Gov. Wolf (D) has granted a waiver to broaden eligible supervisors of pharmacy interns administering COVID–19 vaccines to include other licensed and trained healthcare professionals whose current scope of practice allows them to immunize. Specifically, appropriate supervisors include other licensed healthcare professionals who are trained in the administration of immunizations and emergency care of patients. The waiver applies solely to COVID-19 vaccines and shall be valid for the duration of the Governor’s disaster emergency declaration plus an additional 90 days thereafter unless terminated sooner.
Also in Pennsylvania. At NACDS’ request, a State Interagency call was held with staff from the Pennsylvania Medicaid, and the Departments of Insurance, State, and Health to discuss barriers pharmacies are experiencing in billing for administration fees for COVID-19 vaccines. As a result, Medicaid verbally announced a modification of current guidance for billing of COVID-19 vaccines by pharmacies. For Fee For Service, claims must still be processed on the medical side, however, they are now accepting pharmacist NPIs in the ordering provider field. Additionally, Medicaid stated that all eight MCOs are billing through the patient’s pharmacy benefit and will accept the pharmacist NPI in the prescriber ID field. If the claim is rejected because the NPI is not on file, the NCPDP override code 42 can be used (SCC=42).
For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.