The Department of Human Services, Iowa Medicaid Enterprise (IME) published INFORMATIONAL LETTER No. 2301-MC-FFS regarding a variety of listening sessions for providers scheduled for January and February. IME’s goal for these sessions is to hear from providers with experience related to assorted topics and who have ideas for ways to improve processes and policies associated with these topics.

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

The Board of Pharmacy published a Notice of Intended Action to amend the following. The deadline for comments is January 4, 202,2 at 4:30 p.m. Central. 

• Chapter 10, “Controlled Substances” (ARC 6082C)  
• Chapter 13, “Telepharmacy Practice” (ARC 6083C)  

Also, the Board adopted and filed Chapter 3 “Pharmacy Technicians” (ARC 6071C) which is currently in effect as an emergency rule.   

Lastly, the Board published the following adopted and filed rules effective January 19, 2022: 

• Chapter 3, “Pharmacy Technicians” (ARC 6071C)  
• Chapter 8, “Universal Practice Standards” (ARC 6073C)  
• Chapter 10, “Controlled Substances” (ARC 6074C)  
• Chapter 3, “Pharmacy Technicians,” Chapter 8, “Universal Practice Standards,” Chapter 20, “Compounding Practices,” and Chapter 39, “Expanded Practice Standards” (ARC 6076C)  
• Chapter 21, “Electronic Data and Automated Systems in Pharmacy Practice” (ARC 6077C)  

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

On December 6, the Board of Pharmacy transitioned to a new payment platform (Gov2Go) for online applications. Additional information about the Iowa eGovernment portal, Gov2Go, was posted later this week. For faster access to Gov2Go, please create a Gov2Go account at web.gov2go.com. If you experience any payment issues while applying for a new license/registration or renewing an existing license/registration, please contact Terry Witkowski.

Also in Iowa, the Department of Public Health (IDPH) posted a NEW Vaccine Information Brief (12.10.21) with update on the vaccine allocation survey on December 13 that  will not include Pfizer Adolescent/Adult Vaccine in order to utilize existing inventory in the state and FDA expands eligibility for Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Booster Dose to Individuals 16 and 17 years of age. Also note last week’s Vaccine Information Brief (12.3.21) announcing ACIP COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Recommendation, Moderna Shelf-Life Extension Update and Updated – Interim Clinical Considerations for Use of COVID-19 Vaccines and this week’s Vaccine Information Brief (12.8.21) with information about Pfizer transition to Comirnaty. Please direct questions to the COVID-19 Vaccine Call Center at 1-800-831-6293 ext. 1 or email.  

Also in Iowa, the Department of Human Services, Iowa Medicaid Enterprise, issued INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 2295-MC-FFS announcing the alignment between Managed Medicaid and Medicaid Fee-for-Service to limit the number of diabetic needles that member may obtain per month. The managed care organizations currently allow 100 needles per month. Members enrolled in Medicaid Fee-for-Service were also be limited to 100 diabetic needles per month effective December 1, 2021.  

Finally in Iowa, the Department of Human Services, Iowa Medicaid Enterprise, issued INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 2291-MC-FFS announcing several Medicaid Pharmacy Program Changes effective January 1, 2022, related to the following: 

• Changes to the Preferred Drug List (PDL);  
• Pharmacy benefit policy changes for albumin human, papaverine injection solution and Zoladex subcutaneous implant;  
• New Drug Prior Authorization (PA) Criteria for non-biologic agents for ulcerative colitis, Vericiguat (Verquvo) and Viloxazine (Qelbree)  
• Changes to Existing PA Criteria for Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH) Receptor Antagonist, Oral [formerly Elagolix Products], Omalizumab (Xolair) and Topical Acne and Rosacea Products 
• Point of Sale Billing Updates (ProDUR Quantity Limits) and  
• DUR Update 

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

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) posted the following, including new clinical materials related to recent ACIP recommendations for a COVID-19 vaccine for children 5 through 11 years of age:

• NEW Vaccine Information Brief (11.19.21)
• The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Standing Orders for Administering Vaccine to Persons 5 through 11 Years of Age 
• The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Preparation and Administration Summary form (Persons 5 through 11 Years of Age) 
• The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Storage and Handling Summary (5 through 11 years of age)
• The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Storage and Handling labels (5 through 11 years of age) 
• The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Beyond Use Date guidance and labels (5 through 11 years of age) 
• The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Transporting Vaccine for Vaccination Clinics Held at Satellite, Temporary or Off-Site Locations (5 through 11 years of age) 

Also in Iowa, the Board of Pharmacy has posted the meeting minutes from the August 31, 2021 meeting.

Finally in Iowa, NACDS submitted comments to the Board of Pharmacy concerning ARC 6012C related to Collaborative Pharmacy Practice Agreements and recommended the Board consider including physician assistants in the practitioner definition to include all licensed professionals duly authorized to prescribe to ensure all relevant pharmacy collaborations with prescribers can be leveraged to extend and improve care.

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

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) posted the following: 

• NEW Vaccine Information Brief (11.3.21) announcing that Iowa healthcare providers may begin to administer the pediatric Pfizer vaccine to 5-11 year old children effective immediately. 
• COVID-19 Vaccine Additional Dose and Booster Guideline Infographic 10.28.21 

For the latest information and updates impacting Iowa’s enrolled vaccine providers, please visit the IDPH COVID-19 Vaccine Providers webpage, and click on the most recent version of the “ Vaccine Information Brief”. If you have questions, contact the COVID-19 Vaccine Call Center at 1-800-831-6293 ext. 1 or COVID19Vaccine@idph.iowa.gov. 

Also in Iowa, the Board of Pharmacy published a Notice of Intended Action to amend Chapter 39, “Expanded Practice Standards” relating to collaborative pharmacy practice agreements between pharmacists and Iowa-licensed prescribers who have independent prescribing authority. The rule making identifies the minimum required elements of these agreements. Comments are due by 4:30 p.m. on November 23. 

Also in Iowa, the Department of Human Services announced registration is open for the November 2021, December 2021, and January 2022, virtual town halls for both providers and members. Please note the November and December meeting dates are different due to the holidays. Beginning in January 2022, the monthly virtual town halls will be held on the fourth Thursday of each month. For details, including registration, refer to INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 2283-MC-FFS-D. 

Finally in Iowa, if you are a provider, or part of a provider entity, that receives payments of $5,000,000 (million) or more from Iowa Medicaid in any federal fiscal year (October 1 to September 30), then INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 2275-MC-FFS-D, related to annual submission requirements regarding prevention and detection of Medicaid fraud and abuse, applies to you or your organization.  

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

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) posted a NEW Vaccine Information Brief (10.27.21) with important COVID-19 booster dose information, pediatric COVID-19 vaccine planning information and other updates. Note: Given the frequent updates over the last week, please review the current brief in its entirety. For the latest information and updates impacting Iowa’s enrolled vaccine providers, please visit the IDPH COVID-19 Vaccine Providers webpage, and click on the most recent version of the “ Vaccine Information Brief”. If you have questions, contact the COVID-19 Vaccine Call Center at 1-800-831-6293 ext. 1 or COVID19Vaccine@idph.iowa.gov.

Also in Iowa, the Department of Human Services, Iowa Medicaid Enterprise, issued INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 2282-MC-FFS announcing an increase in the pharmacy dispensing fee from $10.07 to $10.38 effective November 1. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services approved the Iowa Medicaid Enterprise’s State Plan Amendment (SPA) for the increased dispensing fee.

Finally in Iowa, the Department of Human Services, Iowa Medicaid Enterprise, issued INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 2279-MC-FFS-D seeking feedback from providers with a goal of improving the effectiveness of services provided to Medicaid members. Iowa Medicaid developed a survey to gather provider feedback with a deadline of November 15.

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

The Board of Pharmacy announced it is seeking pre-Notice comments on its draft statewide protocol for pharmacists to test and treat patients for COVID-19.  Comments may be submitted through October 22 to Sue Mears at sue.mears@iowa.gov.

Also in Iowa, the Board of Pharmacy alerted licensees and registrants about recent activities by individuals posing as employees of the Board, DEA and FDA.

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

The Department of Human Services issued INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 2271-MC-FFS-CVD with guidance for pharmacies billing for specimen collection and testing for COVID-19. The changes are effective October 1 and will be in effect for the duration of the public health emergency.

Also in Iowa, for the latest information and updates impacting Iowa’s enrolled vaccine providers, please visit the Iowa Dept. of Public Health (IDPH) COVID-19 Vaccine Providers web page, and click on the most recent version of the “ Vaccine Information Brief”. IDPH posted a NEW Vaccine Information Brief (10.1.21). If you have questions, contact the COVID-19 Vaccine Call Center at 1-800-831-6293 ext. 1 or COVID19Vaccine@idph.iowa.gov.

Also in Iowa, a COVID 3^rd dose vs. booster vaccine recommendations infographic has been developed for providers’ use for educational purposes. If you have questions, contact the COVID-19 Vaccine Call Center at 1-800-831-6293 ext. 1 or COVID19Vaccine@idph.iowa.gov.

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

For the latest information and updates impacting Iowa’s enrolled vaccine providers, please visit the Iowa Dept. of Public Health (IDPH) COVID-19 Vaccine Providers web page, and click on the most recent version of the “ Vaccine Information Brief”.  IDPH posted a NEW Vaccine Information Brief (9.27.2021).  Note: changes to the document are highlighted in yellow.  Also, for all Iowa-enrolled vaccine providers, a weekly listserv message will be sent to emails on record; this message will include the “Vaccine Information Brief”, as appropriate.

Also in Iowa, the Department of Human Services issued INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 2266-MC-FFS-CVD, containing information and updates regarding the authorization of an additional dose of COVID-19 vaccine following an initial 2-dose primary series of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine for certain immunocompromised individuals. See informational letter for details about billing and coding for administration fees.

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