The Board of Pharmacy issues a proposed rule to adopt regulations under AAC 680-X-2 to establish standards under which a pharmacist, pharmacist intern, or pharmacist extern would administer immunizations. A hearing is scheduled for March 17, 2021, in Birmingham. Comments are due March 6, 2021.

Also in Alabama. The Board of pharmacy published an emergency rule to adopt regulations under AAC 680-X-2 to establish temporary provisions to authorize vaccination by registered pharmacy technicians under the direct supervision of a licensed pharmacist. The rule is effective January 20, 2021 and expires upon removal of the governor’s state of emergency or May 20, 2021, whichever is sooner.

Lastly in Alabama. The Board of Pharmacy issues a final rule to amend regulations under AAC 680-X-2 to revise pharmacist consultant continuing education requirements to reflect the renewal cycle. The rule is effective March 17, 2021.

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

The Board of Pharmacy has published a proposed rule to amend regulations under AAC 680-X-2 to clarify the penalty for late payment of the annual permit fee for manufacturers, wholesale drug distributors, private label distributors, repackagers, third-party logistics providers, outsourcers, and reverse distributors. A hearing is scheduled for March 17, 2021, in Birmingham. Comments are due March 6, 2021.

Also in Alabama. All previously published expiration dates related to the COVID-19 emergency have once again been extended by the Alabama Medicaid Agency (Medicaid). The new expiration date is the earlier of February 28, 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 at the following website: https://medicaid.alabama.gov/news_detail.aspx?ID=13729.

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

The Alabama Board of Pharmacy published a final rule to amend regulations under AAC 680-X-2 to revise parenteral sterile therapy requirements to reflect the renewal cycle. The rule also requires pharmacists performing high-risk sterile compounding to complete an additional 4-hour, board approved high-risk program. In addition, the rule requires sterile compounding pharmacists to complete 2 continuing education hours each renewal cycle. The rule is will be effective on February 14, 2021.

Also in Alabama. The Board of Pharmacy published a final rule to amend regulations under AAC 680-X-2 to revise preceptor training requirements to reflect the renewal cycle. The rule is also effective on February 14, 2021. 

Also in Alabama. Effective immediately all references to “Reenrollment” will be replaced with the term “Revalidation” to match current Medicare terminology. These changes will be made to all future letters sent to providers referencing the re-enrollment program/processes as well as information contained on the Provider Enrollment website. Providers are also now able to begin uploading their completed revalidations through the secure provider web portal. Additional instructions for uploading revalidation applications and documentation can be found on the Provider Enrollment and Form page under the Revalidation section on the Medicaid website here.

Lastly in Alabama. The Board of Medical Examiners posted a proposed rule to adopt regulations under AAC 540-X-26 to establish requirements for collaborative practice between physicians and pharmacists. The rule would add requirements for collaborative drug therapy management agreements, standards for physicians, reporting, patient care protocols, and the formulary. Comments are due February 4, 2021.

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

Please find attached the Alabama Medicaid ALERT for pharmacy billing of the COVID-19 vaccine administration (you can also find the ALERT here).

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

Alabama Medicaid will allow reimbursement of a vaccine administration fee to Medicaid providers who utilize federally allocated COVID-19 vaccines.

• Payment rates for COVID-19 vaccine administration will be $28.39 to administer single-dose vaccines.
• For a COVID-19 vaccine requiring a series of two or more doses, the initial dose(s) administration payment rate will be $16.94, and $28.39 for the administration of the final dose in the series.
• These rates recognize the costs involved in administering the vaccine, including the additional resources involved with required public health reporting, conducting important outreach and patient education, and spending additional time with patients to answer any questions they may have about the vaccine.

To receive, administer, and report COVID-19 vaccines, healthcare providers must enroll in the Alabama Department of Public Health’s (ADPH) ImmPRINT COVID-19 Vaccination Program. Follow the steps in the ImmPRINT Registration Roadmap to enroll.

Also in Alabama. The Department of Public Health published a notice announcing the withdrawal of a September 30 final rule that amended regulations under AAC 420-7-2 to add tianeptine to the Schedule II list of controlled substances. The rule also removed Epidiolex® from the list of Schedule V controlled substances.

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

According to the Alabama Public Health Department, to receive, administer, and report the COVID-19 vaccine, healthcare providers must enroll in the ImmPRINT COVID-19 Vaccination Program. For more information on enrollment and other vaccine resources for providers, visit the Vaccination Provider Support website at go.usa.gov/x7M53

Also in Alabama. The Department of Public Health published a proposed rule that would amend regulations under AAC 420-7-2 to add tianeptine to the Schedule II list of controlled substances. The rule would replace a September 30, 2020, final rule that is being withdrawn concurrently. Comments are due January 4, 2021.

Also in Alabama. The Board of Pharmacy published a proposed rule that would amend regulations under AAC 680-X-2 to further specify the standards and requirements for approval of hospital and nonhospital pharmacy remote or off-site order entry, where prescriptions are filled by remotely accessing another pharmacy’s electronic database from outside the pharmacy. A hearing is scheduled for February 17, 2021, in Birmingham. Comments are due February 6, 2021.

Also in Alabama. The Medicaid Agency announced a notice of a proposed amendment to the state plan for medical assistance to allow for an update to the pharmacy Value/Outcomes-Based Agreement template to further facilitate the collection of supplemental rebates in addition to the federal drug rebate provided for in Title XIX. Comments are requested, but a due date is not specified.

Lastly in Alabama. 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 January 31, 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 which can be accessed at   https://medicaid.alabama.gov/news_detail.aspx?ID=13729.

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

The Alabama Medicaid Agency (Medicaid)has released several final rules, effective December 14, 2020, regarding Durable Medical Equipment/Prescription Orders, Preferred Drug List, Reimbursement for Covered Drugs and Services. Summaries for the rules are below with links to access each.

• Final rule to amend regulations under AAC 560-X-13 to allow additional non-physician practitioners to place an initial written prescription or order for certain medical supplies, equipment, and appliances.
• Final rule to amend regulations under AAC 560-X-16 to remove requirements that the clinical pharmacist committee consist of at least one long-term care pharmacist and one independent pharmacist. The rule also allows correspondence to be directed to Medicaid’s authorized representative.
• Final rule to amend regulations under AAC 560-X-16 to change the default pharmacy ingredient cost reimbursement methodology when no average acquisition cost is available from wholesale acquisition cost (WAC) +0% to WAC -4% for brand drugs and WAC +0% for generic drugs, effective Jan. 1, 2021.

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 December 31, 2020, 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 ALERT and notices related to the health emergency is available on the Agency’s COVID-19 page.

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

The Alabama Medicaid Agency, in conjunction with the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH), has stated it will allow reimbursement of a vaccine administration fee to Alabama Medicaid pharmacy providers who utilize free influenza vaccines provided by the federal government. The following guidelines have been provided for administering the free vaccines to Alabama Medicaid patients.

• Providers must use all privately purchased vaccines first.
• Free supplemental influenza vaccine costs cannot be reimbursed, but an administrative fee can be requested.
• When billing a Medicaid recipient for the free vaccine, no ingredient cost or dispensing fee should be included on the claim.
• A $5.00 administration fee may be submitted.
• Pharmacies should submit the administration fee in the Incentive Amount Submitted field (NCPDP Field 438-E3) on the same claim as the vaccine (i.e. ingredient).
• Recoupments may occur if it is determined that a free supplemental vaccine was administered to a Medicaid patient and an ingredient cost and dispensing fee were submitted on the claim.
• All administered vaccines must be entered into ImmPrint via an interface or manually within 72 hours.
• For more information, visit the ADPH guidance here: https://www.alabamapublichealth.gov/immunization/assets/fluvaccine_adult.pdf

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