Beginning this week, the Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) will provide cash assistance of up to $350 for active enrollees in Medicaid, PeachCare for Kids, SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), and/or TANF government benefit programs.  

Georgians with email addresses registered with DHS will receive virtual payments by eGift card, this is separate from current benefit payment cards. Plastic cards will be mailed to eligible Georgians who do not have their email address listed in Gateway. 

The virtual payment card is a Mastercard prepaid card that works exactly like a debit card – and will live in the recipient’s digital wallet (Apple, Google, Samsung Wallets). The virtual payments can also be used via keyed entry anywhere that accepts Mastercard payments, not just online.  

Also in Georgia, the Georgia Pharmacy Foundation is offing a free CPE (Continuing Pharmacy Education) online seminar, Pharmacy Well Being – Strategies to Mitigate Burnout, presented by PharmWell, on Thursday, November 17, 2022, 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm. CLICK HERE to register.  

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

The Georgia Board of Pharmacy is excited to announce and introduce the first installment of a new “Newsletter.” The newsletter will be produced on a quarterly basis and is intended to provide insights and updates on the profession of pharmacy in Georgia. The newsletter will also be posted on the GBOP website for easy access as well. Since the newsletter is a new resource, the Board asks that you please distribute it to others in your organization or staff.

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

The Georgia Pharmacy Association presents “APhA’s Delivering Medication Therapy Management Services: A Certificate Training Program for Pharmacists” on March 27 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. This live training is being held via Zoom Meetings. Click here to register! 

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

The Georgia Department of Public Health is asking for our assistance in gathering prescription data (de-identified) for the most prescribed hepatitis C antivirals. A work group at the Department is trying to determine which physicians in Georgia routinely diagnose and treat hepatitis C. As an example, the Department would be interested in data that might show hypothetically that “Dr. Brown in Albany, Georgia prescribed Harvoni to 500 patients in Georgia in 2021.” Ideally, the Department would like the data for Mavyret, Harvoni and Epclusa for 1-2 years. Please submit all data and any questions to Raybun Spelts, Clinical Pharmacist Specialist, Infectious Disease and Vaccines at the Department. His contact information is: raybun.spelts@dph.ga.gov (404)683-4949.  

Of note, the Georgia Department of Public Health has personally reached out to thank chain drug pharmacy for being willing to try to assist the Department in this health initiative.  

Also, the Georgia Pharmacy Association is looking for the team that will shape the future of pharmacy in Georgia and is now accepting applications for the 2022-2023 GPhA (Georgia Pharmacy Association) Board of Directors. Serving on the board is the opportunity to level the playing field and make a lasting contribution to the industry. There are two open positions: One board member at large and One Academy of Independent Pharmacy (AIP) member. If you have questions before you apply, contact Lia Andros, Governance Manager, at landros@gpha.org. The deadline for application is 11:59 p.m. EST on Saturday, March 5, 2022. Click here for more information and to submit a nomination.  

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

Georgia Pharmacy Association presents “APhA’s Delivering Medication Therapy Management Services: A Certificate Training Program for Pharmacists.” Sunday, March 27, 2022, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. This live training is being held virtually via Zoom Meetings. Click here to register! 

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

The Georgia Board of Pharmacy has just begun the process for reviving a quarterly, electronic newsletter. President of the Board, Dean Stone has appointed Chuck Page and Young Chang to lead this effort. Chuck has reached out and asked that our members provide him with the email addresses of everyone in their pharmacy operations whom they want to begin receiving these future newsletters. Please just provide this information directly to Chuck Page. His email address is chuck.page@kroger.com.

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

Text replaced here!GPhA (Georgia Pharmacy Association) is offering Immunization Delivery Training for Pharmacy Technicians, a six-hour CE program consisting of both home-study and live training. Under HHS authorization (PREP Act 10.20.20) trained pharmacy technicians can administer certain vaccines under the supervision and authorization of a pharmacist. 
 
GPhA is offering live training on Saturday, February 19, 2022, in Sandy Springs. Space is limited so do not wait. More information can be found here.

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

Immunization Delivery Training for Pharmacy Technicians. A 6.0 hour CE program consisting of both home-study and live training. Under HHS authorization (PREP Act 10.20.20) trained pharmacy technicians can administer certain vaccines under the supervision and authorization of a pharmacist. GPhA is offering live training on 

 Saturday, February 19, 2022 
9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Georgia Pharmacy Association Classroom  

GPhA’s Immunization Delivery Training program for Pharmacy Technicians is recognized as an education provider for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board’s (PTCB) Immunization Administration Assessment-Based Certificate. CLICK HERE for more information and to register! 

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

The Georgia Medicaid Fee-For-Service pharmacy system has now been updated to accept a pharmacist’s NPI as the prescriber ID on flu vaccine claims using a Submission Clarification Code = 42. The below communication will be sent in an upcoming pharmacy banner. 

PHARMACIST ORDERED FLU VACCINES

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued an eighth amendment to the Declaration under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREP Act), expanding the authority for pharmacists to order influenza vaccines. For flu vaccine claims with fill dates on or after 08/04/2021, pharmacies may utilize a Submission Clarification Code (SCC) of 42 in NCPDP Field: 420-DK in response to a rejection regarding prescriber NPI when the prescribing NPI is the pharmacist of record and is compliant with state and federal guidlines. 

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