Pennsylvania
The Department of Human Services released a new bulletin announcing SARS-CoV-2 Monoclonal Antibody Product Updates that includes pharmacy reimbursement rates and billing procedures.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Tennessee
The Department of Health has provided an update on COVID-19 oral antiviral therapeutics in the state, specifically, Paxlovid® by Pfizer and Molnupiravir by Merck, with guidance for pharmacies requesting them.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Texas
The Health and Human Services Commission's (HHSC) Vendor Drug Program (VDP) is accepting comments until March 10th on the March 2022 draft Specialty Drug List. Stakeholders should send submissions on the Specialty Drug Submission Spreadsheet.
Also in Texas, the HHSC adopted a final rule establishing a process for Medicaid Managed Care organizations (MCOs) to recoup certain overpayments made to health care providers in connection with missing electronic visit verification information. The rule also requires MCOs to give providers at least 60 days to correct a deficiency.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Utah
The Board of Pharmacy published its February 2022 newsletter. Highlights include the impact of HB 178 on pharmacy practice, pharmacy staff supervision, insulin refills, Controlled Substance Database (CDS) updates when returning controlled substances to stock, CDS and the DSP12 Transmission Form of Rx Origin Code and SafeUT Frontline app.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Virginia
The Legislature's crossover deadline for bills to pass one chamber to be eligible for further consideration was met on February 15. The following bills of interest to pharmacy met the deadline:
- HB 1323 and SB 672 – both bills expand pharmacy personnel immunization and testing authority to mirror the PREP (Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness) Act; SB 672 also expands the state's current allowances on conditions pharmacists may test and/or treat. NACDS has been actively supporting both bills, which are headed for consideration in conference committee
- HB 1324 – this bill requires the Board of Pharmacy to adopt regulations for work environment requirements for pharmacy personnel by September 1, 2022. The regulations must include addressing pharmacy staffing and breaks; state standards that ensure adequate time to complete professional duties; and limit productivity or production quotas to the extent that such factors interfere with the ability to provide appropriate professional services to the public. The bill was amended to remove language that would have allowed it to be promulgated as an emergency measure, thus ensuring stakeholders' ability to participate in the regulatory process
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.
Washington
Gov. Jay Inslee (D) issued a proclamation removing the statewide indoor mask mandate effective February 18, 2022.
Also in Washington, legislation twice amended that NACDS opposed that mandates prescription label translations, unanimously passed the House earlier this month. This week it was approved by the Senate Health and Long-Term Care and Rules Committees, and now goes to the full Senate for review. (ESHB 1852)
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Alabama
The Alabama Medicaid Agency will host a virtual online seminar to provide an update to the cost-effectiveness methodology to Alabama Coordinated Health Network (ACHN) provider groups. The purpose of the online seminar is to provide an overview and answer questions on the modified cost effectiveness methodology that will take effect on April 15, 2022, check write.
Also in Alabama, the Board of Pharmacy has issued a proposed rule regarding non-disciplinary penalties for late renewal of license, permit, registration, certification, or any similar document issued.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Arkansas
The Legislature convened its biennial fiscal session on February 14th.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
California
The following alerts have been recently posted to the Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal:
- Updates to the List of Covered Diabetic Test Strips and Lancets (February 8)
- Medi-Cal Rx Provider Payments (February 8)
- Reject Code 606 – Temporary Suspension (February 9)
- Medi-Cal Rx Policy Updates (February 11)
- Medi-Cal Rx Weekly Wrap-Up for February 6-11 (February 14)
Also in California, the Department of Health Care Services posted this article to the Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal: Professional Organizations Push for Recall of Buprenorphine Dental Warning.
Also, in California, COVID-19 related news highlighted below:
- Governor Newsom Signs $1.9 Billion COVID Package to Bolster State's Ongoing Emergency Response
- Governor Newsom Signs Paid Sick Leave Extension, Expanded Relief for Small Businesses, and Historic Package to Promote Innovation and Entrepreneurship in California
- California Department of Public Health Issued Guidance for the Use of Face Masks effective February 16, 2022
Finally in California, the Board of Pharmacy released Notices of Modified Text for the following and will accept written comments on the proposed modifications until March 2, 2022.
- Self-Assessment of a Wholesaler/Third-Party Logistics Provider by the Designated Representative-In-Charge or Responsible Manager
- Self-Assessment of a Pharmacy by the Pharmacist-in-Charge
- Notice of Modified Text
- Modified Text
- Modified Self-Assessment Form (17M-13) – Community Pharmacy/Hospital Outpatient Pharmacy
- Modified Self-Assessment Form (17M-14) – Hospital Pharmacy
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Florida
Revised PML Tip Sheet, beginning March 1, 2022, an enhancement will be applied to the NPI Mapping Logic which will affect providers and health plans who submit claims and/or encounters to Florida Medicaid. An updated Provider Master List tip sheet is now available on the Managed Care Support section of the Florida Medicaid public Web Portal that details the changes. Health plans are encouraged to review the tip sheet to understand how the enhancement will affect their encounter submissions. Health plans can stay connected by visiting the Florida Medicaid public Web Portal often for the most up-to-date information on these changes. For additional assistance, please contact the Health Plan Support team by emailing healthplan.support@gainwelltechnologies.com.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Georgia
Georgia Pharmacy Association presents “APhA’s Delivering Medication Therapy Management Services: A Certificate Training Program for Pharmacists.” Sunday, March 27, 2022, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. This live training is being held virtually via Zoom Meetings. Click here to register!
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Illinois
The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services has posted updated PDL (Preferred Drug List) files.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Iowa
The Board of Pharmacy announced the following rulemaking actions:
- Adopted: ARC 6174C related to Collaborative Practice Agreements – effective March 16, 2022
- Notice of Intended Action:
- ARC 6178C related to Compounding Practices RE: Veterinary Practice – comments due by 4:30 p.m. on March 1.
- ARC 6179C related to Controlled Substances – comments due by 4:30 p.m. on March 1, and a public hearing will be held via Zoom at 10:00 a.m. on March 3. Note: the board previously noticed this proposed rule and made significant changes; this is the Amended Notice of Intended Action
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Massachusetts
MassHealth, Medicaid, has updated its COVID-19 Pharmacy Practice regarding perpetual inventories.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Mike Sargent at 207-272-6435.
Michigan
This week both houses of the state legislature overwhelmingly approved HB 4348 which would help enhance patient access to pharmacy services and enhance transparency into the practices of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). The legislation will now go to Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D). The Governor has indicated that she does intend to sign the proposal into law.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Mike Sargent at 207-272-6435.
Montana
The Department of Public Health and Human Services issued a Notice of Amendment to ARM 37.85.105, updating effective dates of Medicaid fee schedules retroactively to January 1, 2022. Reimbursement for outpatient drugs did not change.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
New Hampshire
This week the New Hampshire State Senate unanimously passed SB (Senate Bill) 229, which will allow a certified pharmacy technician to administer both flu and covid vaccines. The New Hampshire Chain Pharmacy Association testified in support of passage of SB 229. The bill will now move to the House, and it is anticipated that the House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee will hold a hearing during the latter half of March or in April.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Mike Sargent at 207-272-6435.
New York
The New York State Department of Health has updated NYS Medicaid Coverage Criteria for COVID-19 Vaccine Counseling. This guidance can be found on the COVID-19 Guidance for Medicaid Providers webpage, which is updated regularly.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Mike Sargent at 207-272-6435.
Rhode Island
The Department of Health has filed an Emergency Amendment, effective February 10, 2022 requiring immunization against COVID-19 for all workers in a licensed health care facility and other practicing health care providers.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
South Carolina
Senate Bill S150 the SC Compassionate Care Act, sponsored by Senator Tom Davis (R), which would legalize medical cannabis for certain conditions, passed the Senate this week. The cannabis must be dispensed at a therapeutic cannabis pharmacy, which would be overseen by DHEC and the Board of Pharmacy and would have a licensed PIC. Therapeutic cannabis pharmacies must be separate and distinct from a traditional pharmacy.
Also in South Carolina, The SC Pharmacy Association's (SCPhA) held their February Board of Director's meeting and SCPhA House of Delegates at the SCPhA offices. They accepted nominations for both leadership positions and awards for SCPhA2022. The following Board of Director positions are open for nominations: President-Elect, Treasurer, Member-at-Large, Low Country Region Director, Midland Region Director, and speaker-elect. The House is looking to fill 3 Low Country delegate positions and 4 Midlands delegate positions. The nominations from the House floor have already occurred. However, if you are interested in nominating yourself or another individual for one of the open leadership positions, you will need to get 15 (for Board of Directors) or 5 (for delegates) signatures from active members no later than February 21, 2022. For more information and to access the signature form, please click here.
To nominate a person for an Award, please review the nomination criteria by clicking here. You must complete the application and return to SCPhA by March 15, 2022, via email to info@scrx.org. Self-nominations are allowed. Please note that nominations will not be accepted unless supportive statements are provided. Best of luck to anyone hoping to receive one of these prestigious awards.
Finally in South Carolina, Integrating Pharmacists into Primary Care (IPPC): SCPhA Certificate Training Program will be held on April 3, 2022, 8 AM – 12 PM. This certificate training program is designed to help prepare pharmacists to collaborate with medical practices. The curriculum is a combination of clinical and business concepts essential to providing high-quality sustainable services as part of an interdisciplinary team. More information and registration can be found here.
SCPhA is also offering Naloxone training for pharmacists. More information and registration can be found here.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Tennessee
The Department of Health held a COVID-19 Provider online seminar on February 11, 2022 and discussed availability of certain therapeutics in the state. A recording and slides from the online seminar have been posted online.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.
Vermont
On January 1, 2022, the Medicaid pharmacy administration fee for vaccines changed from $13.97 to $13.87. This is to align with changes to the physician fee schedule and does not apply to COVID-19 administration fees. There is further guidance around POS submission, administration fees added to adult ACIP (Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices) recommended vaccines, and enrollment in the Vermont Child Vaccine Program (VCVP).
Also in Vermont, the Department of Vermont Health Access (DVHA) contracts with Change Healthcare to support Vermont's publicly funded pharmacy benefit programs. The Change Healthcare help desk supports all pharmacies and prescribers enrolled in Vermont's pharmacy benefit programs. It is the first point of contact for pharmacy and medical providers for drug prior authorization requests, drug claims processing issues, and other drug-related questions, concerns, and complaints.
Change Healthcare is conducting a provider satisfaction survey of pharmacies and prescribers and your participation in this survey is particularly important to DVHA as responses from this survey will be used for quality improvement efforts. The entire survey should take less than 5 minutes to complete. Comments are dure by March 15.
For more information, please contact NACDS’ Mike Sargent at 207-272-6435.
California
The following alerts have been posted to the Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal:
- Medi-Cal Rx Pharmacy Claim Processing for Other Health Care Benefits
- DUR (Drug Utilization Review) Global Board Meeting – February 2022
- Revised Emergency Fill Quantity Limit and Frequency Policy
- Revised Prior Authorization Policy for Pharmacy Providers
- Pharmacy Professional Dispensing Fee Provider Self-Attestation
Also in California, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) recently appointed two new public members to the Board of Pharmacy filling the remaining public member vacancies. Kula Koenig, of Sacramento, has been Senior Director of Impact at the United Way California Capital Region since 2018. Indira J. Cameron-Banks, of Los Angeles, has been a Sole Practitioner at Cameron Banks Law since 2021.
Also in California, the Board of Pharmacy announced the first meeting of the Standard of Care Ad Hoc Committee being convened consistent with the requirements of AB (Assembly Bill) 1533 (Chapter 629).
Also in California, the Board of Pharmacy distributed its February 2022 Update.
Also in California, the Board of Pharmacy announced a schedule for the listening sessions to hear from California pharmacy technicians. Note: space is limited, and registration is required. The Board is also taking comments via a brief survey.
Finally in California, the Department of Justice issued a notice to all CURES data submitters as a reminder of the transition from Atlantic Associates Inc. to Bamboo Health, the new contractor for prescription data collection services for CURES. Note: dispensers will continue to send data to Atlantic Associate through February 22. Effective February 23, dispensers will be required to report data to CURES via Bamboo Health's PMP Clearinghouse.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.
Colorado
State Senate President Leroy Garcia (D) announced that he has accepted a position with the Biden Administration and will be resigning in mid-February. Senate Democrats selected Sen. Steve Fenberg to be the chamber’s next president.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
District of Columbia
NACDS received an email from Pharmacy Services stating that "effective January 15, 2022, the Department of Health Care Finance (DHCF) is covering FDA-approved COVID-19 Home test kit(s) dispensed by pharmacies enrolled with DC Medicaid. Pharmacies must submit claims through the Fee-for-Service (FFS) Medicaid Pharmacy Benefit Manager to receive reimbursement from DHCF for HSCSN enrollee(s). HSCSN enrollees are eligible for test kits through the DC Medicaid Fee-For-Service program with no co-payment. Feel free to contact the DHCF Division of Clinician, Pharmacy, and Acute Provider Services:
Charlene Fairfax, Senior Pharmacist at (202) 442-9076, charlene.fairfax@dc.gov
Gidey Amare, Pharmacist at (202) 442-5952, gidey.amare@dc.gov
Jonas Terry, Pharmacist at (202) 478-1415, jonas.terry@dc.gov
Magellan (Pharmacy Benefit Manager) at 1-800-273-4962″
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.