Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) signed Executive Order Number 10 placing a moratorium on administrative rulemaking and initiating a comprehensive review of all existing administrative rules, including a cost benefit analysis of existing rules to evaluate the public benefits, determine whether the benefits justify the cost and explore less restrictive alternatives consistent with the intended purpose.

Also in Iowa, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Iowa Medicaid published INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO 2415-MC-FFS – End of Continuous Coverage Requirement.

Also in Iowa, as part of its realignment initiative, DHHS announced its new combined health and human services website.  

Finally in Iowa, NACDS sponsored the Iowa Pharmacy Association's (IPA's) Pharmacist Day on the Hill held on January 25. Pharmacists and pharmacy students participated in advocacy education and training activities and traveled to the Capitol to advocate for the modernization of the Pharmacy Practice Act, an increase in the Medicaid professional dispensing fee and enforcement of PBM regulations.  

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

The Iowa Insurance Division adopted and filed emergency rules (ARC 6739C), effective January 1, 2023, to implement changes made in 2022 Iowa Acts, House File 2384, regarding pharmacy benefits managers. 

Also in Iowa, NACDS submitted a letter to the Iowa Insurance Division expressing appreciation for proposed rule changes (ARC 6740C) to Chapter 59, "Pharmacy Benefit Managers" ("PBMs") in accordance with 2022 Iowa Acts, House File 2384, and urging the necessary enforcement of included provisions to further the state's efforts on PBM reform and transparency. In particular, NACDS stated its support for language preventing PBMs from retroactively adjusting reimbursement of a clean claim paid to a pharmacy. Lastly, NACDS urged legislators and regulators to take additional action to help ensure pharmacies are fairly and adequately reimbursed with the ability to appeal below-cost reimbursement through the establishment of a maximum allowable cost appeals process.  

Finally in Iowa, the Board of Pharmacy published its December 2022 newsletter including the following articles/updates: discontinuation of printed license and registration certificates, reminder for licensees to maintain current contact information, compounding records rule update, pharmacy's social media presence, electronic perpetual inventory logs, care facility documentation of immunizations, licensure of outsourcing facilities update, Narcan® and disposal programs, hard copy prescriptions during prescriber technical difficulties, Schedule II prescription annotations and 2023 board meeting schedule. 

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

The Board of Pharmacy adopted the following rules effective January 4, 2023:  

• ARC 6685C has been adopted and amends Chapter 23, "Care Facility Pharmacy Practice." 
• ARC 6686C has been adopted and amends Chapter 41, "Outsourcing Facilities." 
• ARC 6687C has been adopted and amends Chapter 14, "Public Information and Inspection of Records." 
• ARC 6688C has been adopted and amends Chapter 12, "Precursor Substances." 

• ARC 6689C has been adopted and amends Chapter 10, "Controlled Substances." 

Also in Iowa, the Board of Pharmacy published ARC 6696C as a Notice of Intended Action to amend Chapter 3, "Pharmacy Technicians," Chapter 6, "General Pharmacy Practice," Chapter 8, "Universal Practice Standards," Chapter 18, "Centralized Prescription Filling and Processing," Chapter 21, "Electronic Data and Automated Systems in Pharmacy Practice," and Chapter 39, "Expanded Practice Standards." Comments may be submitted until 4:30 p.m. on December 20. 

Finally in Iowa, the Department of Health and Human Services, Iowa Medicaid published INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 2405-MC-FFS announcing January 2023 Iowa Medicaid Pharmacy Program Changes. 

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

The Department of Health and Human Services, Iowa Medicaid published INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 2402-MC-FFS announcing the November Towns Halls will be held on Thursday, December 1, 2022, due to the Thanksgiving holiday. Visit the website for details, including registration information.

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

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.