Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) signed into law Rep. Boyd’s bill amending the Prescription Drug Monitoring Law requiring both prescribers and dispensers to provide physical copies of written or electronic prescriptions upon request. The bill text can be found here.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
The Legislature convened on Monday, January 11, and is expected to last 60 days
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
The Department of Insurance released a commissioned study on pharmacy benefit managers (PBM) spread pricing, clawbacks, and reimbursements for administering the pharmacy benefit in Arkansas’ Medicaid managed care programs and the Arkansas Works commercial plans.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Gov. Asa Hutchison (R) appointed Rodney Richmond MS, PharmD, BCGP, FASCP to serve a six-year term on the eight-member Board of Pharmacy. Richmond is filling the seat previously held by Dr. Steve Bryant.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
In response to Secretary Azar’s PREP Act declaration, the Board of Pharmacy has posted a statement listing under which conditions pharmacists and pharmacist-interns acting under the supervision of a pharmacist are allowed to order and administer immunizations to children 3-18 years of age.
Also in Arkansas. The Department of Human Services adopted a final rule amending the medical assistance regulations and the Medicaid state plan to add coverage for medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorders, effective August 1. The rule also revises the agency provider for physicians, outpatient behavioral health services, pharmacies, federally qualified health centers, hospitals, nurse practitioners, and rural health clinics, effective September 1, 2020.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
The Insurance Department posted a notice to announces the issuance of Bulletin No. 29-2020 on the extension of portions of certain coronavirus (COVID-19) bulletins issued under Executive Order 20-03, as amended by executive orders 20-25, -37, and -45 to extend the suspension of the consumer signature requirement for pharmacist services and certain obligations of pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) under the state price-gouging law. This extension became effective August 14 and will remain for the duration of the public health emergency.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
The Department of Human Services, Division of Medical Services, published a final rule which amended medical assistance regulations to revise the Medicaid State Plan (SPA 2020-0005) to increase rates for vaccine administration that went into effect July 1. The rule increases rates for flu vaccine administration in the physicians, nurse practitioner, ARKids B, and pharmacy programs to $15.45 and increases rates for other Medicaid payable vaccines to $13.14.
Also in Arkansas. The Department of Human Services also published a final rule that amends medical assistance regulations to revise the Medicaid state plan (SPA 2019-002) to incorporate federal standards on drug utilization review. The rule addresses claims review limitations, programs to monitor antipsychotic medications by children, fraud and abuse identification, and Medicaid managed care organization mandates. The rule also establishes mandatory drug utilization review reporting requirements.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
On June 12th, NACDS submitted a letter to the Department of Human Services Division of Medical Services in support of a proposed rule that would expand the availability of Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) medications and services in the Medicaid program. If adopted, the rule would remove prior authorization for preferred oral drugs for OUD, helping to alleviate administrative burdens on pharmacists and enabling patients to receive their prescriptions in a timelier manner. Additionally, it would allow medication assisted therapy drugs to be exempt from the monthly prescription benefit limit and copay requirement, which would improve access to these important OUD therapies.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
The Board of Pharmacy will hold a public hearing on Monday, June 15, 2020 on the following four proposed rules:
Proposed rule of the State Board of Pharmacy would amend regulations under Rule 1- General Operations to add new language outlining expedited licensing for qualified individuals in accordance with Act 820 of 2019 and to match statutory language updated by Act 990 of 2019 to remove references to the terms “good moral character and temperate habits” along with other clean up language for clarification.
Proposed rule of the State Board of Pharmacy would amend regulations under Rule 2 – Pharmacists to remove provisions on armed forces certificates to reflect concurrent proposed changes to Rule 1 to cover all permit types in accordance with Act 820 of 2019. The rule will also remove references to the terms “good moral character and temperate habits” in accordance with Act 990 of 2019 along with other minor clean up language.
Proposed rule of the State Board of Pharmacy would amend regulations under Rule 3 – Pharmacy Technicians to remove references to “good moral character and temperate habits” in accordance with Act 990 of 2019.
Proposed rule of the State Board of Pharmacy would amend regulations under Rule 11 – Criminal Background Checks to match statutory language updated by Act 990 of 2019 regarding eligibility for licensure or registration, to add language regarding Pre-Licensure Criminal Background Checks pursuant to Act 990 of 2019, and to remove outdated language regarding criminal background checks and update terms of offense rather than crime as reflected in statues.
Also in Arkansas... The Board of Pharmacy met via teleconference on June 8th. Pharmacist Lenora Newsome was elected president, replacing Debbie Mack.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.