In The States – Page 8 – Weekly news about states

Pennsylvania

The Department of Health issued a buprenorphine guidance document, which focuses on reducing barriers to accessing Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD). The document includes a frequently asked questions section that addresses inquiries from prescribers and pharmacists about MOUD. It also offers insights on enforcement practices, buprenorphine prescribing, continuity of care and telehealth prescriptions. All questions can be directed to RA-DHRESOURCESERVICE@pa.gov.

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

Michael Silber2024-11-14T10:35:35-05:00November 14, 2024|Pennsylvania|

South Carolina

The Board of Pharmacy has approved the updated protocol for Administration of Vaccines by pharmacists. These updates reflect changes made through HB 3988 enacted during the legislative session, which includes the ability for pharmacy technicians to administer vaccines.

Also in South Carolina, the Board of Pharmacy is accepting nominations for Board Members from the Fifth and Seventh Congressional Districts. The fifth district is made up largely of Cherokee, York, Chester, Union, Fairfield, Lancaster, Kershaw, Lee and Sumter counties. The Seventh District is primarily made up of Chesterfield, Marlboro, Darlington, Florence, Marion, Dillon, Horry and Georgetown counties. For more information or to submit a nomination, email contact.pharmacy@llr.sc.gov. The Deadline to apply is November 30, 2024.

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

Michael Silber2024-11-14T10:34:56-05:00November 14, 2024|South Carolina|

Tennessee

In accordance with the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance, Division of Insurance Rule 0780-01-95-.10(1)(b) and 0780-01-95-.10(2)(b), the deadline to submit an attestation of low-volume status and proof of actual prescription volume to your contracted PBMs is December 1, 2024. Volume status is based on your pharmacy’s actual prescription volume from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024.

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

Michael Silber2024-11-14T10:33:44-05:00November 14, 2024|Tennessee|

Texas

While the 89th legislature will convene at Noon on January 14, 2025, lawmakers have already begun prefiling bills this week. Several bills of interest to pharmacies include:

Pete Flores (R) re-filed legislation (SB 254) that would allow pharmacists independent authority to order and administer immunizations to anyone three years of age and older without a prescription order.
John Bucy (D) re-filed clean-up legislation (HB 632) on dispensing emergency insulin.
Donna Howard (D) re-filed a bill (HB 845) that would allow pharmacists under a written protocol to furnish treatment without a prescription to a patient after a positive CLIA flu or strep test.
Matt Shaheen (R) re-filed legislation (HB 1027) removing restrictions on operating telepharmacies.

Also in Texas, the House Republican Caucus is scheduled to meet December 7, 2024, to endorse a candidate for Speaker.

Also in Texas, the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Diabetes Prevention and Control Program updated materials, including two diabetes educational brochures — Could You Have Diabetes? and Could You Have Prediabetes? These brochures provide information regarding diabetes and prediabetes risk factors and symptoms, helping individuals determine their risk.

Finally in Texas, at the Drug Utilization Review Board’s late October meeting, the board recommended clinical prior authorizations, changes to the preferred drug list and retrospective drug utilization criteria. The next quarterly meeting will be held on January 31, 2025.

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

Michael Silber2024-11-14T10:32:50-05:00November 14, 2024|Texas|

Washington

Democrats won all nine executive offices and gained additional seats within the state Legislature. Bob Ferguson (D) will serve as the next governor of Washington state, replacing termed-out Gov. Jay Inslee (D). A friend of pharmacy State Senator Patty Kuderer (D) was elected to become the next state Insurance Commissioner.

Also in Washington, the Department of Health (DOH) Office of Immunizations is hosting a webinar on November 21, 2024, featuring Dr. Eva Meekins, a nurse educator with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to discuss the current vaccine recommendations and strategies to prevent common vaccine administration errors.

Finally in Washington, in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday, state offices will be closed on November 28 and 29, 2024. Provider payments for the week of November 25, 2024, will be made on November 27, 2024. Claim submission deadlines have been moved up to ensure that providers can receive payment and Remittance Advice (RA) documents on November 27, 2024. The deadline for submission of claims to ProviderOne for payment during the week of Thanksgiving will be November 24, 2024, by 5:00 pm. The deadline for submission of pharmacy claims to the Point of Sale (POS) during the week of Thanksgiving will be November 23, 2024, by 5:00 pm.

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

Michael Silber2024-11-14T10:32:04-05:00November 14, 2024|Washington|

Wisconsin

The Department of Health Services released a campaign to encourage residents to get vaccinated, e.g., flu, COVID and RSV. To find and schedule a vaccine, Wisconsin residents are encouraged to check with their primary care provider, local or Tribal health department, community clinic or visit vaccines.gov. Wisconsinites can also call 211 or 877-947-2211 for help scheduling a vaccine appointment. If they do not have health insurance, or their health insurance does not cover vaccines, there are programs that can help, including the Vaccines for Children program and Vaccines for Adults program.

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

Michael Silber2024-11-14T10:31:14-05:00November 14, 2024|Wisconsin|

California

A licensee is required to notify the Board of Pharmacy when ceasing to act as a pharmacist-in-charge (PIC), designated representative-in-charge (DRIC) or responsible manager (RMG). Disassociation forms are available on the website and intended to assist licensees in providing the required notification to the Board. No fee is required for the notification of disassociation. Completed forms may be submitted to the Board via mail or e-mail by using the email address provided on the form.

Also in California, pursuant to Health and Safety Code section 11161.7(b), the Board of Pharmacy is distributing this list of prescribers whose authority to prescribe controlled substances has been restricted by the Medical Board of California. The Board of Pharmacy is making this information available to prevent the dispensing of prescriptions for controlled substances issued by restricted prescribers. Names with a strikeout indicate the restriction is no longer effective. Names in bold indicate there has been an update to the action the Medical Board of California took. Questions or comments about the prescribers listed should be directed to the Medical Board of California.

Also in California, the Department of Health Care Services posted the following weekly notice on the Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal: Medi-Cal Rx Weekly Wrap-up for October 18-24.

Finally in California, the Board of Pharmacy posted the agenda for its Full Board Meeting on November 6-7, 2024.

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

Michael Silber2024-10-31T13:25:30-04:00October 31, 2024|California|

Illinois

The Department of Revenue (IDOR) released an Informational Bulletin to all retailers and servicepersons. For sales and use tax and other related returns due on or after January 1, 2025, the retailers’ discount amount is limited to $1,000 per month. The retailers’ discount is an amount that retailers and servicepersons may claim only if the return is filed on or before the due date and only for a percentage of the taxes paid on or before the due date. The discount is allowed as a reimbursement for the expenses incurred in keeping records, preparing and filing returns, remitting the tax and supplying data to the IDOR on request.

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

Michael Silber2024-10-31T13:25:03-04:00October 31, 2024|Illinois|

Indiana

The General Assembly’s Health Care Cost Oversight Task Force held a meeting on October 8 on PBM oversight and contracting. Two years ago, legislation was adopted that funded a state audit. RxConnection was hired to review five years of data from the state’s major PBMs. Unfortunately, the data the auditors obtained was incomplete due to an ongoing lack of transparency surrounding the specific details regarding PBM contracts with the state’s medical plans and the terms of the rebate systems negotiated by PBMs, which prompted the Office of the Attorney General to file civil investigative demands.

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

Michael Silber2024-10-31T13:24:31-04:00October 31, 2024|Indiana|