
- Importance of Ensuring That Applications Are Complete
- Reminder of the Security Requirements Effective July 6, 2023
- Governor Reynolds’ Executive Order Number 10
Finally in Iowa, the Board of Pharmacy announced the online payment system issues have been resolved. Note: if an online application and payment was submitted between May 31 and June 6, please do not resubmit the application and fee without checking the status of your license or registration.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Kentucky
The Kentucky Pharmacists Association (KPhA) is seeking Kentucky-licensed pharmacists to serve on the newly formed Board of Pharmacy Advisory Council. KPhA is responsible for appointing five of the nine pharmacist members on the council as outlined below:
- Two pharmacists appointed by the Kentucky Pharmacists Association;
- One pharmacist who practices or specializes primarily in a mail-order pharmacy appointed by the Kentucky Pharmacists Association;
- One pharmacist who practices or specializes primarily in a veterinary pharmacist appointed by the Kentucky Pharmacists Association
- One pharmacist who practices in a specialized pharmacy that solely or mostly provides medication to persons living with serious health conditions requiring complex therapies, appointed by the Kentucky Pharmacists Association.
Click here for further information or to apply.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Louisiana
The legislature adjourned its fiscal session at 6:00 p.m. on June 8. Hours prior to adjournment, HB 471, legislation that would allow pharmacists, pharmacy interns supervised by a pharmacist and licensed technicians supervised by a pharmacist to administer immunizations to individuals seven years of age or older, passed the Senate after the conference committee stripped the killer Vaccines for Children amendments from the bill. However, the bill failed to pass the House; it was three votes short. The final House vote was 50-45, and we needed 53 votes for the bill to pass.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Massachusetts
The Board of Pharmacy has announced that Massachusetts pharmacists may provide patients of abruptly-closed Compass Medical practices with up to 30-days of certain medications even if they do not have remaining refills on their prescriptions. The southeastern Massachusetts medical clinic group shuttered suddenly last week, leaving tens of thousands of patients in the lurch and in need of alternate care arrangements. Under a policy adopted in April, state pharmacy regulators said, pharmacists are allowed to dispense Schedule VI medications that do not require a report to the state Prescription Monitoring Program without a refill order as a way of giving patients the time to find another prescriber. The board’s notice specified that federally controlled substances and gabapentin cannot be provided.
Also in Massachusetts, MassHealth announced in its Pharmacy Claims Processing Update, effective June 5, 2023, MassHealth Members who have no history of a paid MassHealth claim for an opioid in the past 90 days will be limited to a seven-day supply for their first fill with an exception. Please see details in the “Pharmacy Facts”.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.
Michigan
The Board of Pharmacy has published the agenda for the June 14 meeting.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Nebraska
On June 6, Gov. Jim Pillen (R) signed LB 227 that includes among its various provisions the administration of vaccines by pharmacy technicians under the supervision of the pharmacist and the ability of the central fill pharmacy to deliver prescriptions to patients/caregivers if the dispensing pharmacy and the central fill pharmacy are under common ownership and whereas the dispensing pharmacy is responsible for prescriptions filled.
Also in Nebraska, the Department of Health and Human Services posted the recording from the June 7 COVID-19 Provider Call.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Nevada
The legislature adjourned its biennial session on June 5. Prior to adjournment, both chambers passed AB 107, out of state licensing issue chain pharmacies supported that the Governor signed into law, effective October 1, 2023. Both chambers also passed and sent to the Governor SB 57 giving the Insurance Commissioner oversight of PBMs by requiring them to register.
Also in Nevada, Gov. Joe Lombardo (R) immediately called a special session for June 6. Shortly thereafter, the Governor convened a second special session solely focused on financing a new major league baseball stadium in Las Vegas.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
New York
On June 7, the State Senate approved A6779A, a bill expanding and improving last year’s long-acting-injectable law by removing the “deltoid only” location requirement. The bill now moves to the House.
Also in New York, the State Department of Health Office of Health Insurance Programs will be hosting an informational webinar on the 2023-2024 Enacted Medicaid Budget, on June 15 at 9:00 a.m., which will focus on Medicaid-specific priorities of the Governor’s 2023-24 Enacted Executive Budget. This webinar will be recorded and made available on the NYS DOH Medicaid Redesign Team (MRT) Budget Information webpage.
Finally in New York, the next Medicaid pharmacy benefit fee-for-service (NYRx) monthly all stakeholders call about the pharmacy benefit transition will be held on June 21 at 2:00 p.m. Registration is required to attend.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.
North Carolina
Proposed Rules from the Board of Pharmacy concerning direct-to-patient delivery systems (21 NCAC 46.1821) are slated for a public hearing on June 13 and written comments are due to the Board by June 16.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Ohio
This week, the Senate Finance Committee added language to the state budget bill (HB 33) to preserve the ability of pharmacists, pharmacy interns and pharmacy technicians to administer all ACIP-recommended vaccines to patients who are five years of age and older. It also eliminates the onerous requirement for a prescription for patients ages 7-12 years. NACDS is working diligently with in-state partners to preserve the language as the budget process moves forward. Your communication with Ohio Legislators is highly encouraged. Help us demonstrate to legislators the importance of this legislative remedy to patients in the communities we serve! Simply click here, type in your contact information, and the system will generate personalized communications to your state legislators.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Oregon
The Board of Pharmacy posted an agenda for the Compounding Workgroup meeting scheduled to be held on June 20. See link below
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Texas
Less than a day after Gov. Greg Abbott (R) convened special session #1, the House passed bills on property tax relief and migrant smuggling, then adjourned and went home. The House move appears to be an effort to force the Senate to accept the House bills. Both the Governor and Lt. Governor campaigned on the promise of using some of the state’s $32.7 billion surplus to lower property taxes, but they differ on how to dole out $12.3 billion in new money set aside for property tax cuts in the upcoming two-year state budget. House Speaker Dade Phelan (R) and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) have been at odds over how to cut property taxes all year; now Gov. Abbott has sided with the House. Lt. Gov. Patrick is keeping the Senate in special session working on a property tax bill. We expect additional special sessions to address property tax relief and other leadership priority issues that were not addressed during the regular session that ended on May 29.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Virginia
The Board of Pharmacy has released the agenda for the June 13 meeting.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Washington
The Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission’s (PQAC) accessible labeling rules workshop is scheduled for June 15 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. PDT. PQAC prepared draft rules for review and feedback prior to the meeting. Written comments should be submitted to PharmacyRules@doh.wa.gov no later than close of business on June 12. Verbal comments will be accepted at the rules workshop.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Arizona
The Board of Pharmacy's emergency rule permitting a pharmacist to delegate the administration of a vaccine to a trained pharmacy technician while under the supervision of the pharmacist was published with an effective date of May 4, 2023, in the "Arizona Administrative Register"; see pages 1196 through 1201. Also, note the inclusion of special continuing education requirements for technicians administering vaccines.
Also in Arizona, NACDS submitted comment letters to the Board of Pharmacy in support of the following proposed rules:
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
California
The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) posted the following alerts and weekly wrap-ups on the Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal:
- Updates to the List of Contracted Personal Blood Pressure Monitoring Devices and Blood Pressure Cuffs, Effective July 1, 2023 and October 1, 2023 (June 1)
- Updates to the List of Contracted Enteral Nutrition Products, Effective July 1, 2023 and October 1, 2023 (June 1)
- Medical Supplies Update: Updates to Diabetic Blood Glucose Test Strips and Lancets Quantity Limits, Effective July 1, 2023 (June 1)
- Updates to Diabetic Testing Supplies, Effective July 1, 2023 (June 1)
- Updates to Medical Supplies: Basal Thermometers, Effective July 1, 2023 (June 1)
- Maximum Allowable Ingredient Cost 30-day Pharmacy Provider Notice (June 1)
- Medi-Cal Rx Monthly Bulletin for June (June 1)
- Changes to the Contract Drugs List (June 1)
- Changes to Contract Drugs List – Over-the-Counter Drugs (June 1)
- Changes to Family PACT Pharmacy Formulary (June 1)
- Updates to the Medi-Cal Rx Provider Manual (June 1)
- Pharmacy Locator Tool – Enhanced Functionality (May 26)
- Medi-Cal Rx Weekly Wrap-up for May 19-25 (May 26)
- Reinstatement Spotlight (May 26)
- Emergency Fill for Unbreakable Packages (May 24)
- 30-day Countdown – Phase III, Lift 4: Retirement of the Transition Policy for Beneficiaries 22 Years of Age and Older (May 23)
Also in California, Medi-Cal published this PHE Update for Who May Prescribe Home Health Services, DME and Medical Supplies (May 19).
Also in California, the Department of Health Care Services announced this Medi-Cal Rx Update.
On May 19, Medi-Cal Rx Reinstatement Phase III, Lift 3 was successfully launched. On May 23, a 30-day notification for Phase III, Lift 4: Retirement of the Transition Policy for Beneficiaries 22 Years of Age and Older was released, notifying stakeholders that on June 23, 2023, Phase III, Lift 4 (P3/L4) will be implemented, lifting the Transition Policy for 46 Standard Therapeutic Classes. This is the fourth in a series of lifts to retire the Transition Policy by reinstating NCPDP Reject Code 75 – Prior Authorization Required.
Also in California, as part of the Board of Pharmacy's April 2023 Board Meeting, the Board approved a policy statement related to digital signatures.
Finally, the Board of Pharmacy posted the agenda for the Medication Error Reduction and Workforce Ad Hoc Committee Meeting scheduled for June 7.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Colorado
The Board of Pharmacy is soliciting written comments to implement Colorado House Bill 23-1195, a bill regarding automated pharmacy dispensing systems, which was signed into law by Gov. Jared Polis (D). The Board will hold a Permanent and Emergency Rulemaking Hearing July 20 to determine whether to adopt the proposed revisions to Rule 5.00.00 on a permanent and emergency basis. Email comments by June 9 to dora_dpo_rulemaking@state.co.us.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Illinois
After the release of the Illinois State Auditor’s report on PBMs, language from Senate Bill 757, PBM Audit Reform, which was stalled in the House, was included in Senate Bill 1298, the Medicaid Omnibus bill which has now passed both Chambers and is on the way to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s (D) desk for signature.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Iowa
The Board of Pharmacy adopted and amended the following rules effective July 5, 2023:
- ARC 7025C – Chapter 10, "Controlled Substances": authorizing the board, on a case-by-case basis, to issue a CSA registration to a business location when it would be impractical to require each individual practitioner who administers or dispenses controlled substances to separately register at the location (e.g., ambulatory surgical centers, standalone clinics associated with a hospital system)
- ARC 7026C – Chapter 10, "Controlled Substances," and Chapter 12, "Precursor Substances": temporarily adding four substances to Schedule I, excluding one substance from Schedule II and adding one precursor substance to the Iowa CSA in response to similar action taken by the federal DEA
- ARC 7027C – Chapter 33, "Military Service and Veteran Reciprocity": implementing the licensure-related provisions of 2022 Iowa Acts, Senate File 2383, revising the requirements and parameters of licensure for veterans and active-duty military spouses
Also in Iowa, the Department of Health and Human Services published the following:
- INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO 2466-MC-FFS – Specialty Drug Administration – Alternative Site of Care (SOC)
- INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO 2464-MC-FFS – Resuming the Iowa Health and Wellness Plan (IHAWP) Healthy Behaviors Program Following the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE)
- INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO 2462-MD-FFS – COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE Unwind – Provider Enrollment Renewal Flexibilities
- INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO 2450-MC-FFS – Public Health Emergency (PHE) Unwind Training for Providers
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Kentucky
The Kentucky Pharmacists Association (KPhA) is seeking Kentucky-licensed pharmacists to serve on the newly formed Board of Pharmacy Advisory Council. KPhA is responsible for appointing five of the nine pharmacist members on the council as outlined below:
- Two pharmacists appointed by the Kentucky Pharmacists Association;
- One pharmacist who practices or specializes primarily in a mail-order pharmacy appointed by the Kentucky Pharmacists Association;
- One pharmacist who practices or specializes primarily in a veterinary pharmacist appointed by the Kentucky Pharmacists Association
- One pharmacist who practices in a specialized pharmacy that solely or mostly provides medication to persons living with serious health conditions requiring complex therapies, appointed by the Kentucky Pharmacists Association.
Click here for further information or to apply.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.