The Department of Health Care Service posted the following weekly notices on the Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal: Medi-Cal Rx Weekly Wrap up for May 2-8.

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

The May 2025 issue of the Board of Pharmacy's newsletter, The Script, is now published online. The newsletter includes information on the following: 

• New PIC training online seminar 

• Ensuring consumers receive medication (BPC 733) 

• Online portal for drug thefts and loss 

• SB 339: emergency to permanent regulation 

• How to support future licensees through donating to a scholarship fund 

• Wholesaler Thresholds 

• Becoming an inspector 

• CURES fee increase 

• Tribal health professionals' exemptions 

Previous newsletters can also be viewed and downloaded. Go to the "Quick Hits" column at www.pharmacy.ca.gov and click on The Script-Archive to find electronic issues of The Script published since October 1998. 

Also in California, the Board of Pharmacy published an update on medication error reporting.  Business and Professions Code (BPC) section 4113.1 establishes requirements for a community pharmacy to report medication errors to an entity approved by the Board. The statute requiring medication error reporting can be viewed here:  BPC section 4113.1. In September 2024, the Board approved the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP), an ECRI Company, as the entity to receive and review medication error reports under BPC section 4113.1. 

Pursuant to BPC section 4113.1, "community pharmacy" includes any pharmacy that dispenses medication to an outpatient, including both resident (PHY and PHE) and nonresident (NRP) pharmacies, but does not include facilities of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Additionally, outpatient hospital pharmacies are not required to report a medication error under BPC section 4113.1 if the error meets the requirements of an adverse event that has been reported to the State Department of Public Health pursuant to section 1279.1 of the Health and Safety Code. 

A community pharmacy shall submit the report no later than 14 days after the date of the error's discovery. The community pharmacy shall maintain records demonstrating compliance with this requirement for three years and shall make these records immediately available at the request of a Board of Pharmacy inspector. 

ISMP, as the Board-approved entity, sent a postcard to community pharmacy licensees the week of April 21 with information about how to register with ISMP's California medication error reporting program. Registration can be completed using this website: https://mederrors.ismp.org/. If you experience any technical issues when signing up for California's medication error reporting program through ISMP, please email clientservices@ecri.org. Licensees are encouraged to register by May 24.  The online reporting system will be available to submit reports in early June 2025. You will receive a follow-up email from ISMP in early June 2025 with a link to the user registration page of the online reporting system. 

FAQs regarding medication error reporting are available online.  

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

• Medi-Cal Rx Weekly Wrap-up for April 25-May1 

• Updates to the List of Contracted COVID-19 Antigen Tests, Effective June 1, 2025 

• Medi-Cal Rx Monthly Bulletin for May 

• Changes to the Medi-Cal Rx Contract Drugs List 

• Changes to the Medi-Cal Rx Pharmacy Reimbursable Physician Administered Drugs 

• Changes to the Medi-Cal Rx Family Planning, Access, Care and Treatment Pharmacy Formulary 

• Updates to the Medi-Cal Rx Provider Manual 

• Now Active: Completion of the Pediatric Integration of Members 21 Years of Age and Younger 

• Medi-Cal Rx Weekly Wrap-up for April 18-24 

• Updated COVID-19 Vaccine Reimbursement Rates 

• April 18, 2025, Provider Payment Delayed 

• 90-Day Countdown: NCPDP Field 426-DQ Usual and Customary Charge Requirement 

• Medi-Cal Rx Weekly Wrap-up for April 11-17 

• Medi-Cal Drug Use Review Board Meeting Update 

• Medi-Cal Rx Secured Provider Portal Password Reminders 

• Two-Week Countdown: Completion of Pediatric Integration of Members 21 Years of Age and Younger 

• Reminder: 340B Drug Price Program 

• Medi-Cal Rx Weekly Wrap-up for April 4-10 

• Changes to the Medi-Cal Rx Contract Drugs List – Authorized Drug Manufacturer Labeler Codes 

• Pediatric Integration: Most Common Claim Reject Codes 

• Identifying Pediatric Claims for Proactive Prior Authorization 

• Medi-Cal Rx Weekly Wrap-up for March 28-April 3 

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

The Board of Pharmacy posted information for the following meetings: 

• The Legislation and Regulation Committee Meeting will be held on April 9 beginning at 9:00 am Pacific. For details, please review the agenda. 

• The Full Board Meeting will be held April 9-10 beginning at 1:00 pm Pacific on April 9. For details, please review the agenda. 

Also in California, the Department of Health Care Service posted the following weekly notices, alerts, and monthly bulletin on the Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal. Please note effective April 25, Medi-Cal Rx will complete implementation of Pediatric Integration by reinstating Reject Code 75 – Prior Authorization Required for all continuation of therapy claims for members 21 years of age and younger; see alert below for details. 

• Updates to the List of Contracted Enteral Nutrition Products, Effective May 1, 2025 

• Loading Dose Quantity Policy Updated in the Medi-Cal Rx Contract Drugs List 

• Medi-Cal Rx Monthly Bulletin for April 

• Changes to the Medi-Cal Rx Contract Drugs List 

• Changes to the Medi-Cal Rx Contract Drugs List – Blood Factors 

• Updates to the Medi-Cal Rx Provider Manual 

• Medi-Cal Rx Provider Portal Enhancement: Prescriber NPI (National Provider Identifier) Validation 

• Medi-Cal Rx Weekly Wrap-up for March 21-27 

• 30-Day Countdown: Completion of Pediatric Integration of Members 21 Years of Age and Younger 

• Medi-Cal Rx Weekly Wrap-up for March 14-20 

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

The Board of Pharmacy posted a agenda for the Enforcement and Compounding Committee meeting on March 27. Please note the discussion and consideration of implementation of AB 1902 (Chapter 330, Statutes of 2024) related to prescription drug labels: accessibility.

Also in California, the Board of Pharmacy has proposed additional modifications to Title 16 CCR § 1708.2, related to the Discontinuance of Business.

• Notice of Second Modified Text
• Second Modified Text

Any person who wishes to comment on the proposed additional modifications may do so by submitting written comments beginning on March 11 and ending on March 26 to the following:

Contact Person: Lori Martinez

Agency Name: California State Board of Pharmacy

Address: 2720 Gateway Oaks Drive, Ste 100, Sacramento, CA 95833

Email: PharmacyRulemaking@dca.ca.gov

Fax: 916-574-8618

Any responses to comments directly concerning the proposed modifications to the text of the regulations will be considered and responded to in the Final Statement of Reasons.

Also in California, the Board of Pharmacy extends its sincere appreciation to its licensees for assisting the survivors of the Los Angeles Fires. Your commitment to California consumers is commendable. The Board has received notification that the Emergency Prescription Assistance Program (EPAP) ended on March 15. Once the EPAP activation ended, the vendor stopped processing further prescription claims for individuals in the designated Los Angeles zip codes.

Also in California, the Department of Health Care Service posted the following weekly notice on the Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal: Medi-Cal Rx Weekly Wrap-up for March 7-13.

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

• March 2025 Pharmacy Medi-Cal Update Bulletin
• March 2025 Durable Medical Equipment and Medical Services Medi-Cal Update Bulletin

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

In conjunction with the Joint Sunset Review Oversight Hearing on March 11, NACDS submitted a letter to both the Assembly Business & Professions Committee and the Senate Committee on Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee emphasizing the importance of modernizing pharmacy laws to authorize pharmacists to practice at the top of their education and training; to allow pharmacies to optimize the pharmacy technician workforce to enhance pharmacies’ capacity to meet patient demand for pharmacy care services; and to enable pharmacies to deploy new practice models and technologies to deliver care to their patients.

Also 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 February 28-March 6.

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:  

• Coming Soon: Completion of Pediatric Integration of Members 21 Years of Age and Younger 

• 30-day Countdown: Medi-Cal Rx Contract Drugs List Loading Dose Quantity Policy Update 

• Pharmacy Provider Dispensing Fee Self-Attestation 

• Maximum Allowable Ingredient Cost 30-day Pharmacy Provider Notice 

• Updates to the List of Contracted Enteral Nutrition Products, Effective April 1, 2025 

• Medi-Cal Rx Monthly Bulletin for March 

• Changes to the Medi-Cal Rx Contract Drugs List 

• Updates to the Medi-Cal Rx Provider Manual 

• Mass Adjustment for Professional Dispensing Fee Amount Increase for Impacted Claims with Date of Service July 1, 2024, through July 25, 2024 

• Medi-Cal Rx Weekly Wrap-up for February 21-27 

• Medi-Cal Rx to Mail Amended 2024 1099-MISC Form 

• Medi-Cal Rx Weekly Wrap-up for February 14-20 

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

The Board of Pharmacy announced the modification and/or extension of the waivers of Pharmacy Law issued in response to the Los Angeles Fires.

The waiver that provides flexibility to increase the number of pharmacy technicians a pharmacist may supervise has been modified and the expiration date has been extended to June 30, 2025 (or the termination date of the state of emergency, whichever is sooner).

The expiration date of the waiver that provides flexibility for pharmacy personnel to perform some functions from outside of a licensed pharmacy has been extended to June 30, 2025 (or the termination date of the state of emergency, whichever is sooner).

The expiration date of the waiver to allow for the delivery of drugs to an alternate location has been extended to March 31, 2025 (or the termination date of the state of emergency, whichever is sooner).

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

• February 2025 Pharmacy Medi-Cal Update Bulletin
• February 2025 Durable Medical Equipment and Medical Services Medi-Cal Update Bulletin

Finally in California, the Department of Health Care Services posted the following alerts and a weekly notice on the Medi-Cal Rx Web Portal. Please note the 2025 prescription volume attestation survey will be available to providers March 1 through March 31. Also, to avoid mail delivery delays and save paper, Medi-Cal Rx encourages pharmacy providers to opt into receiving the Medi-Cal Rx remittance information via the Electronic Remittance Advice (ERA) format.

• Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Payment for Error Rate Measurement Review
• Upcoming Pharmacy Professional Dispensing Fee Provider Self-Attestation
• Medi-Cal Rx Weekly Wrap-up for January 31-February 6
• State of Emergency Override Extension: Los Angeles and Ventura Counties
• Reminder: Providers Encouraged to Sign Up for Medi-Cal Rx Electronic Remittance Advice

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

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

• Reminder: Populate Usual & Customary Charge Field When Submitting a Claim 

• Medi-Cal Rx Monthly Bulletin for February 

• Changes to the Medi-Cal Rx Contract Drugs List 

• Updates to the Medi-Cal Rx Provider Manual 

• Now Active – Pediatric Integration for New Start Therapies and CCS Panel Authority 

• Updated: Medi-Cal Rx Enteral Nutrition Prior Authorization Request Form 

• Medi-Ca Rx Weekly Wrap-up for January 17-23 

Also in California, the Board of Pharmacy shared the California Health Alert Network message related to "Emergency Assistance for Those Impacted by the Wildfires." 

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

As of January 27, the Palisades Fire, Eaton Fire, and Hughes Fire have burned nearly 50,000 acres in the Los Angeles County area. The Palisades Fire is at 94% containment, Eaton Fire is at 98% containment, Hughes Fire is at 95% containment. There have been minimal pharmacy closures in the impacted areas of California due to the wildfires. Healthcare Ready deactivated RxOpen on January 28 but will be monitoring the event in case any other impacts arise.

The Emergency Prescription Assistance Program (EPAP) was activated last week– and will remain active through March 15, 2025 – for those impacted by the California wildfires. Pharmacies and pharmacists play an essential role in educating patients about the availability of EPAP benefits. We encourage and support sharing the resources below with the public to enhance awareness:

• ASPR EPAP Notice: https://aspr.hhs.gov/EPAP/Pages/California-Wildfires-2025.aspx
  • EPAP Website: https://aspr.hhs.gov/epap/Pages/default.aspx
  • EPAP Hotline: 855-793-7470 (TTY 1-800-876-1089)
• Link to Fact Sheets:
  • English – https://aspr.hhs.gov/EPAP/Documents/epap-need2know-ENG.pdf
  • Spanish – https://aspr.hhs.gov/EPAP/Documents/epap-need2know-SPANISH.pdf

NACDS is working with Healthcare Ready to provide support with outreach. Any insight, feedback or concerns regarding patient utilization of EPAP is appreciated. Please share your feedback with NACDS’ Lincy Abraham no later than February 3. If you are interested and willing to help support efforts to enhance awareness, you may also contact Healthcare Ready at 866-247-2694.

Also in California, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking pertaining to Pharmacist Services, DHCS-19-002. The written comment period closes on February 5, 2025. DHSC posted the following related to the Public Comment Period

• Initial Statement of Reasons
• Proposed Regulation Text (PDF)
• Proposed Regulation Text (PDF) (Text Only)

Also 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 17-23.

Also in California, the Board of Pharmacy has proposed additional modifications to Title 16 CCR § 1711, related to the Quality Assurance Programs. Any person who wishes to comment on the proposed modifications may do so by submitting written comments beginning January 27 and ending on February 11, to the following:

Contact Person: Lori Martinez

Agency Name: California State Board of Pharmacy

Address: 2720 Gateway Oaks Drive, Ste 100, Sacramento, CA 95834

Email: PharmacyRulemaking@dca.ca.gov

Fax: (916) 574-8618

Any responses to comments directly concerning the proposed modifications to the text of the regulations will be considered and responded to in the Final Statement of Reasons.

All documents related to this regulatory action are available on the Board’s website: https://www.pharmacy.ca.gov/laws_regs/pending_regs.shtml.

Also in California, the board of pharmacy issued a reminder that licenses that are eligible for renewal will be processed online effective January 1, 2025. Those who are eligible include:

• Pharmacist
• Advanced Practice Pharmacist
• Pharmacy Technician
• Designated Representative – Wholesaler
• Designated Representative – Veterinary Food-Animal Drug Retailer
• Designated Representative – 3PL
• Designated Representative – Reverse Distributor

In most cases, the license expires at the end of the month of the licensee’s registered birthday for pharmacists, advanced practice pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. For designated representatives, the license expires at the first of the month.

The Board of Pharmacy will no longer mail out a paper renewal application for the above licenses. In its place, a postcard reminder will be sent approximately six weeks prior to the license expiration date and the licensee will renew by going to www.pharmacy.ca.gov. The postcard is only a reminder, if the licensee does not receive a postcard, they are still required to submit his/her payment on-time to avoid a delinquency fee and possible cancellation of the license.

For Pharmacists and Advanced Practice Pharmacists, if your license expired more than two years ago, you are not eligible to renew your license online. Contact the Board at RenewalStatus@dca.ca.gov for assistance.

Renewal payment transactions must be completed prior to 5:00 pm Pacific on the date the license expires to avoid the delinquency fee.

Online payments made after 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time are not credited on the day of the transaction. Print the payment confirmation at the end of this transaction for your records. Once the online payment is submitted, please allow two business days for processing.

Licensees are required to notify the board of any change of address within 30 days. Change of address may take between 7-10 business days to update in the system. If the correct address is not in the system at the time of renewal, the process may be delayed. Address changes can be made on-line or in writing to the board.

When renewing online, the licensee must confirm that his/her address is correct before submitting the paymentFees changed beginning January 1, 2025. The updated fee schedule with the new fees has been posted on the board’s website.

Also in California, the Board of Pharmacy posted the February 5-6, 2025 Board meeting agenda on its website. Of interest, please note the discussion and possible action related to compounded drug preparations, hazardous drugs and radiopharmaceuticals and waiver of pharmacy law provisions in response to the state of emergency related to the Palisades Fire.

Finally in California, Covered California announced a special enrollment period for residents of Los Angeles and Ventura counties until March 8, 2025. Resources are available through Los Angeles County and the State of California.  Of the 1.3 million uninsured Californians who qualify for subsidies through Covered California or are eligible for Medi-Cal coverage, 356,000 reside in Southern California. Through the BenefitsCal portal, Californians can get and manage benefits online. This includes food assistance (CalFresh, formerly food stamps), cash aid (CalWORKs, General Assistance, Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants), and affordable health insurance (Medi-Cal).

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