At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Alabama Medicaid Agency (Medicaid) temporarily ceased revalidation for providers. Medicaid has now resumed revalidation for providers. Affected providers may contact the Gainwell Provider Enrollment Unit at 1-888-223-3630 and speak to a Provider Enrollment Specialist. To learn more about the revalidation process please visit www.medicaid.alabama.gov, select the ‘Providers’ tab, then click on ‘Provider Enrollment‘ to view details. If a provider does not revalidate their enrollment, it will result in the provider enrollment being closed which can cause patients to not receive medications.

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

Alabama Pharmacy Association has partnered with the Tennessee Pharmacists Research and Education Foundation to offer live OSHA training. If you are a pharmacist providing immunizations or CLIA-waived testing services, or a pharmacy technician or other health care professional assisting with these services, you must have live OSHA training on bloodborne pathogens every year. The Tennessee Pharmacists Research and Education Foundation (TPREF) is offering a webinar that meets all of OSHA’s training requirements, including the live component. This webinar will provide attendees with one (1.0) contact hour of live ACPE Continuing Education. More information and registration can be found here.

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

Effective September 2, 2021, Governor Kay Ivey (R) issued a supplemental state of emergency proclamation for Hurricane Ida evacuees. The proclamation increases the allowable emergency supply of prescription medications that may be refilled from a 72-hour supply to a 30-day supply. Emergency prescription refills may be dispensed only if certain conditions apply. Please read the full proclamation for details. The proclamation is written in such a manner that an emergency rule from the Alabama Board of Pharmacy is not required.

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

The Alabama Medicaid Agency’s (Medicaid) new Medical and Quality Review Services Contractor, Kepro, will begin reviewing prior authorization (PA) requests, hospice, nursing home, ICF-IID, PEC, and swing bed records on October 1, 2021. Kepro will review PA requests with dates of October 1, 2021, and after. Kepro will NOT review pharmacy, dental or radiology PAs. 

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

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.