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.

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

• Commercial Paxlovid™ Reimbursement and Update on Billing for Pharmacists Prescribing Paxlovid (January 17) 
• Medi-Cal Rx Weekly Wrap-up for January 5-11 (January 12) 

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

• December 2023 Durable Medical Equipment and Medi-Cal Update Bulletin 

• December 2023 Pharmacy Medi-Cal Update Bulletin 
• January 2024 Durable Medical Equipment and Medi-Cal Update Bulletin 
• January 2024 Pharmacy Medi-Cal Update Bulletin 

Also in California, the Board of Pharmacy proposed modifications to the following. To view all documents associated with these proposed regulatory actions and other pending regulations, visit the board’s “Pending Regulations” webpage.  

• Opioid Antagonist Protocol 

• Notice of Proposed Action 
• Initial Statement of Reasons 
• Proposed Text 
• 45-day Comment Period: December 15, 2023 to January 29, 2024 

• Continuing Education 

• Notice of Proposed Action 
• Initial Statement of Reasons 
• Proposed Text 
• 45-day Comment Period: December 15, 2023 to January 29, 2024 

Also in California, the Board of Pharmacy posted its Annual Notice of Availability of Precedential Decisions Index.  

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the California State Board of Pharmacy (Board), pursuant to section 11425.60 of the Government Code, the Board maintains an index of precedential decisions, which is annually made available by the Board to the public by email subscription. To join the Board’s email list, go to www.pharmacy.ca.gov. The index and the text of the precedent decisions are continuously available on the Board’s website at http://www.pharmacy.ca.gov/enforcement/precedential.shtml. 

Also in California, the Board of Pharmacy provided an update to licensees and interested stakeholders regarding the cultural competency continuing education (CE) requirements for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians that become effective on January 1, 2024, pursuant to Assembly Bill 2194 (Ward, Chapter 958, Statutes of 2022).  

As pharmacists and pharmacy technicians seek cultural competency CE courses, the Board has received questions about acceptable courses. 

Business and Professions Code (BPC) section 4231, as operative on January 1, 2024, details the criteria that a cultural competency course must meet, as follows: 

• The course focuses on patients who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender nonconforming, or queer, or who question their sexual orientation or gender identity and expression. 
• The course is approved by an accreditation agency approved by the Board. 
• The course covers recognized health disparities faced by Black, Indigenous, and people of color. 
• The course contains elements demonstrating how sexual identity is directly impacted through intersectionality. 

The Board does not endorse or recommend any specific cultural competency course. As a courtesy to licensees, however, the Board is notifying licensees of two courses that may meet the above requirements: 

• California Pharmacists Association – https://cpha.com/cultural-competency-training/ 
• California Society of Health-System Pharmacists – – Register for Webinar Here 

Finally in California, the Board of Pharmacy posted the agenda and meeting materials for the following committee meetings: 

• Communication and Public Education Committee Meeting agenda and meeting materials on January 22 
• Licensing Committee Meeting agenda and meeting materials on January 22 
• Enforcement and Compounding Committee Meeting agenda on January 23 

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

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

• Planned User Administration Console (UAC) System Migration for January 13, 2024 (January 11) 
• Medi-Cal Rx Weekly Wrap-up for December 29-January 4 (January 5) 
• Prior Authorization Request Requirement for Reyvow® (Lasmiditan Succinate) (January 3) 
• Medical Foods Are Not a Covered Benefit (January 2) 
• Medi-Cal Rx Monthly Bulletin for January (January 2) 
• Changes to the Medi-Cal Rx Contract Drugs List (January 2) 
• Changes to the Medi-Cal Rx Contract Drugs List – Authorized Drug Manufacturer Labeler Codes (January 2) 
• Updates to the Medi-Cal Rx Provider Manual (January 2) 
• Medical Suppliers Reminder: Updates to Diabetic Testing Supplies 100-Count LifeScan, Inc.’s OneTouch Verio Test Strips Will No Longer Be Contracted, Effective January 1, 2024 (January 1) 
• Medi-Cal Rx Weekly Wrap-up for December 15-28 (December 29) 
• Reimbursement for Commercial Lagevrio (Molnupiravir) (December 19) 
• Reject Code 16 – Implementation Date Postponed (December 18) 
• Medical Suppliers Reminder: Updates to Diabetic Testing Supplies 100-Count LifeScan, Inc.’s OneTouch Verio Test Strips Will No Longer Be Contracted, Effective January 1, 2024 (December 15) 
• Medi-Cal Rx Weekly Wrap-up for December 8-14 (December 15) 
• Reinstatement Spotlight (December 15)  

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.  

• Update: Deferral Response Method via Medi-Cal Rx Provider Portal (December 8) 
• Medi-Cal Rx Weekly Wrap-up for December 1-7 (December 8) 
• Reinstatement Spotlight (December 8) 
• Activation of Reject Code 16 – Medi-Cal Rx Program Integrity Update (December 5) 

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

• Family Mosaic Project is No Longer a Medi-Cal Managed Care Plan in San Francisco County, effective for dates of service on or after January 1, 2024 
• Billing Update for COVID-19 Oral Medication Paxlovid 
• Forthcoming Contracted Incontinence Supplies Program Updates 
• Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine Authorization 

Also in California, the Board of Pharmacy proposed modifications to the following. To view all documents associated with these proposed regulatory actions and other pending regulations, visit the board’s “Pending Regulations” webpage.  

• Designation of Pharmacist-in-Charge 

• Notice of Proposed Action 
• Initial Statement of Reasons 
• Proposed Text 
• 45-Day Comment Period: November 17, 2023-January 2, 2024 

• Temporary License for Military Spouses 

• Notice of Modified Text 

• Modified Text 
• 15-Day Comment Period: December 13, 2023-December 28, 2023 

• Notice to Consumers 

• Notice of Modified Text 
• Modified Text 
• 15-Day Comment Period: December 13, 2023-December 28, 2023 

Also in California, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) appointed Sarah Brooks, as Chief Deputy Director of Health Care Programs at the Department of Health Care Services. Given the capacity to manage program growth and increased complexity of the programs, moving forward, the Chief Deputy Director for Health Care Programs and State Medicaid Director will be two separate roles. The Chief Deputy Director for Health Care Programs will focus on internal program implementation and operations in California’s health care programs, whereas the State Medicaid Director will focus on Medi-Cal policy development and relationships with its external partners, including the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Recruitment efforts are ongoing for a State Medicaid Director. 

Finally in California, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) announced the launch of a new tool to continue the state’s efforts to fight the ongoing opioid crisis – a comprehensive website with resources for Californians: Opioids.CA.GOV. This website serves as a reliable source of information on prevention, data, treatment and support. Also, Californians can access information related to the state’s use of opioid settlement funds and efforts to hold drug-traffickers accountable.  

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

The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) posted the following alerts, weekly notices, and monthly bulletin on the Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal. Please note the “Maximum Allowable Ingredient Cost 30-Day Pharmacy Provider Notice”; rates will be effective January 1, 2024, and will be posted to the Mercer Med-Cal Rx website no later than December 1, 2023. Also note the “Commercial COVID-19 Vaccine Coverage for Children” alert providing an updated policy whereby COVID-19 vaccines are a Medi-Cal Rx pharmacy benefit for members three years of age and older.

• Medi-Cal Rx Weekly Wrap-up for November 17-30 (December 1)
• Reinstatement Spotlight (December 1)
• 30-day Countdown: Medi-Cal Managed Care Plan Transition (December 1)
• Maximum Allowable Ingredient Cost 30-day Pharmacy Provider Notice (December 1)
• Medical Supplies Updates: Updates to Contracted Pen Needles, Insulin Syringes, and Sterile Syringes with Needles (Non-Insulin), Effective January 1, 2024 (December 1)
• Medical Supplies Update: Updates to Diabetic Testing Supplies, Effective January 1, 2024 (December 1)
• Medical Supplies Update: Updates to List of Contracted Self-Monitoring Blood Glucose Systems (Glucometers), Control Solutions, and Lancing Devices, Effective January 1, 2024 (December 1)
• Updates to the List of Contracted Enteral Nutrition Products, Effective January 1, 2024 (December 1)
• Medi-Cal Rx Monthly Bulletin for December (December 1)
• Changes to the Medi-Cal Rx Contract Drugs List (December 1)
• Updates to the Medi-Cal Rx Provider Manual (December 1)
• Commercial COVID-19 Vaccine Coverage for Children (November 29)
• Paper Remittance Advice: Dollar Sign Placement Update (November 22)
• Reinstatement Spotlight (November 17)

Also in California, the Board of Pharmacy provided this important alert and reminder to licensees about the drug xylazine.

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