The Florida Board of Pharmacy proposed to amend regulations under FAC 64B16-30 to clarify the disciplinary guidelines, the range of penalties, and the list of aggravating and mitigating circumstances. Comment Due Date: 10-25-2021.

Also in Florida, the Florida Board of Pharmacy proposed to amend regulations under FAC 64B16-26 to update incorporated forms for licensure and immunization administration. Comment Due Date: 10-25-2021.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.

The Agency for Health Care Administration (Agency) announced a CME learning opportunity free of cost for eligible providers. The Agency aims to reduce the impact of substance use disorders in Florida by increasing the capacity of health care providers to screen, briefly intervene, and refer to treatment (SBIRT) individuals with substance use disorder. In this online CME program, providers will learn how to use SBIRT in their daily practices. This learning event particularly emphasizes SBIRT practice tips in the evaluation and management of pregnant women. The CME is available to providers online from the University of Florida at the following link.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.

Reminder, Effective October 1, 2021, fee-for-service pharmacy claims must identify prescribers by their National Provider Identifier (NPI) and the prescribers must be actively enrolled with Florida Medicaid or the claims will be denied at the point of sale. Prescribers must be enrolled with Florida Medicaid in accordance with Title 42, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 455.410(b). For more information related to the Florida Medicaid NCPDP D.0 Payer Specifications, please reference the D.0. Specs (Updated 07/07/2021) available on the Pharmacy Information page of the Web Portal.

Also in Florida, as part of Constitutional Amendment No. 2 passed by voters in the 2020 election, Florida’s minimum wage is set for a notable increase. Effective September 30, 2021 the state minimum wage will increase from $8.65 per hour to $10.00 per hour (a 13.5% increase). In accordance with the amendment, the minimum wage is set for annual increases on the path to a $15 minimum wage by September 30, 2026. The requirement applies to both public and private employers, regardless of size. In addition to increasing pay, Florida employers also face posting obligations to reflect the new amounts, posters that comply with the posting requirement can be found here.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.

Effective October 1, 2021, fee-for-service (FFS) pharmacy claims must identify prescribers by their National Provider Identifier (NPI) and the prescribers must be actively enrolled with Florida Medicaid or the claims will be denied at the point of sale. Prescribers must be enrolled with Florida Medicaid in accordance with Title 42, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 455.410(b). This requirement does not pertain to pharmacists, state-authorized pharmacy interns, and qualified pharmacy technicians who administer pediatric and COVID-19 immunizations under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act. Pharmacy claims must continue to identify the administering pharmacist by Florida pharmacist license number (i.e., PSXXXXXXX), submitted as the prescriber ID in the National Council for Prescription Drug Programs (NCPDP) field 411-DB for the following vaccines and immunizations covered under the PREP Act, in accordance with or identified by the Advisor Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP CDC vaccines). More information can be found here.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.

Effective 10-1-21 WellCare of Florida, Inc. d/b/a Staywell Health Plan of Florida, Inc. (Staywell) Members will Transfer to Sunshine State Health Plan, Inc. (Sunshine). The WellCare of Florida, Inc. d/b/a Staywell Health Plan of Florida, Inc. (Staywell) legal entity will be merging with Sunshine State Health Plan, Inc. (Sunshine Health).  The Agency for Health Care Administration will move Staywell’s Medicaid membership, including Serious Mental Illness (SMI) Specialty Plan membership, to the Sunshine Health plan effective October 1, 2021.  In addition, Children’s Medical Services (CMS) Health Plan, which has been operated by WellCare through a contract with the Florida Department of Health, will be operated by Sunshine Health effective October 1, 2021. Sunshine Health will be issuing new Medicaid ID cards.  All billing and claims reimbursement will be provided by Sunshine Health for dates of service beginning October 1, 2021.  All Staywell claims for service dates prior to October 1, 2021, must continue to be submitted through Staywell and related questions may be directed to Staywell at 1-866-334-7927 (TTY 711) Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Providers that are out of network as of October 1, 2021, will be eligible for a 120-day continuity of care period where claims will be payable to allow time for members to transition to a new provider, if necessary. The continuity of care period ends on January 31, 2022.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.

Magellan Complete Care Members will transfer to Molina Healthcare of Florida, Inc. Molina Healthcare of Florida, Inc. (Molina) acquired Florida MHS, Inc., D/B/A Magellan Complete Care (Magellan), a Medicaid specialty plan specializing in the care of those with Serious Mental Illness (SMI). The Agency for Health Care Administration will move Magellan’s membership to Molina effective September 1, 2021. Molina will be issuing new Medicaid ID cards. All billing and claims reimbursement will be provided by Molina for dates of service beginning September 1, 2021. All claims for service dates prior to September 1, 2021, must continue to be submitted through Magellan and related questions may be directed to Magellan at 1-800-327-8613. Providers that are out of network as of September 1, 2021, will be eligible for a 60-day continuity of care period where claims will be payable to allow time for members to transition to a new provider, if necessary. The continuity of care period ends on October 31, 2021.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.

Effective immediately, the Florida Medicaid Management Information System (FMMIS) will no longer pay for services billed to Medicaid for recipients enrolled in a Fully Liable Medicare Advantage Plan. On May 3, 2021, the Agency issued a Medicaid Health Care Alert titled “Effective July 1:  Providers Must Bill Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNP) for All Services”, which informed providers that effective July 1, 2021, the Florida Medicaid Management Information System (FMMIS) would no longer pay for services billed to Medicaid for recipients enrolled in a Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan (D-SNP).  This alert is to clarify that this requirement also applies to Florida’s Fully Liable Medicare Advantage Plans, and that providers must bill all services to a recipient’s Fully Liable Medicare Advantage Plan. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.

The Florida Division of Disease Control intends to amend regulations under FAC 64D-3 to establish reporting requirements for all practitioners and enrolled coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccine providers administering such vaccines.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.

The Florida Division of Disease Control intends to amend regulations under FAC 64D-3 to establish reporting requirements for all practitioners and enrolled coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccine providers administering such vaccines.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.