Please find an ALERT describing the addition of state-licensed pharmacist Paxlovid prescribing to eligible patients in accordance with the FDA. This ALERT has been disseminated to all enrolled pharmacies.

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

All previously published expiration dates related to the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) are once again extended by the Alabama Medicaid Agency (Medicaid). The new expiration date is the earlier of October 31, 2022, the conclusion of the COVID-19 national emergency, or any expiration date noticed by the Alabama Medicaid Agency through a subsequent ALERT. 

Medicaid is preparing now for the end of the COVID-19 PHE. Medicaid partners can assist in relaying a consistent and simple message to the Medicaid recipients by sharing key messages from the Agency in your newsletters, social media posts, and other means of communication. To learn more about the “Yellow Postcard” campaign and the Communication Toolkit, please visit here. 

Also in Alabama, effective October 1, 2022, the Alabama Medicaid Agency will remove prior authorization (PA) from levalbuterol tartrate HFA (generic Xopenex HFA). Brand Xopenex HFA will now require PA and update the PDL (Preferred Drug List) to reflect the quarterly updates listed here.  

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

The Alabama Medicaid Agency will provide a COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) update for Medicaid providers and partners on September 15, 2022. Agency representatives will share how the Agency is preparing for the end of the PHE and the return to normal operations. The meeting is offered for attendees both in-person or virtual (online or by phone).  

Medicaid providers, staff, operating state agencies, professional groups, advocacy groups, and all partners who interact with Medicaid recipients are encouraged to attend.  

Also in Alabama, please find the updated Synagis® Criteria for Summer 2022 (as part of the 2021-2022 Season); and the Use of Synagis® in the 2022–2023 Season here.  

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

Alabama Pharmacy Association (APA) has been working with the Department of Insurance as they create a way for pharmacists/pharmacies as well as patients/consumers to file complaints regarding PBMs (Pharmacy Benefits Managers). APA has created two QR codes that can be printed out for easy access. One is for pharmacists/pharmacies and will take you directly to a page on the Department of Insurance website specifically for the purpose of filing a PBM complaint. The other is for patient use. You may find it useful to print this out and place it where patients can easily access it with the camera on their smart phone.

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

All previously published expiration dates related to the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) are being extended by the Alabama Medicaid Agency (Medicaid). The new expiration date is the earlier of August 31, 2022, the conclusion of the COVID-19 national emergency, or any expiration date noticed by the Alabama Medicaid Agency through a subsequent ALERT.  

Medicaid is preparing now for the end of the COVID-19 PHE. Medicaid partners can assist in relaying a consistent and simple message to the Medicaid recipients by sharing key messages from the Agency in your newsletters, social media posts, and other means of communication. To learn more about the “Yellow Postcard” campaign and the Communication Toolkit, please click here.  

Also in Alabama, registration is open for the APhA Pharmacy-Based Immunization Delivery Certificate Training Program hosted by Alabama Pharmacy Association (APA). The program is scheduled for Saturday, August 13, from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. at the APA office in Montgomery. The program is an innovative, intensive, and practice-based CPE activity, based on national educational standards for immunization training from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control). For more information and to register for the full certification course 

Additionally, if it has been longer than three years since you were certified and you want a refresher course or if you need to satisfy the PREP Act’s 2-hour immunization CPE requirement, APA is offering six hours of continuing education in conjunction with the APhA program (minus the shots), which will include the most current immunization recommendations and guidelines. Also, the program has been approved by the Alabama Board of Pharmacy for six hours of consultant credit. For more information and to register for the refresher 

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

All previously published expiration dates related to the COVID-19 emergency are once again extended by the Alabama Medicaid Agency. The new expiration date is the earlier of July 31, 2022, the conclusion of the COVID-19 national emergency, or any expiration date noticed by the Alabama Medicaid Agency through a subsequent ALERT. A listing of previous Provider ALERTs and notices related to the health emergency is available by selecting the Agency’s COVID-19 page. 

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

Effective July 1, 2022, the Alabama Medicaid Agency will:   

• Remove prior authorization (PA) from dexmethylphenidate ER (generic Focalin XR). Brand Focalin XR will now require PA.  
• Update the PDL (Preferred Drug List) to reflect the quarterly updates listed below:   

For additional PDL and coverage information, visit the drug look-up site. 

The Prior Authorization (PA) request form and criteria booklet should be utilized by the prescriber or the dispensing pharmacy when requesting a PA. The PA request form can be completed and submitted electronically on the Agency’s website.  

Incomplete PA requests or those failing to meet Medicaid criteria will be denied. If the prescriber believes medical justification should be considered, the prescriber must document this on the form or submit a written letter of medical justification along with the PA form to Kepro. Additional information may be requested. Staff physicians will review this information. 

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

Effective June 7, 2022, providers will no longer be able to access the Medicaid Interactive Web Portal using Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE). At that time, the Medicaid Interactive Web Portal will officially support the Microsoft Edge browser and may also be accessed with other modern browsers.  

If you are currently using IE, the Department strongly recommends you update to the Microsoft Edge web browser. When changing browsers, it is important to familiarize yourself with the various user interfaces and navigational changes.  

If you are presently using a browser other than IE, there will be no changes when utilizing the Medicaid Interactive Web Portal.  

Providers with questions concerning the upcoming change can submit them to the following email address: interChangeTesting@gainwelltechnologies.com.  

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

The Alabama Department of Public Health has stated that allocation quantities of Paxlovid and Lagevrio (molnupiravir) have increased. ADPH has expanded access to most of the chain pharmacies and several independent pharmacies. If you are interested in being an oral antiviral provider, please review the information below. 

Pharmacies interested in dispensing Paxlovid and/or Lagevrio (molnupiravir) for the treatment of COVID-19 should send an email to pharmacy@adph.state.al.us. The Pharmacy Division at the Alabama Department of Public Health will provide information and assist with setting up an HPOP account which is required by HHS. Through this account, pharmacies will report utilization daily which is also required by HHS. The Fact Sheet for Paxlovid can be found here. The Fact Sheet for Lagevrio (molnupiravir) can be found here. 

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