The Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development cut the initial registration and biennial renewal fees for the prescription drug monitoring program-controlled substance prescription database to $0 effective December 23, 2021.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.

As a result of federal funding available to the Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing (CBPL) to offset certain administrative costs of running the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP), the Division is recommending decreasing the PDMP fee to zero. Written comments must be received not later than 4:30 p.m. on October 22, 2021, NACDS will not be commenting on this issue. Comments must be addressed to CBPL Regulations Specialist, PO Box 110806, Juneau, AK 99811 or regulationsandpubliccomment@alaska.gov.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

The Department of Health and Social Services and the Alaska Pharmacists Association (AKPhA) have a four-question survey to understand chronic disease management practices in pharmacies operating in the state. Individuals who received continuing education credits from the AKPhA’s 55th Annual Convention & Tradeshow held earlier this year have already completed the survey.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

HB 145, modernizing the pharmacy practice statutes, passed both the House Labor and Commerce Committee and the House Health and Social Services Committee earlier this year and will carry over and remain active for consideration as 2021-2022 continues next year.  The bill defines patient care activities pharmacists may provide and empowers the Board of Pharmacy to regulate those services; empowers the Board of Pharmacy to more effectively regulate pharmacy support staff; and supports reimbursement for health care services by defining those services and including pharmacists in the state’s provider anti-discrimination statute.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

The Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Health Care Services issued a Notice of Public Scoping: Medicaid Pharmacy Services, Coverage & Reimbursement announcing its review of coverage and reimbursement related to Medicaid Pharmacy Professional Dispensing Fees, pharmacist rendered professional services, covered outpatient drugs, and cost-sharing.  The public scoping session will take place on May 24, 2021, via teleconference/WebEx, and written comments will be accepted until June 4, 2021.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

On February 19, the Board of Pharmacy adopted regulation changes in Title 12, Chapter 52 of the Alaska Administrative Code. The final rule of the Board of Pharmacy refines the requirements for registration with the prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) controlled substance prescription database, clarifies the requirements for registration by pharmacists before dispensing schedule II, III, or IV controlled substances under federal law, in particular clarifying the mechanism for out-of-state pharmacists to obtain a registration exemption and for those same pharmacists to meet registration requirements before dispensing controlled substances in this state and to clarify that a “prescriber” would be required to register within 30 days after initial licensure or registration with the DEA, whichever is later. These changes will be printed in Register 238, July 2021 of the Alaska Administrative Code.  The rule is effective May 6, 2021.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

The Board of Pharmacy published emergency regulations to make permanent 12 AAC 52.110 related to emergency licensure to practice as a pharmacist, pharmacy intern, or pharmacy technician.  The emergency rule is effective retroactively to November 19.  For more information, please see the March 15, 2021, filing notice which can be found here.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

NACDS submitted written comments to the Alaska Board of Pharmacy supporting their quick acting temporary rules expanding pharmacy and technician practice, that will become permanent. 

Also in Alaska… The Department of Health & Social Services submitted to CMS an 1135 waiver which was approved May 7th. Temporary policies include: no cost-sharing for testing services; allowing service provision and reimbursement of services provided by qualified and enrolled Alaska licensed pharmacists practicing within their authorized scope of practice, statewide standing orders authorized by the AK Chief Medical Officer and HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health; claims for medications with day’s supply up to 68 days shall be permitted unless medication is on the 90-day list, then 90-days will be permitted; allow for a professional dispensing fee to be reimbursed no more than every 14-days per individual at $15.86 for “on road” pharmacies, and $23.78 for “off-road” pharmacies.  Shipping will be reimbursed regardless of the location of the pharmacy or beneficiary; and covered outpatient drugs dispensed by a retail-based pharmacy, when a medication’s acquisition cost exceed the standard “lesser of” payment methodology logic, providers may petition for reimbursement at WAC + 1% on a claim-level basis through the point-of-sale and bypass the FUL and NADAC. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.