The Department of Appeals and Licensing published its Pharma Phacts Newsletter (February 2026). Highlights include the following:

• New Jurisprudence Exam Starts April 1, 2026
• Prescription Management Program (PMP) Updates
• Compliance Corner
  • Reminder to Keep License Profile Updated?
  • Notification of Change of Pharmacist in Charge
  • FDA Warns of Counterfeit Ozempic in US Drug Supply Chain
  • Retatrutide in Iowa
  • Reminder of Actions to Take After Identification of Fraudulent Controlled Substance Prescription

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

Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the state has been awarded funding through the Rural Health Transformation Program. The state’s innovative proposal, Healthy Hometowns, will receive $209 million for the first year of implementation. Healthy Hometowns is a plan to strengthen health care in rural communities by making care more accessible, connected and patient focused. Healthy Hometowns includes five key initiatives: building partnerships to expand health care options in rural areas; improving cancer prevention, treatment and outcomes; supporting projects that bring different types of providers together under one roof; making health records accessible across the state so patients can get care wherever they are; and investing in telehealth and mobile health care programs, including high-risk maternal transport.

Also in Iowa, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Medicaid posted the following: INFORMATIONAL LETTER [IL] NO. 2710-MC-FFS-D RE: Pharmacy 90-Day Supply Requirement – AMENDED, effective December 1, 2025. This letter serves as an amendment to IL-2710. Published on November 14, 2025. The update includes excluding the Indian Health Service providers from the 90-supply requirement. The effective date of the informational letter remains the same.

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

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Medicaid posted the following: INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 2717-MC-FFS RE: Annual Submission Requirements Regarding Prevention and Detection of Medicaid Fraud and Abuse, effective immediately.

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

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Medicaid posted the following. Please note effective December 1, the optional 90-day supply allowance will now be a required 90-day supply prescription list. The list of medications for this requirement is posted on the PDL website; see letter below for details. 

• INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 2713-MC-D: Commercial Lesser of Logic, effective, December 1 

• INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 2711-[MC]: Telehealth Services – Please of Service Codes Reimbursement, effective December 1 

• INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 2710-[MC-FFS-D]: Pharmacy 90-day Supply Requirement, effective December 1 

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

Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) announced the state submitted its application to CMS for the Rural Health Transformation Program. The proposal, titled Healthy Hometowns, is aimed at building a high-quality, sustainable system of care that improves the health, well-being and quality of life in rural communities across the state. Healthy Hometowns is Iowa's strategic response—developed in collaboration with rural hospitals, health systems, and community partners—to address these challenges through a hub and spoke model of care. More information about Iowa's Rural Health Transformation proposal, including its application, is available online.  

Also in Iowa, the Department of Health and Human Services (Iowa HHS) launched a new funding opportunity to help communities across the state respond to the opioid crisis. This funding comes from HF 1038 passed earlier this year, which directs 75% of Iowa's opioid settlement money toward efforts to reduce opioid misuse and its impacts.  

The Iowa HHS will allocate this funding through a competitive application process. There will be two rounds of funding: one starting now and another in the spring. Each project can receive up to $1 million, with $7 million available in each round. 

Projects must focus on one or more of the following goals:  

• Identifying and addressing needs in communities affected by opioids. 

• Using proven or community-based methods to support people impacted by opioid use. 

• Working with local service providers to improve recovery outcomes. 

• Promoting the use of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and distributing overdose reversal drugs (OORM). 

• Respecting the privacy and dignity of people receiving services. 

• Using data to show results and improve services. 

For more information or to apply, visit: https://www.iowagrants.gov/viewStorefrontOpportunity.do?OIDString=1758745329639%7COpportunity 

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

The Iowa Insurance Division (IID) released Bulletin 25-06 RE: Prohibited Use of Deceptive and Unfair Practices and Implementation of SF 383.

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

The Department of Health and Human Services announced that Lee Grossman has been appointed as the new Director of Iowa Medicaid. Grossman, an Iowa native, brings more than 14 years of experience from the Wyoming Department of Health, where he most recently served as Medicaid Director since February 2023. Lee will begin this new role in early September.

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

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) confirmed a case of measles in an adult resident of Western Iowa and has notified the public of potential exposure locations. The individual is fully vaccinated and has no known link to the previous measles cases in Iowa, nor any recent travel outside the state. Iowa has a total of eight confirmed measles cases in 2025. For the latest information on measles in Iowa, visit the Iowa HHS Center for Acute Disease Epidemiology disease information page. This page is updated weekly, on Thursdays, with current case counts and public health guidance. 

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

The Department of Health and Human Services, Iowa Medicaid posted to the attention of all Medicaid Medical Providers and Pharmacies INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 2693-MC-FFS RE: Implementation of House File 1049-Gender Transition Surgeries or Associated Procedures effective July 1, 2025.  

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