On May 10, the Legislature adjourned its fiscal session sine die after adopting a $6.3 billion state budget.

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

A draft emergency rule by the Insurance Commissioner Alan McClain that would require reimbursement for pharmacies for prescription drug or device services at a rate that is no less than 110% of the current National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC) plus a $10.50 dispensing fee for all generic and branded drug transactions or services has hit a roadblock. 

Also in Arkansas, the next meeting of the Board of Pharmacy is on June 4 and 5.  

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

The 94th General Assembly fiscal session convened on April 10 with Gov. Sara Huckabee Sanders (R) giving her state-of-the-state address, asking the legislature to approve a $6.3 billion budget.

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

The Insurance Commissioner issued Directive 1-2024 suspending for 60 days the technical filing requirements, audits and recoupments related to claims for providers impacted by the Change Healthcare data breach.

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

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) and the Department of Human Services announced the state will use $30 million from the American Rescue Fund Plan Act funds to improve mental health and substance abuse services.

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

The Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) announced a state’s revenue surplus of $231.2 million at the end of January 2024.

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

The Board of Pharmacy met at the Board offices in Little Rock on January 9 and 10.  

Also in Arkansas, the state pharmacist’s association received a grant of $78,548. The funds will be utilized in 2024 to educate pharmacists and prescribers about the pharmaceutical supply chain regulatory guidance and oversight mandated by the federal government for drug wholesalers. The training aims to inform them about how this regulation affects patients, physicians, and the local pharmacists.  

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

The Insurance Commissioner issued a Bulletin #20-2023 defining business days and hours in the Prior Authorization Transparency Act.

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

Candidates interested in running for state and federal offices in 2024 filed for office on November 6 through 14, 2023. At the top of the ballot will be the Presidential race, then the four U.S. Congressional House of Representatives seats, plus eighteen members of the thirty-five member Arkansas Senate, all one hundred members of the Arkansas House of Representatives. The primary election date is March 5, 2024, followed by the runoff on April 2, 2024, and the general election on November 5, 2024.

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