Illinois

The Department of Healthcare and Family Services issued a Provider Letter with information about implementing dispensing fee changes for Critical Access Pharmacies as per the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services' Covered Outpatient Drugs Rule. Please note the information applies only to fee-for-service claims.

Also in Illinois… Gov. JB Pritzker (D) signed into law SB 2104 HA 1 extending the sunset on the Illinois Pharmacy Practice Act to December 31, 2023. According to the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, changes included limitations on working a 12-hour day, breaks and meals, pharmacy technician training, whistleblower protections, and other prohibited activities that distract the pharmacist. The Collaborative Pharmaceutical Task Force is also reconstituted and will work toward offering additional recommendations by October 1, 2020.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.

inthenews2019-12-19T08:59:21-05:00December 19, 2019|Illinois|

Illinois

SB 2104, that includes language to extend the Pharmacy Practice Act until Sunday, January 1, 2023, is headed to the desk of Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D). The bill contains many of the recommendations from the Collaborative Pharmaceutical Task Force.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.

inthenews2019-12-12T09:48:44-05:00December 12, 2019|Illinois|

Illinois

SB 2104, that includes language to extend The Pharmacy Practice Act until Sunday, January 1, 2023, is headed to the desk of Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D). The bill contains many of the recommendations from the Collaborative Pharmaceutical Task Force.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.

inthenews2019-11-21T12:05:57-05:00November 21, 2019|Illinois|

Illinois

The Illinois Collaborative Pharmaceutical Care Task Force submitted its recommendations to the General Assembly as required by Public Act 100-0497. That will inform future efforts to update the Practice Act.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.

inthenews2019-09-19T12:13:12-04:00September 19, 2019|Illinois|

Illinois

The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Service published a bulletin with information about its medication synchronization program resulting from Public Act 100-0138.

Also in Illinois… Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) signed into law SB 1715 pertaining to pharmacist authority to administer long-acting injectables.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.

inthenews2019-08-22T10:27:28-04:00August 22, 2019|Illinois|

Illinois

Gov. Bruce Rauner (R) signed into law the following legislation:

SB 2952 directing the Department of Human Services to adopt rules permitting pharmacists to authorize designees to consult the Prescription Monitoring Program on their behalf, provided the designee has been trained in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
HB 4707, creating a Prescription Drug Task Force, among whose responsibilities will be to study prescription opioid abuse in the state; study the over-prescribing by physicians of opioids; and recommend any legislation that would have the effect of reducing opioid addiction and abuse. The Task Force will report its findings to the General Assembly by Tuesday, December 31, 2019.
SB 2524, creating Pharmaceutical Disposal Task Force, a primary duty of which will be to coordinate a statewide public information campaign to highlight the benefits of and opportunities to properly dispose of pharmaceutical products.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.

inthenews2018-09-07T16:35:23-04:00September 7, 2018|Illinois|

Illinois

The Department of Human Services announced that, for a second consecutive year, they will receive grant money from the 21st Century Cures Act to fight the opioid crisis. Among its uses, the $16 million grant will enable enhancements to the prescription monitoring program.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.

inthenews2018-05-10T15:51:49-04:00May 3, 2018|Illinois|

Illinois

The state’s Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) adopted rules effective May 1 for individuals or organizations to take back and dispose medications. For more information, please contact Gabriel Neibergall, an IEPA attorney, at 217-782-5544.

Also in Illinois…The Department of Public Health (IDPH) launched its Opioid Data Dashboard, a website offering information about how opioids are affecting people in Illinois, including rates of opioid prescriptions by county. Additional information about efforts to curb abuse and misuse is available in the State of Illinois Opioid Action Plan.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.

inthenews2018-04-25T15:18:28-04:00April 19, 2018|Illinois|

Illinois

In the wake of new counties being added to the Medicaid Managed Care program (HealthChoice Illinois) effective April 1, the Illinois Pharmacists Association (IPhA) is in regular contact with the Department of Health and Family Services about challenges with patient transitions from fee-for-service to managed care. IPhA indicates that pharmacies having unresolved issues with Medicaid recipients can email IPhA. Please include the Recipient Identification Number (RIN), which MCO (not PBM) and any relevant notes. To file a complaint so that it is on the record, visit the HFS webpage and complete Illinois’ Medicaid Managed Care Organization (MCO) Provider Complaint Form. IPhA also encourages Medicaid recipients who need to enroll or call HealthChoice Illinois with questions to call 877-912-8880 (TTY: 1-866-565-8576) Monday to Friday from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.

inthenews2018-04-25T11:03:17-04:00April 5, 2018|Illinois|