The Board of Pharmacy issued guidance related to monoclonal antibody administration by pharmacists, including a reminder of recordkeeping and requirements to order and administer COVID-19 therapeutics.   

Also in Iowa, the Board of Pharmacy alerted licensees and registrants about recent phishing scams by individuals posting as Board employees.

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

The Board of Pharmacy posted its July 14 meeting minutes on the meeting webpage.  In addition to the Board’s unanimous vote for Emergency Adoption and Notice of Intended Action to amend Chapter 3, “Pharmacy Technicians,” to provide minimum standards for technician immunization administration, the Board also unanimously voted to approve the amended Statewide Protocols for naloxone, nicotine-replacement tobacco cessation and immunization as presented. The Board also took other regulatory actions and discussed numerous updates.

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

The Board of Pharmacy issued a notice to pharmacies regarding multiple fraudulent prescriptions for promethazine with codeine being faxed into pharmacies.  Note: they are often accompanied by prescriptions for a Z-Pak (azithromycin). 

Also in Iowa, the Board of Pharmacy announced the registration fee for all certified pharmacy technicians will be prorated as of August 16, 2021.   

Also in Iowa, the Iowa Pharmacy Association will conduct a webinar entitled “Medicaid: Provider Enrollment and Medical Billings” on September 7 from 2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. The speaker will be Desiree Smith, Provider Services Operations Manager, Iowa Medicaid Enterprise (IME).  She will be joined by representatives of the state’s Medicaid Managed Care Organizations.  Registration is required. 

Finally in Iowa, NACDS submitted comments to the Board of Pharmacy on the proposed rulemaking revising the requirements for perpetual inventory. On behalf of members, we stated concerned that the proposed rule changes under ARC 5834C that expand the perpetual inventory requirements to apply to all controlled substance medications would be burdensome and would only add more “non-patient care related tasks” to busy pharmacists’ workday. NACDS requested the Board to reject the proposed rule change that would require perpetual inventories at all times for all controlled substances, and instead continue to apply this requirement only to Schedule II controlled substances.  

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

The Department of Human Services issued INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 2256 updating the prospective safety edits for subsequent fills for opioids with information about point of sale (POS) billing and prior authorization (PA). Note: this informational letter replaces INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 2245-MC-FFS issued July 14.

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

The Department of Human Services issued the following: 

• INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 2243-MC-FFS updating the 340B Drug Pricing Program with billing information. 
• INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 2245-MC-FFS updating the prospective safety edits for subsequent fills for opioids with information about point of sale (POS) billing and prior authorization (PA). 
• INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 2254-MC-FFS reminding pharmacy providers to enroll with Iowa Medicaid so that they may prescribe naloxone or nicotine replacement therapy and order and administer vaccines in accordance with the Iowa Board of Pharmacy statewide protocols.   

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

The Board of Pharmacy issued a response to Gov. Kim Reynold’s July 23, 2021, Proclamation of Disaster Emergency. Given there are no further suspensions of administration rules related to pharmacy licensure or registration, the board will no longer continue its enforcement discretion regarding pharmacy practice. As a reminder, the board’s responses to the governor’s various proclamations are available on the board’s website.

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

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Ohama Field Division is conducting a series of Lunch and Learn sessions related to fraud and abuse associated with promethazine with codeine.  Details are available in the flyer that includes link to register.  For more information, contact the DEA Diversion Outreach Coordinator Erin Payne.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.

Effective July 1, 2021, community pharmacies in Iowa may begin to submit electronic claims for reimbursement of DisposeRx® (or other branded medication disposal solutions) dispensed to Iowa residents who may be at risk of an accidental opioid or other controlled substance misuse or overdose. Additional information, including the pharmacy electronic billing process, is available in the Disposal Kit Dispensing Program FAQ document on the Board of Pharmacy’s website.

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

Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) sent a letter to Paul Pate, Secretary of State of Iowa, directing the Department of Human Services to amend current Medicaid managed care contracts to authorize a $10.38 dispensing fee per prescription across-the-board for all pharmacies under Section 31 of HF 891.  This action is in response to a meeting and letter NACDS sent to the Governor requesting a veto of language in HF 891 directing the department to amend Medicaid managed care organization contracts to authorize the establishment of a managed care pharmacy dispensing fee that is based on the current fee-for-service dispensing fee of  $10.38 or a dispensing fee that is not to exceed the current fee-for-service rate and determined contractually by mutual agreement between the managed care organization and a participating pharmacy with more than 30 locations in the state and headquarters outside the state. The Governor agreed with industry stakeholders that this policy creating differential dispensing fees for certain pharmacies raises significant constitutional concerns.  NACDS acknowledges the collaborative efforts of the Iowa Retail Federation and the Iowa Pharmacy Association staff. 

Also in Iowa, below are highlights from the June issue of the Iowa Board of Pharmacy newsletter.  See the newsletter for additional details and more information. 

• The law authorizing pharmacists to administer vaccinations via a practitioner-signed protocol will expire on June 30, 2021.  Beginning July 1, 2021, pharmacists may order and administer vaccinations under the Iowa Board of Pharmacy’s statewide protocol or according to a patient-specific prescription issued by a practitioner. 
• 2021 Regular Session of the Iowa Legislature 

• The Board’s bill amending the Iowa Controlled Substances Act (CSA) to include nine substances that had been temporarily scheduled via rulemaking and provide conforming text to match federal CSA structure was signed into law. 
• The Board’s bill (HF 514) eliminating the one-year limitation of a technician trainee registration, revising delegation of functions to pharmacy technicians and pharmacy support personnel, and including other provisions relating to pharmacy practice was also signed into law. 

• REMINDER: As of May 12, 2021, Schedule V controlled prescriptions must be reported to the Iowa Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP).  Also, newly adopted rulemaking includes nonprescription sales of codeine-containing cough suppressants as reportable transactions. 

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