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.

The Board of Pharmacy launched its new database on May 1. Online licensing and renewals are expected to be available on Tuesday, May 15.

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

Effective April 4, the Board of Pharmacy transitioned the state’s Prescription Monitoring Program to Appriss Health’s AWARxE platform. Please visit the Board’s website for more information, including a user guide and frequently asked questions.

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

The Board of Pharmacy announced, effective Wednesday, May 16, that dispensers will be required to report to the Prescription Monitoring Program by the next business day following dispensing. Questions can be directed to Jennifer Tiffany at 515-242-5139.

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

The Iowa Medicaid Enterprise (IME) mailed its 2018 cost of dispensing surveys to pharmacies this week with a deadline for response of Friday, March 30. The determined dispensing fee will take effect Wednesday, August 1. More information is available in the IME Informational Letter NO. 1875-MC-FFS.

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

The Department of Human Services (DHS) issued an Informational Letter with details about its upcoming cost of dispensing survey. As in previous years, NACDS submitted feedback to DHS about the survey instrument. Surveys will be mailed Tuesday, February 6 with a due date of Friday, March 30.

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