The Board of Pharmacy has published a final rule amending regulations under 201 KAR 2 to update the responsibilities of pharmacists and pharmacist interns under supervision. The rule also removes references to “immediate” supervision and clarifies language. The rule was effective July 3.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.

The Department for Medicaid Services has published pharmacy guidance, effective August 6, for point-of-care COVID testing, based on the Governor’s previously issued Executive Order. The guidance lays out pharmacy billing requirements under both fee-for-service and managed care. Additionally, the department issued a statewide protocol intended for use by pharmacies that do not have a medical provider to issue an order.

Also in Kentucky. The Board of Pharmacy rescinded the first directive regarding Hydroxychloroquine dispensing that requires a diagnosis code. The remaining directive still applies, which placed restrictions on the dispensing of chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, mefloquine, and azithromycin.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.

Kentucky Medicaid’s adoption of a stop-gap measure included in Section 5 subsection 1(a) of SB50 prohibits managed care contractors from reducing pharmacy dispensing fees through the end of this year.  While it is likely that the Medicaid contract extension issued July 1, 2020, will include the contract language detailed above, documentation of this cannot be provided at this time as these contract extensions are not publicly available. Regardless of the availability of this language, however, at the very least the stop-gap measure prohibits the reduction of dispensing fees through the end of this year.  Additionally, in 2018, the General Assembly enacted a biennial budget that included budget language stated for fiscal year 2020, which will provide for an additional $2 dispensing fee to be added to the existing contracted dispensing fee to retail pharmacies.  NACDS supported state advocates’ efforts to adopt SB 50 and thanks the Kentucky Retail Federation for sharing their analysis of the issue with us.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.

Gov. Andy Beshear has signed an executive order that extends previous orders allowing pharmacists to dispense 30-day refills. This order will be in effect until July 7, 2020. 

Also in Kentucky... The Department of Medicaid awarded contracts to Aetna Better Health of Kentucky, Humana Health Plan and Wellcare Health Insurance of Kentucky, United Healthcare and Molina Health Care. The latter two companies are new to the program. The new contracts will be effective in Jan. 2021. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.

Governors from Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin have formed a pact for coordinating the reopening of the Midwest regional economy.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.

The Department of Insurance announced guidance on the suspension of pharmacy audits during the COVID-19 outbreak. The Department recognized the role of pharmacists in providing essential healthcare services during the current state of emergency and the need to ease operational barriers in order to allow pharmacists to focus on providing those services. Consequently, audits of pharmacy records performed in accordance with KRS 304.17A-740 through KRS 304.17A-747 have been temporarily suspended.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.

As a result of a bill signed into law this week by Gov. Andy Beshear, NACDS will have a direct voice in setting new reimbursement rates in Medicaid Managed Care. SB 50, sponsored by Sen. Max Wise, will provide significant financial relief to pharmacies by prohibiting the claw-back of reimbursement in Medicaid Managed Care.  Additionally, the new law will require the Department of Medicaid Services, with the input of pharmacy, to set reimbursement rates in Managed Care. The intent of this provision is to move to cost-based reimbursement plus a professional dispensing fee. Notably, the law establishes a Technical Advisory Committee on Pharmacy on which NACDS has the power to appoint an advisor. The Committee report is due by Dec. 1, 2020. NACDS supported the efforts of the Kentucky Retail Federation, the Kentucky Pharmacists Association and members to pass this law. NACDS lent its official support to provisions of the law that align with our reimbursement campaign.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.