The Department of Health and Human Services published the following:

• INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 2454-MC-FFS – June 2023 Iowa Medicaid Pharmacy Program Changes
• INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 2455-MC-FFS – Premiums and Co-payments for Medicaid, Healthy and Well Kids in Iowa (Hawki), Iowa Health and Wellness Plan (IHAWP), Medicaid for Employed People with Disabilities (MEPD)

Also in Iowa, the Board of Pharmacy posted the June 2023 newsletter including the following articles:

• Hazardous Drug Labeling Regarding Administration by Nonpatient
• Rules Adopted Relating to Bronchodilators and Opioid Antagonists for Schools; Practice of Nursing Under Pharmacist Orders
• Approval of OTC Naloxone and the Impact on the Board’s Protocol and Statewide Standing Order
• Opioid Manufacturer Provision of Mail-Back Envelopes
• Importance of Ensuring That Applications Are Complete
• Reminder of the Security Requirements Effective July 6, 2023
• Governor Reynolds’ Executive Order Number 10

Finally in Iowa, the Board of Pharmacy announced the online payment system issues have been resolved. Note: if an online application and payment was submitted between May 31 and June 6, please do not resubmit the application and fee without checking the status of your license or registration.

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

The Board of Pharmacy adopted and amended the following rules effective July 5, 2023:  

• ARC 7025C – Chapter 10, "Controlled Substances": authorizing the board, on a case-by-case basis, to issue a CSA registration to a business location when it would be impractical to require each individual practitioner who administers or dispenses controlled substances to separately register at the location (e.g., ambulatory surgical centers, standalone clinics associated with a hospital system) 
• ARC 7026C – Chapter 10, "Controlled Substances," and Chapter 12, "Precursor Substances": temporarily adding four substances to Schedule I, excluding one substance from Schedule II and adding one precursor substance to the Iowa CSA in response to similar action taken by the federal DEA  
• ARC 7027C – Chapter 33, "Military Service and Veteran Reciprocity": implementing the licensure-related provisions of 2022 Iowa Acts, Senate File 2383, revising the requirements and parameters of licensure for veterans and active-duty military spouses 

Also in Iowa, the Department of Health and Human Services published the following:  

• INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO 2466-MC-FFS – Specialty Drug Administration – Alternative Site of Care (SOC) 
• INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO 2464-MC-FFS – Resuming the Iowa Health and Wellness Plan (IHAWP) Healthy Behaviors Program Following the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) 
• INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO 2462-MD-FFS – COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE Unwind – Provider Enrollment Renewal Flexibilities 
• INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO 2450-MC-FFS – Public Health Emergency (PHE) Unwind Training for Providers 

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

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 2459-MC-FFS RE: Molina Provider Contracting and Training. Molina Healthcare of Iowa will join Amerigroup and Iowa Total Care to provide benefits for IA Health Link and Hawki members on July 1, 2023. HHS will allocate up to one-third of Medicaid members to Molina effective July 1, 2023.

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

The Department of Health and Human Services published the following:  

• INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 2454-MC-FFS – June 2023 Iowa Medicaid Pharmacy Program Changes 
• INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 2455-MC-FFS – Premiums and Co-payments for Medicaid, Healthy and Well Kids in Iowa (Kawki), Iowa Health and Wellness Plan (IHAWP), Medicaid for Employed People with Disabilities (MEPD) 

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

The Iowa Pharmacy Association, in coordination with the Iowa Medical Society (IMS), Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Iowa Hospital Association (IHA), and the Iowa Primary Care Association (Iowa PCA), leads the Iowa Healthcare Workforce Strategic Planning and Stakeholder Engagement Initiative.

Iowa communities are facing challenges recruiting and retaining across the healthcare workforce population. These partner organizations are working together to assess and evaluate the current landscape and future of the healthcare workforce in Iowa. From these meetings, the statewide action plan will evolve to address current workforce challenges and opportunities.

Over the next few months, regional meetings will be held across the state. All locations will have two sessions available in the day (either 9:00 am – 11:00 am or 1:00 pm – 3:00pm). Click the following links to register.

Upcoming regional townhall meetings: 
Des Moines on Friday, April 28th
Waterloo on Wednesday, May 10th  

Also in Iowa, the Department of Health and Human Services published the following:  

• INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 2443-MC-FFS – Monkeypox Vaccine and Testing
  INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 2446-MC-FFS – Provider Messaging and the Continuous Coverage Requirement Unwind
  INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 2445-MC-FFS-CVD – Monoclonal Antibodies Update 
• INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 2434-MC-FFS – COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE Unwind – Out-of-Network Enhanced Provider Payment Expiring 
• INFORMATION LETTER NO. 2426-MC-FFS-CVD – End of COVID-19 PHE Pharmacy Allowances 
• INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 2432-MC-FFS – End of Federal PHE Flexibilities 

 Finally in Iowa, the Board of Pharmacy posted the agenda and related materials for its May 2 meeting. 

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

The Board of Pharmacy adopted ARC 6953C, implementing relevant provisions in 2022 Iowa Acts, HFs 771, 2573 and 2169. These amendments implement changes related to licensed nurses engaging in the practice of nursing pursuant to a pharmacist's order and the issuance of a prescription in the name of a school district to obtain a bronchodilator canister, a bronchodilator canister and spacer, or an opioid antagonist. 

Also in Iowa, the Department of Health and Human Services published INFORMATION LETTER NO. 2426-MC-FFS-CVD_End of COVID-19 PHE Pharmacy Allowances that includes the following:  

1. Override for Early Refills/Refill Too Soon 
2. Days' Supply 
3. PBM or Program Integrity (PI) Audits 
4. Patient Signature 

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

The Department of Health and Human Services published INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 2428-MC-FFS with April 2023 Iowa Medicaid Pharmacy Program Changes related to the following: 

1. New Drug Prior Authorization (PA) Criteria 
2. Changes to Existing PA Criteria 
3. Removal of PA Criteria 
4. Point-of-Sale Billing Updates 
5. DUR [Drug Utilization Review] Update 

Also in Iowa, effective April 1, the Department of Health, and Human Services (Iowa HHS) will no longer require positive COVID-19 tests to be reported to the state Public Health Division. Since the development and widespread availability of rapid in-home tests – which are not required to be reported – the case and positive test counts in the state are no longer as meaningful as they once were. Iowa has no mandatory reporting order for any other respiratory viral illnesses such as influenza, RSV, and rhinovirus. 

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

The Board of Pharmacy announced the following effective March 15: 

• ARC 6843C has been adopted and amends Chapter 10, "Controlled Substances" placing one substance into Schedule I of the Iowa Controlled Substances Act (CSA) in alignment with . 
• ARC 6844C has been adopted and amends Chapter 37, "Iowa Prescription Monitoring Program" establishing council membership information for the PMP Advisory Council and clarifying that only overdoes-reversal opioid antagonists are required to be submitted to the PMP.  

Also in Iowa, the Board of Pharmacy issued a "Notice of Intended Action" related to ARC 6874C amending Chapter 10, "Controlled Substances," and Chapter 12, "Precursor Substances." This proposed rulemaking temporarily adds four substances to Schedule I, excludes one substance from Schedule II and adds one substance as a precursor substance to the Iowa CSA in alignment with response to similar action taken by the DEA ARC 6874C amending Chapter 10, "Controlled Substances," and Chapter 12, "Precursor Substances." This proposed rulemaking temporarily adds four substances to Schedule I, excludes one substance from Schedule II and adds one substance as a precursor substance to the Iowa CSA in alignment with DEA's action. Comments may be submitted until 4:30 p.m. on February 28. 

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

NACDS and the National Association of Specialty Pharmacy NACDS submitted a comment letter to the Iowa Division of Insurance suggesting modifications which would limit the definition of “specialty drugs.” 

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