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.

The Department of Health and Human Services, Iowa Medicaid posted INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 2686-MC-FFS-D RE: July 2025 Iowa Medicaid Pharmacy Program Changes effective July 1, 2025. 

Also in Iowa, the Department of Health and Human Services reported a confirmed case of measles in central Iowa in an unvaccinated adult. The case tested positive through the State Hygienic Laboratory and is the first confirmed case of measles in the state this year, and the first case in Iowa since 2019.  

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

The Department of Health and Human Services, Iowa Medicaid posted INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 2685-MC-FFS-D – June 2025 Iowa Medicaid Pharmacy Program Changes effective June 1. 

Also in Iowa, Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) announced the US Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service approved a demonstration project for the state's own summer food pilot program. Healthy Kids Iowa is an alternative to the summer EBT program that serves Iowa children healthier foods at a lower cost by leveraging Iowa's already-existing, successful network of summer feeding programs and community providers.  With the state's summer feeding demonstration project, each family will be able to select $40 worth of fresh and nutritious food for each eligible child per month. Families will be able to choose their monthly items, respecting their preferences and cultural and dietary needs.  The Healthy Kids Iowa pilot program will run in June, July and August 2025. 

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

The Iowa Pharmacy Association (IPA) announced the selection of Matthew Pitlick, PharmD, BCPS, as its next Executive Vice President & CEO. Since its founding in 1880, Pitlick will serve as IPA’s ninth Chief Executive Officer. Matthew Pitlick is a graduate of Drake University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Pitlick served as clinical faculty at the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis, MO, for eight years before returning to his home state of Iowa. In 2018, Pitlick completed a one-year fellowship in Association Management with IPA. Dr. Pitlick will begin his service as incoming CEO on April 28, allowing for a brief overlap with Kate Gainer, PharmD, who will conclude her service as IPA’s CEO on June 6.

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

Both Iowa HF 852/SF 383, PBM reform legislation, successfully passed the first important hurdle by advancing out of the House Committee on Commerce and the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services, respectively. These bills include significant reforms permitting patient choice of pharmacy; prohibiting a PBM from reimbursing a pharmacy in an amount less than NADAC plus a professional dispensing fee in the amount of $10.60; requiring a process for pharmacies to appeal a reimbursement rate for a specific prescription; and requiring a pass-through pricing model to help ensure that payments received by the PBM for providing services are used or distributed pursuant to the PBM’s contract with the payor or with the pharmacy.

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

NACDS sponsored and attended the recent Iowa Pharmacy Association’s (IPA) Pharmacy Day on the Hill that included 200 pharmacy professionals in Des Moines to advocate for PBM reform at the Iowa State Capitol.  The comprehensive PBM reform bill (HSB 99 / SSB 1074) passed out of subcommittee in the House and Senate and moves on to consideration by the full committees in both chambers as early as this week. IPA also hosted a PBM Reform Press Conference, revealing the latest poll data demonstrating resounding support for PBM reform among Iowans. These companion bills include important NACDS PBM reform legislative priorities including patient choice of pharmacy, anti-mandatory mail order, and commercial cost-based rate floor reimbursement methodology for the product and professional dispensing fee as published by the Iowa Medicaid Enterprise provider fee schedule. Also, a PBM cannot deny a pharmacy or pharmacist the right to participate as a contract provider under a plan if the pharmacy or pharmacist agrees to the terms and requirements of the plan and the terms of reimbursement.

Also in Iowa, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Iowa Medicaid posted INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 2660-MC-FFS RE: Quantity Limit Update on Needles and Syringes effective March 1.

Finally in Iowa, the Department of Inspections, Appeals & Licensing’s Professional Health Committee – Pharmacy announced a meeting to be held on February 26.

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