The Board of Pharmacy posted the following to its website:  

• Licensing Committee Meeting – April 10 – Note: inclusion of technician, central fill and standard of care agenda items.  

• • Agenda 

• Enforcement and Compounding Committee Meeting – April 11 

• • Agenda 

• Legislation/Regulation Committee Meeting – April 11 

• • Agenda 

Also in California, the Board of Pharmacy is conducting an occupational analysis (OA) of the pharmacy technician profession in California. The survey is a part of the OA, which identifies competencies that will provide the basis for developing future licensure examinations in California. The survey weblink will be available 24/7 and must be completed by April 15. 

Finally in California, the Department of Health Care Services posted the following alerts, weekly notices, and monthly bulletin on the Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal.   

• Removal of Code I Restrictions for Medical Supplies (April 1) 
• Diabetic Test Strips and Lancets: Updates to the Code I Diagnosis and Quantity Limit Restrictions (April 1) 
• Medi-Cal Rx Monthly Bulletin for April (April 1) 
• Changes to the Medi-Cal Rx Contract Drugs List (April 1) 
• Changes to the Medi-Cal Rx Pharmacy Reimbursable Physician Administered Drugs (April 1) 
• Changes to the Medi-Cal Rx Contract Drugs List – Over-the-Counter Drugs and Cough/Cold Preparations (April 1) 
• Changes to the Medi-Cal Rx Family Planning, Access, Care and Treatment Pharmacy Formulary (April 1) 
• Updates to the Medi-Cal Rx Provider Manual (April 1) 
• Mass Adjustment for COVID-19 Vaccine Incentive Fee for Impacted Claims Submitted February 1, 2022, through March 31, 2022 (March 29) 
• Mass Adjustment for COVID-19 Antigen Tests for Impacted Claims Submitted on February 1, 2022 (March 29) 
• Mass Adjustment for Disposable Insulin Delivery Devised for Impacted Claims Submitted January 1, 2022, through March 31, 2022 (March 29) 
• Opill® Available for Over-the-Counter Under Medi-Cal Rx Prescription (March 29) 
• 30-Day Countdown: Implementation of Reject Code 80 (March 29) 
• Medi-Cal Rx Weekly Wrap-up March 22-28 (March 29) 
• Pharmacy Claims Mass Adjustments: New Resources (March 28) 
• Reminder: Medi-Cal Rx Secured Provider Portal Password Criteria Update Now in Effect (March 27) 
• Updates to Paper Checks and Remittance Advices (March 27) 
• Medi-Cal Rx Learning Management System Migration (March 25) 
• Medi-Cal Rx Secured Provider Portal Password Criteria Update (March 25) 
• Medi-Cal Rx Weekly Wrap-up for March 15-21 (March 22) 
• Medi-Cal Rx Email Domains, Mailboxes and Meeting Links Transitioning to Prime

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

The Department of Health Care Services posted the following alerts and weekly notices on the Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal.   

• Medi-Cal Rx Weekly Wrap-up for March 8-14 (March 15) 
• Medi-Cal Rx Claim and Prior Authorization Request Submission Outage (March 14) 
• Adalimumab biosimilar HADLIMA™ (adalimumab-bwwd) Added to Medi-Cal Rx Contract Drugs List on March 1, 2024 (March 8) 
• Medi-Cal Rx Weekly Wrap-up for March 1-7 (March 8) 

Also in California, the Department of Health Care Services posted the following:    

• March 2024 Pharmacy Medi-Cal Update Bulletin 
• March 2024 Durable Medical Equipment and Medical Supplies Medi-Cal Update Bulletin 

Finally in California, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) appointed Tyler Sadwith as State Medicaid Director at the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS). This is a long-awaited appointment to fill the second half of former Medicaid Director Jacey Cooper’s position. As a reminder, Sarah Brooks was appointed in December as Chief Deputy Director of Health Care Programs at DHCS. Before that, Jacey Cooper held that position and the State Medicaid Director role. Her role was bifurcated and now Tyler Sadwith holds the Medicaid Director role and Sarah Brooks maintains the Chief Deputy Director of Health Care Programs position.  

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

The Department of Health Care Services posted the following alerts, weekly notices, and monthly bulletin on the Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal:  

• Planned Maintenance of Medi-Cal Rx Fax Lines (March 4) 
• Medi-Cal Rx Weekly Wrap-up for February 23-29 (March 1) 
• Maximum Allowable Ingredient Cost 30-Day Pharmacy Provider Notice (March 1) 
• Medi-Cal Rx Monthly Bulletin for March (March 1) 
• Changes to the Medi-Cal Rx Contract Drugs List (March 1) 
• Updates to the Medi-Cal Rx Provider Manual (March 1) 

 Also in California, on March 4, “Provider Resources Amidst Change Healthcare Cybersecurity Issue” was posted to the Medi-Cal News area on the Medi-Cal Provider website. 

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

The Department of Public Health (CDPH) released its inaugural “California State of Public Health Report”. The 2024 Summary Report utilizes multiple health measures and data sources to highlight major trends and disparities in health outcomes across the state. Although there have been major improvements in health and well-being over the past 20 years, California continues to strive to address issues through a myriad of initiatives including intervention at the earliest stages of life; prevention, especially primary prevention; upstream strategies to improve social determinants that create healthy conditions for all, with a priority focus on advancing health equity; and strengthening public health readiness and resiliency in the face of emerging threats and challenges such as climate change.  

Also in California, the Department of Public Health issued a summary report on the work of the AB 1341 Workgroup, created by Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) after he vetoed the bill in 2022. With a focus on the state’s youth, this report summarizes policy recommendations from academic and medical experts related to educating and safeguarding the public against the potential risks associated with the use of dietary supplements for weight loss and over the counter (OTC) diet pills. It is unknown how this report may impact weight loss supplement legislation currently under consideration by the state legislature.   

Also in California, last week, Attorney General Rob Bonta, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), State Board of Pharmacy President Seung Oh, and Department of Managed Health Care Director Mary Watanabe acted to reaffirm an individual’s rights to contraceptive care in the state. Among the actions taken were alerts to all California pharmacies reminding them of their obligation under California law to provide minors access to emergency contraception and alerts to all State Board of Pharmacy licensees reminding licensees of their obligations under state law to provide minors with the ability to access emergency contraception without a prescription or parental consent.  

Also in California, the Board of Pharmacy proposed modifications to amend section 1760 of Title 16, Division 17, Article 5 of the state’s Code of Regulations related to disciplinary guidelines; see details below. The 45-day comment period ends on April 12. To view all documents associated with the Board’s proposed regulatory actions and other pending regulations, visit the board’s “Pending Regulations” webpage.   

• Notice of Proposed Action 
• Initial Statement of Reasons 
• Proposed Text 
• Disciplinary Guidelines 

Finally in California, the Department of Health Care Services posted an alert, “National System Outage Impacting Prescription Drug Claims”. (February 23) 

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

The Department of Health Care Services posted the Medi-Cal Rx Weekly Wrap-up for February 9-15 (February 16).

Also in California, the Department of Health Care Services posted the following:  

• February 2024 Pharmacy Medi-Cal Update Bulletin 
• February 2024 Durable Medical Equipment and Medical Supplies Medi-Cal Update Bulletin 

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

The Department of Health Care Services posted the following alerts:

• Issue Resolved: Medi-Cal Rx Electronic Prior Authorization Request Submission Outage (February 15) 
• Urgent: Medi-Cal Rx Electronic Prior Authorization Request Submission Outage – Submit via Fax (February 15) 
• Planned ePrescribing Functionality Migration for February 17, 2024 (February 15) 

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

On February 6, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed SB 339 (Chapter 1, Statutes of 2024), which broadens existing pharmacist authority to provide HIV prevention services and secures payment for the provision of pharmacy-provided HIV prevention services. This was the first bill of the year to be signed by the governor. 

Also in California, the Department of Health Care Services posted the following alerts and weekly notice on the Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal: 

• State of Emergency Override Activation: Submission Clarification Code 13 (February 8) 
• Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal Prior Authorization Submission Outage (February 7) 
• Error Notification: Omission of the Prior Authorization Form for Notice of Action Letters Mailed Between November 26, 2023, and December 26, 2023 (February 5) 
• Rite Aid Closure in Needles, CA (February 2) 
• State of Emergency Override Activation: Submission Clarification Code 13 (February 2) 
• Medi-Cal Rx Weekly Wrap-up for January 26-February 1 (February 2) 

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

AB 82, legislation establishing an age limit on select dietary supplements for weight loss or over-the-counter diet pills with penalties for violation, passed the Assembly. The bill also requires the Department of Public Health to develop a notice that retail establishments must post.   

Also in California, NACDS submitted a letter of support to Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) urging enactment of California SB 339, which broadens existing pharmacist authority to provide HIV prevention services and secures payment for the provision of pharmacy-provided HIV prevention services. 

Also in California, the Board of Pharmacy posted its agenda and meeting materials for the full board meeting on February 8. The board will discuss and potentially act on proposed rules related to the pharmacist-in-charge designation, the opioid antagonist protocol and continuing education. 

Finally in California, the Department of Health Care Services posted the following alerts and monthly bulletin on the Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal.   

• Upcoming Transitions for Medi-Cal Rx Applications (February 1) 
• Medi-Cal Rx Monthly Bulletin for February (February 1) 
• Changes to the Medi-Cal Rx Contract Drugs List (February 1) 
• Changes to the Medi-Cal Rx Pharmacy Reimbursable Physician Administered Drugs (February 1) 
• Updates to the Medi-Cal Rx Provider Manual (February 1) 

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

SB 339, legislation expanding pharmacist authority to furnish preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and providing payment for PrEP and postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) services, passed both chambers and will be sent to Gov. Gavin Newsom (D).  

Also in California, the California Pharmacists Association is sponsoring SB 966, related to PBM reform, and sponsored by Sen. Scott Wiener (D). Among the various provisions, the bill would require PBMs to obtain a license from the State Board of Pharmacy and file annual reports with the Board. The Board, in turn, will provide annual reports to the Legislature based on information submitted by PBM licensees. Also, the bill prohibits spread pricing in future contracts and includes provisions related to calculating a patient’s cost sharing amount. 

Finally in California, the Department of Health Care Services posted the following weekly notice on the Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal: Medi-Cal Rx Weekly Wrap-up for January 12-18.  

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