The Iowa Pharmacy Association’s scope of practice legislation was not advanced by a Subcommittee of the Human Resources Committee after hearing from proponents and opponents of the bill. The legislation seeks to expand pharmacist immunization authority and establish statewide protocol for point of care testing for flu and streptococcus A.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.
The Iowa Medicaid Enterprise has added a new provider type to allow pharmacists to enroll as Medicaid providers. Pursuant to statewide protocols, this will allow pharmacists to order and dispense naloxone and nicotine replacement therapy tobacco cessation products, as well as to order and administer vaccines to Medicaid members. For details, please see the Informational Letter No. 2048-MC-FFS dated November 18.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.
The Iowa Medicaid Enterprise has added a new provider type to allow pharmacists to enroll as Medicaid providers. Pursuant to statewide protocols, this will allow pharmacists to order and dispense naloxone and nicotine replacement therapy tobacco cessation products, as well as to order and administer vaccines to Medicaid members. For details, please see the Informational Letter No. 2048-MC-FFS dated November 18.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.
Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) signed into law HF 766, which, among its provisions, includes appropriations for health and human services. The Act codifies pharmacy reimbursement at Average Acquisition Cost (AAC) and establishes a professional dispensing fee of $10.07 for the fiscal year beginning Monday, July 1. Also, this reimbursement methodology serves as a rate floor for Medicaid managed care.
Also in Iowa… The Board of Pharmacy issued a press release to remind pharmacy stakeholders about revised rules for the Prescription Monitoring Program that took effect on May 15. Changes include policies pertaining to reporting elements, delegation and registration. Questions can be directed to Jennifer Tiffany and Sharon Smith.
Also in Iowa… Gov. Reynolds also signed into law SF 563, which requires Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) to submit an annual report to the Iowa Insurance Commissioner. The report must include information such as the administrative fees collected and rebates received that the PBM does not pass on to its customer health plans.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.
Gov. Kim Reynolds(R) appointed Kathy Stone, PharmD, and Dane Nealson, CPhT, to the Board of Pharmacy. Dane Nealson is the first technician to serve on the Board. Lawyer Joan Skogstrom was also reappointed.
Also in Iowa, the Board of Pharmacy delayed the effective date for its final rulesamending minimum requirements for participation in statewide protocols. The rules are now effective Wednesday, May 15.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.
Several rule changes from the Iowa Board of Pharmacy will take effect on Wednesday, January 23, including Dispensing and electronic transfer of prescriptions by pharmacy technicians, Board membership and responsibilities, Wholesale distributor licenses, Limited distributor licenses, and Third-party logistics provider licenses. Additional information on these rules and others can be found on the Iowa legislature’s rule tracking website.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.
CMS approved the State Plan Amendment (SPA) to increase the professional dispensing fee from $10.02 to $10.07 effective November 1. State statute requires a cost of dispensing survey every two years. $10.07 reflects the results of the 2018 survey. More information can be found in the Department of Human Services’ Informational Letter No. 1959-MC-FFS.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.
Effective Saturday, December 1, the Medicaid pharmacy copayment for prescriptions drugs and refills will be $1.00 regardless of a drug’s status on the Preferred Drug List. For more information, please contact Harry Rossander at the Department of Human Service Bureau of Policy Coordination or NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.
Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) signed into law SF 2322 into law, effective 90 days after adjournment, containing a wide-ranging provisions impacting community pharmacy. The bill authorizes the Board of Pharmacy to develop statewide protocols for naloxone, nicotine replacement products and immunizations. Once the statewide protocol for immunizations takes effect, pharmacists will have independent authority to provide immunizations, meaning a local protocol or a prescription from a physician is no longer required. Pharmacists will be able to administer flu vaccines to patients age six months of age and older (currently eighteen years and above, except in public health emergencies). Pursuant to a protocol to be developed by the Board in consultation with the Department of Public Health, pharmacists will be able to administer the final two doses of HPV vaccination to patients eleven years of age and older. The law also permits technician product verification in the community and hospital settings, charging the Board of Pharmacy with issuing rules for implementation. NACDS acknowledges the Iowa Pharmacy Association for its leadership and advocacy efforts to enact this legislation.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Joel Kurzman at 847-905-0555.