The Board of Pharmacy posted its agenda and meeting materials for the October 25 meeting. The meeting will be held via Zoom and in-person at the Board of Pharmacy office.

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

The Department of Health and Human Services, Iowa Medicaid issued the following:

• INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 2372-MC-FFS Eligibility Recovery Claim Submission Guidance
• INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 2381-MC-FFS Policy Clarifications
• INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 2362-MC-FFS Omnipod Insulin Management Systems

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

The Department of Health and Human Services, Iowa Medicaid issued the following: 

• INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO 2377-MC Iowa Medicaid Managed Care Town Halls September 2022
  INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO 2375-MC HHS Announces Winning Bidders for IA Health Link RFP (RFP MED-23-005)
• INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO 2370-MC-FFS October 2022 Iowa Medicaid Pharmacy Program Changes 
• INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO 2369-MC-FFS Participation in the Federal Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Payment Error Rate Measurement (PERM) Program 
• INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO 2368-MC-FFS 2022 Iowa Medicaid Annual Provider Training 
• HHS Announces New Mission, Vision and Brand
• HHS Announces Intent to Award New Managed Care Contracts 

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

The Board of Pharmacy posted its agenda and meeting materials for the August 24 meeting. Of interest, note the “Review of Proposed Edits to the Board’s Statewide Protocols and Vote on Approval” for Point-of-Care Test and Treat for both Influenza and Strep A. Also, under “Rules and Legislation,” note items #4 related to the PMP and #5 related to registered nurses engaging in the practice of nursing pursuant to a pharmacist’s order.

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

The Board of Pharmacy published the following rulemaking.

• Adopted (effective August 31, 2022)
  • ARC 6416C adopted and amends Chapter 3, “Pharmacy Technicians”, and Chapter 6, “General Pharmacy Practice” related to pharmacist delegation of technical functions.
  • ARC 6417C adopted and amends Chapter 8, “Universal Practice Standards”, and Chapter 19, “Nonresident Pharmacy Practice”
  • ARC 6418C adopted and amends Chapter 12, “Precursor Substances”

• Notice of Intended Action (Comments may be submitted until 4:30 p.m. on August 16, 2022.)

• • ARC 6421C amends Chapter 23, “Care Facility Pharmacy Practice”.
  • ARC 6422C amends Chapter 41, “Outsourcing Facilities”.
  • ARC 6423C amends Chapter 14, “Public Information and Inspection of Records”.
  • ARC 6424C amends Chapter 12, “Precursor Substances”.
  • ARC 6425C amends Chapter 10, “Controlled Substances”.

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

The Department of Health and Human Services issued INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 2352-MC-FFS outlining the following August 2022 Iowa Medicaid Pharmacy Program Changes effective August 1, 2022.

1. New Drug Prior Authorization (PA) Criteria
   • Finerenone (Kerendia)
   • Odevixibat (Bylvay)
   • Pegcetacoplan (Empaveli)
2. Changes to Existing PA Criteria
   • PCSK9 Inhibitors
3. Point of Sale Billing Updates:
   • ProDUR Quantity Limits
4. Drug Utilization Review (DUR) Update

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

The Iowa Medicaid Enterprise (IME) released the final July 2022 Cost of Dispensing (COD) Report with the following results:   

• The report reflects the mean cost of dispensing, weighted by Medicaid volume, was $10.97 per prescription for all pharmacies, including specialty pharmacies. 
• For non-specialty pharmacies only, the mean cost of dispensing, weighted by Medicaid volume, was $10.18 per prescription.    

IME stated the current dispensing fee of $10.38 will remain in place until additional state funding is appropriated by the Legislature next session to increase the dispensing fee to $10.97. A state plan amendment (SPA) would also be required, if funding is approved, and the increase would be prospective following CMS approval of the SPA. 

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

On June 13, Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) signed HF 2384 related to PBMs (Pharmacy Benefit Managers) including MAC (Maximum Allowable Cost) lists, claw backs and enforcement.  

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

NACDS submitted comments to the Board of Pharmacy in support of proposed rule changes that would make permanent the temporary allowances for remote processing. These were granted by Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) and the Board of Pharmacy in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency. If adopted, the proposed rule would permit pharmacists to provide remote counseling services and allow certified pharmacy technicians to perform delegated functions at a location that is not a licensed pharmacy. 

Also in Iowa, the Board of The Board of Pharmacy has posted its meeting minutes from the March 1, 2022, meeting. 

Finally in Iowa, the Department of Human Services issued INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 2337-MC-FFS announcing the following June 2022 Iowa Medicaid Pharmacy Program Changes effective June 1, 2022. 

1. Changes to the Preferred Drug List (PDL) Effective June 1, 2022 
2. New Drug PA [Prior Authorization] Criteria – Triheptanoin (Dojolvi) 
3. Changes to Existing PA [Prior Authorization] Criteria 
   1. Apremilast (Otezla) 
   2. Biologics for Arthritis 
   3. Janus Kinase Inhibitors 
   4. Selective Preventive Migraine Treatments (formerly CGRP Inhibitors) 

1. Point of Sale Billing Updates – ProDUR Quantity Limits
2. Drug Utilization Review (DUR) Update 
3. Pharmacy Average Acquisition Cost (AAC) 
   1. AAC Rate Setting Process 
   2. Rate Review Requests  

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