The Board of Pharmacy released a response to the Governor’s new Proclamation of Disaster Emergency issued on May 27, extending much of the pharmacy practice regulatory relief. The suspension of regulatory provisions identified in the Proclamation is effective through June 26, 2021, unless otherwise extended or terminated by Gov. Kim Reynolds (R). Please note the suspension of Iowa Code § 155A.32 to allow a pharmacist to engage in therapeutic drug product substitution, according to Board guidance, should not be expected to be further extended.

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

The next meeting of the Iowa Board of Pharmacy’s IMP3 Committee meeting is scheduled for June 2, 2021. The information and agenda have been posted.

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

Earlier this week, the House of Representatives and, subsequently, the Senate passed HF 891, an act relating to appropriations for health and human services, and it will be sent to the governor.  The bill includes language directing the department to amend Medicaid managed care organization contracts to authorize the establishment of a managed care pharmacy dispensing fee reimbursement with either (a) the established fee-for-service $10.38 pharmacy dispensing fee reimbursement per prescription based upon the most recent state cost of dispensing study or (b) a dispensing fee 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, not to exceed the established fee-for-service $10.38 pharmacy dispensing fee reimbursement per prescription.

Also in Iowa, this week, Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) signed SF 296 into law authorizing pharmacists to order and administer COVID-19 immunizations or vaccinations to adults according to statewide protocols, perform point-of-care testing for influenza, streptococcus, and COVID-19 and initiate treatment following a positive test, and enter into collaborative practice agreements with other healthcare providers.

Lastly in Iowa, on May 10 the Board of Pharmacy issued guidance on how a pharmacy may report dispensations or transactions involving nonprescription Schedule V controlled substances, such as codeine-containing cough syrups, to the Iowa Prescription Monitoring Program, under an April 7 final rule.

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

The Board of Pharmacy issued guidance on pharmacy operations under the April 30, 2021, renewed governor’s proclamation of a disaster emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The guidance extends the suspension of certain regulatory provisions established under prior notices through May 30, 2021. As noted in the Board’s response, “… The Board will continue to monitor the situation as additional information is available and make necessary adjustments to provide pharmacy professionals with the guidance needed to navigate the current public health emergency.”

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

The Department of Human Services issued Informational Letter No. 2228-MC-FFS reminding pharmacy providers to bill the appropriate entity for Medicaid pharmacy claims. Claims for Medicaid members enrolled in a managed care organization (MCO) should be billed to the appropriate MCO or their corresponding PBM to which a member is assigned.  An updated pharmacy billing reference sheet has been included in the Informational Letter.

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

The Board of Pharmacy published the following effective May 12, 2021:

• Final rule amends and adopts regulations under 657 IAC 3 and 6 related to pharmacy technicians and general pharmacy practice including broader language relating to the delegation of nonclinical pharmacy functions to a pharmacy technician beyond those related solely to dispensing; prohibiting a pharmacy license holder from requiring a supervising pharmacist to delegate functions to a technician against the pharmacist’s professional judgment; changes related to pharmacy technician registration and the renewal period for certified pharmacy technicians; and other related amendments outlined in the posting;
• Final rule amends and adopts regulations under 657 IAC 5 to require registration of pharmacy support persons before employment in a pharmacy. The rule also aligns the late renewal and reactivation procedures for those with other licenses and registrations, adds a $15 fee for written verification of registration, and expands the delegation of nontechnical pharmacy functions to pharmacy support persons. Additionally, the rule prohibits requiring a supervising pharmacist to delegate functions to a support person against their professional judgment, requires support persons to report any criminal conviction or disciplinary action within 30 days, and adds provisions on the online application process.
• Final rule amends regulations under 657 IAC 4 to require pharmacist-interns to notify the board of changes in name, address, email, any criminal convictions, or disciplinary action. The rule also requires the submission of a $15 fee for verification of a pharmacist-intern registration or certification of hours and removes the reference to a license surcharge for the Board’s monitoring program.
• Final rule amends regulations under 657 IAC 37 to require reporting of Schedule V controlled substances to the prescription monitoring program database. The rule also revises the definition of “health care professional.”
• Final rule amends regulations under 657 IAC 10 to temporarily add oliceridine and remimazolam as controlled substances to conform to federal standards.

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

NACDS participated in the Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) – Iowa Medicaid Enterprise (IME) Pharmacy Groups Quarterly Meeting to share information about COVID-19 vaccinations and explore pharmacist payment for other vaccinations under the medical benefit where all providers are paid the same rates and future IME policy changes related to automatic refills and pharmacist scope of practice that will be announced in upcoming Informational Letters.  NACDS and the Iowa Pharmacists Association have scheduled a follow-up call to discuss opportunities to expand pharmacist payment for services.

Also in Iowa, the DHS IME’s adopted and filed rule establishing pharmacy policies and procedures for Medicaid coverage and reimbursement of prescription drug refills through an automatic refill program, rather than prohibiting such a program, which became effective March 1.  Requirements allowing this may also be found here.  This information will be updated in the next Informational Letter released and in the next Provider Manual update.

Also in Iowa, the Board of Pharmacy announced guidance on pharmacy operations under an April 2, 2021, renewed governor’s proclamation of a disaster emergency due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The guidance addresses the practice of pharmacy on an inactive or expired license or technician trainee registration, continuing education requirements, license and registration renewal, practicing with a license from another state, and criminal background check requirements.

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

The Department of Human Services, Iowa Medicaid Enterprise issued Informational Letter No. 2225-MC-FFS-CVD announcing the $40 administration rate per COVID-19 vaccine dose is effective April 1, 2021. This is $80 total for a two-dose series and $40 for a single-dose vaccine.

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

The Board of Pharmacy issued guidance on a recent amendment to the federal PREP Act that added retired and inactive pharmacists and pharmacy interns and certain student pharmacists to the list of health care professionals authorized to administer COVID-19 vaccines. The PREP Act provides immunity from liability for covered persons.

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