The Board of Pharmacy issued its March 2022 newsletter that includes the following articles: 

• “Non-electronic Prescriptions – Reminder of Requirements” 
• “FDA Warning on Dissolvable Buprenorphine and Dental Problems” 
• “Get to Know Your Pharmacy Board Members – Gayle Mayer” 
• “Shipping Compounded Prescriptions Outside the State of Iowa? – Reports Due by April 1, 2022” 
• “Statewide Protocols” 
• “Technician Trainee Renewal/Reactivation Update” 
• “Interim Pharmacist-in-Charge – New Option for Pharmacies” 
• “Pharmacists Required to Report Serious Adverse Events to FAERS Following Medication Administration” 
• “Board Requests Code Change in 2022 Legislative Session” 

Also in Iowa, the Board of Pharmacy posted is January 11, 2022 Meeting Minutes. Interesting stats related to the Pharmacist Narcan® Dispensing Program, Pharmacist Disposal Kit Dispensing Program and Board -Sponsored Medication Disposal are reported on Page 6. “Rules and Legislation” section appears on pages 7-8. 

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

The Department of Health and Human Services issued INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 2322-MC-FFS announcing three Program Integrity (PI)/Payment Error Rate Measurement (PERM) quarterly training sessions for Medicaid Providers. Sessions will be held via Zoom and details are available in the letter. Providers only need to attend one training session. For those unable to attend, session recordings will be posted to the department’s website.  

 Also in Iowa, the Department of Health and Human Services issued INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 2320-FFS announcing the 2022 Refund Address. 

Also in Iowa, the Department of Health and Human Services issued INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 2316-MC-FFS announcing new Vaccine for Children (VFC) Program Codes. 

Also in Iowa, the Department of Health and Human Services issued INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 2324-MC-FFS-CVS stating that several monoclonal antibodies are no longer authorized for use and may not be administered for treatment or post-exposure prevention of COVID-19 under the EUA until further notice by the FDA. 

Finally in Iowa, Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) announced numerous appointments to the state’s boards and commissions including the following appointments to the Board of Pharmacy: Dane Nealson, Story; Kathy Stone, Harrison; Bob Egeland, Polk and Joan Skogstrom, Polk.

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

The Department of Human Services published the following: 

• INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 2314-MC-FFS-CVD: This informational letter provides guidance to providers on billing for COVID-19 OTC home testing. This policy will remain in effect for the duration of the public health emergency. 
• INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 2315-MC-FFS-CVD: On February 3, Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) signed the final extension to the state’s Public Health Disaster Emergency Proclamation that announced the Public Health Disaster Emergency would expire on February 15 at 11:59 p.m. Please note: The end of the state’s Public Health Disaster Emergency does not impact Medicaid flexibilities currently in place.  

Also in Iowa, the Board of Pharmacy will meet on March 1 via Zoom and in-person; the meeting agenda has been posted. 

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

The Board of Pharmacy announced the following rulemaking actions: 

• Adopted: ARC 6174C related to Collaborative Practice Agreements – effective March 16, 2022 
• Notice of Intended Action: 

• • ARC 6178C related to Compounding Practices RE: Veterinary Practice – comments due by 4:30 p.m. on March 1. 
  • ARC 6179C related to Controlled Substances – comments due by 4:30 p.m. on March 1, and a public hearing will be held via Zoom at 10:00 a.m. on March 3.  Note: the board previously noticed this proposed rule and made significant changes; this is the Amended Notice of Intended Action 

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

The Department of Public Health published the COVID-19 Therapeutics Information Brief (1.25.22) including the following updates: 

• Bamlanvimab/Etesevimab and REGEN-COV no longer authorized for use by FDA 
• Allocations for mAbs, PrEP and Antivirals 
• Disposal of extra doses of Nirmatrelvir from blister packs for patients with low eGFR 
• COVID-19 treatment guidelines when there are logistical or supply constraints 
• Patient prioritization for outpatient Anti-SARS-CoV-2 therapies with supply constraints 
• FDA expands use of REMDESIVIR
• COVID-19 treatment guidelines for Evusheld 

The next Therapeutics Information Brief will be February 2. 

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

The Department of Human Services, Iowa Medicaid Enterprise (IME) published INFORMATIONAL LETTER No. 2306-MC-FFS announcing plans for the 2022 Pharmacy Cost of Dispensing Study. 

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

The Department of Human Services published INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 2305-MC-FFS-CVD to inform providers about pharmacy coverage of oral COVID-19 therapeutics.  See “Pharmacy Coverage Summary” on page 2. 

Also in Iowa, the Board of Pharmacy published its November 10, 2021 meeting minutes. 

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

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.