HB (House Bill) 1007, legislation establishing a statewide protocol that would allow pharmacists to diagnose and assess conditions for HIV and to dispense PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) and PEP (Post Exposure Prophylaxis), was amended in the House Committee on Public Health, Welfare and Labor.

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

The legislature convened on January 9, 2023. HB (House Bill) 1007 was a prefile. The bill would expand a pharmacist’s authority to prescribe HIV pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP/PEP) under a statewide protocol.  

Also in Arkansas, the Department of Human Services posted pharmacy billing Medicaid copay changes and exemptions effective January 1, 2023.

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

Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) appointed Mark White as the Secretary of the Department of Human Services, replacing Cindy Gillespie.

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

On September 19, the Insurance Department (AID) issued Rule 118, a final rule regulating Pharmacy Benefit Managers. 

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

The Insurance Department issued a Bulletin reminding all licensed PBMs that they are not allowed to charge pharmacies fees during credentialing or re-credentialing. Further, the Commissioner advised the PBM (Pharmacy Benefit Manager) industry that they may not charge a fee related to claims processing unless approved by the Commissioner. 

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

Test & Treat Protocols for both strep and flu were finally approved by the Arkansas Medical Board in August. Previously, these rules were approved by the Pharmacy Board in June. Act 503 passed in 2021 authorized Arkansas pharmacists to test, screen, and treat patients for influenza and pharyngitis caused by streptococcus A within the framework of a written statewide protocol. Arkansas pharmacists may develop their own policies and procedures and begin offering the service, and bill for these services utilizing their own NPI number. 

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

New rules on therapeutic substitutions were adopted by the Board of Pharmacy, effective May 10, 2022.

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

Rules allowing pharmacist therapeutic substitution went into effect as of May 10, 2022. Pharmacists whose practice is located within the State of Arkansas may substitute medications for therapeutically equivalent medications unless the prescriber indicates that no substitution is to be made or if the Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy has determined that a therapeutically equivalent product should not be substituted and has notified all pharmacists of that determination.

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

Attorney General Leslie Rutledge announced a lawsuit against drug manufacturers and Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) for manipulating and inflating insulin and drug prices in Arkansas. In the complaint filed in Pulaski County, Attorney General Rutledge alleges that Novo Nordisk, Sanofi, and Eli Lilly conspired with Express Scripts, Caremark and Optum to significantly increase their revenues by unfairly and deceptively driving up the costs of insulin, making insulin, and other diabetic treatments unaffordable for many diabetics in Arkansas and creating an enormous financial burden for Arkansas consumers.

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