After further review, the Agency will not resume the EPSDT referral requirement as referenced in the July 27, 2021 Provider ALERT. This allowance will continue through the conclusion of the COVID-19 national emergency, or any expiration date noticed by the Alabama Medicaid Agency through a subsequent ALERT.

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 (Medicaid). The new expiration date is the earlier of September 30, 2021, 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 in the bottom section:  https://medicaid.alabama.gov/news_detail.aspx?ID=13729.  

Also in Alabama, please find below a link for the ALERT for pharmacy billing of the third C19 vaccine dose in selected immunocompromised patients.  Effective Aug 13, pharmacy providers may submit claims for the third dose in that selected population:  https://medicaid.alabama.gov/alert_detail.aspx?ID=15570 

Finally in Alabama, please note a subsequent ALERT will be disseminated for the third dose for the expanded population as we near the September 20th approval date.  See https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s0818-covid-19-booster-shots.html for more information.

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

Online registration is open for the 2021 American Pharmacist Association (APhA) Pharmacy-based Immunization Delivery certificate training program being held Saturday, August 21, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the APA offices in Montgomery. The program is an innovative, intensive, and practice-based continuing pharmacy education activity for pharmacists, based on national education standards for immunization training from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Register for the full training 

Also, 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 will be offering six hours of CE for the live portion of the program (minus the shots), which will include the most current immunization recommendations and guidelines. The refresher program has been approved by the Alabama Board of Pharmacy for six hours of consultant credit. Register for the refresher 

Pharmacy Technicians who need immunization training: APA is partnering with the Washington State Pharmacy Association to offer vaccine administration training for technicians on an ongoing basis 

Also from Alabama Medicaid: On or after September 1, 2021, the Alabama Medicaid Agency will resume the EPSDT referral requirement. 

Revalidation for Enrolled Providers: At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic the Alabama Medicaid Agency temporarily ceased revalidation for providers. Medicaid has now resumed revalidation for providers. To learn more about the revalidation process please visit www.medicaid.alabama.gov, select the “Providers” tab, then click on the “Provider Enrollment” link to view details. 

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

The Alabama Board of Pharmacy proposed to adopt regulations under AAC 680-X-2 to establish immunization training requirements for pharmacists, interns, externs, and technicians. Comments are due Aug. 6, 2021. 

Also in Alabama, the Alabama Board of Pharmacy proposed to amend regulations under AAC 680-X-2 to correct a statutory citation in the electronic prescription requirements. Comments are due Aug. 6, 2021. 

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

A Final rule of the Board of Pharmacy amends regulations under AAC 680-X-2 to clarify provisions on the non-disciplinary administrative penalty for late renewal of a license, permit, registration, certification, or similar document. The rule is effective July 12, 2021.

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

Stakeholders were recently made aware that at least one PSAO has sent communications to its pharmacy members that it would begin charging sales tax on its services in June. The Alabama Department of Revenue (DOR) has confirmed that the collection of sales taxes for PSAO services is not in compliance with the sales tax law. The DOR further stated that if additional PSAOs attempt to collect sales tax for their services, pharmacies should contact the DOR to resolve the issue.

Also in Alabama, the Board of Pharmacy has proposed the below rules.

• Proposed rule of the Board of Pharmacy would amend regulations under AAC 680-X-2 to replace “inspectors” with “investigators” in the provisions on revealing sources of information related to violations. A hearing is scheduled for July 21, 2021, in Birmingham. Comments are due July 10, 2021.
• Emergency rule of the Board of Pharmacy adopts regulations under AAC 680-X-2 to allow the board to issue temporary pharmacist practice permits during the coronavirus (Covid-19) public health emergency. The rule applies to applicants licensed in another state who meet specified criteria. The rule readopts the April 30, 2020, emergency rule and became effective April 28, 2021, and expires August 26, 2021.
• Proposed rule of the Board of Pharmacy would repeal and readopt regulations under AAC 680-X-2 to update the physician and pharmacist collaborative practice requirements. A hearing is scheduled for July 21, 2021, in Birmingham. Comments are due July 10, 2021.
• Proposed rule of the Board of Pharmacy would amend regulations under AAC 680-X-2 to include supervising pharmacists and technicians in the disciplinary provisions for violation of the pharmacy technician training requirements. A hearing is scheduled for July 21, 2021, in Birmingham. Comments are due July 10, 2021.
• Proposed rule of the Board of Pharmacy would amend regulations under AAC 680-X-2 to revise requirements for registered pharmacists to notify the board of a change of supervising pharmacist. A hearing is scheduled for July 21, 2021, in Birmingham. Comments are due July 10, 2021.
• Emergency rule of the Board of Pharmacy amends regulations under AAC 680-X-2 to allow pharmacists to provide emergency prescription refills for a 30-day supply of maintenance medications under certain circumstances during the COVID-19 public health emergency. The rule readopts a March 31, 2020, emergency rule and became effective April 21, 2021, and expires August 26, 2021.

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

The Board of Health published a notice to announce the removal of the opioid antagonist samidorphan from Schedule II of the Controlled Substances List attached to regulations under AAC 420-7-2. The action is a response to the federal Drug Enforcement Administration removing the substance on April 19. The action is effective May 19, 2021.

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

The Board of Pharmacy published an emergency rule to adopt regulations under AAC 680-X-2 to establish standards for off-site COVID vaccine order entry processing. The rule is effective April 7 and expires October 2, 2021. Please contact Wendy Passmore; Board of Pharmacy; 205-981-4764; wpassmore@albop.com for more information.

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

Effective May 1, 2021, the COVID-19 related universal prior authorization (PA) number will no longer be accepted for pharmacy overrides related to the three-month maintenance supply program. The universal PA will continue to work for claims associated with COVID-19 in other allowances (other than the three-month maintenance supply program) as described in the March 17, 2020 ALERT which can be found here.

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