The Board of Pharmacy will post the agenda for its quarterly meeting on February 25.

Also in Louisiana, on February 26, the Board of Pharmacy will be solicitating comments on several regulatory projects proposed rule changes, including Remote Access by a Pharmacy Technician. This proposal would amend Section 1145 of the Board’s rules concerning remote access to prescription drug orders, medical orders and chart orders by including pharmacy technicians among those authorized under the rule.

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

The Board of Pharmacy's Regulation Revision Committee posted the agenda for the February 3 meeting in Baton Rouge. 

Also in Louisiana, Julie Foster Hagan, Executive Director of the state's Rural Health Transformation and Sustainability Project, presented the program's mission, objectives, strategy and timeline at the Department of Health's annual shareholders meeting on January 21. Louisiana secured $208.4 million in federal funding for Year 1 of the Rural Health Transformation Grant—one of the nation's largest awards—and is expected to receive $1.4 billion over five years. 

Also in Louisiana, the Department of Health (LDH) extended its Medicaid managed care contract with UnitedHealthcare (UHC) for 90 days through March 31.  

Also in Louisiana, Gov. Jeff Landry (R) declared a State of Emergency ahead of the January winter storm. Medicaid posted a provider notice on early refills:  

• The early refill edit will be bypassed for pharmacy claims submitted to fee-for-service (FFS) and the managed care organizations (MCOs) in all parishes statewide through February 6. 

• All expiring prior authorizations for pharmacy claims for FFS and the MCOs will also be extended through February 6. 

Finally In Louisiana, LDH appointed Seth Gold as Medicaid Director. His prior experience includes nearly a decade of experience in federal health policy serving on the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee. 

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

The Department of Health’s (LDH) published Informational Bulletin 25-34, detailing changes to the Medicaid Managed Care Contracts for United Healthcare effective January 1, 2026.

Also in Louisiana, LDH revised Informational Bulletin 25-27, related to the 340B Drug Pricing Program.

Also in Louisiana, Act 464 of 2025 permits a pharmacist to dispense ivermectin to a person 18 years of age or older pursuant to a standing order. Subsequently, LDH issued a standing order and documentation authorizing pharmacists to dispense ivermectin to individuals 18 years of age and older.

Also in Louisiana, the Department of Insurance issued an Advisory Letter to all PBMs licensed in Louisiana and all health insurance issuers that contract with PBMs alerting them that Act 474 of 2025 established a new professional dispensing fee reimbursement for local independent pharmacies only effective January 1, 2026.

Finally in Louisiana, the Department of Health (LDH) appointed Seth Gold as the new Medicaid Director. He has a decade of experience in federal health policy, most recently serving as a professional staff member for the US House Committee on Energy and Commerce, where he advised members of Congress on Medicaid, CHIP and the 340B Drug Pricing Program.

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

The Department of Health (LDH) announced a webinar on December 4 from 10:00 am to 11:00 am Central Time. This event aims to inform stakeholders about LDH’s Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) submission.

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

New Pharmacy Technician certificate qualification rules were adopted on October 20. In response to Act 253 of the 2024 Louisiana Legislature, the rule change removes the practice requirement placed upon a pharmacy technician applicant from another state and recognizes the exception provided by the Act regarding the examination requirement.

Also in Louisiana, Gov. Jeff Landry (R) reappointed Walgreens pharmacist Troy Menard to the Board of Pharmacy for a second six-year term.

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

The Department of Health (LDH) issued an Informational Bulletin 25-27 on revisions being made to align with CMS 2434-F 2024 Final Rule on 340B. 

Also in Louisiana, effective October 1, the Medicaid program will phase out its single Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) and return to managed care organizations (MCOs) to manage its own pharmacy services—including prior authorizations, claims processing and prescription coverage—through its designated PBM. The Department of Health provided a list of the new PBMs for Medicaid Health Plans. This change does not apply to fee-for-service (FFS) members or members who have behavioral-health only coverage through their Medicaid health plan.  

Also in Louisiana, Walmart pharmacist Inga Collins volunteered to serve on the Louisiana Rural Health Transformation Task Force representing chain pharmacies.  

Finally in Louisiana, Act 711 of the 2024 Regular Session authorizes pharmacists to initiate HIV PrEP and PEP, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) pre-exposure and post-exposure prophylaxis for individuals aged seventeen and older. A standing order for HIV Pre and Post-Exposure prophylaxis medications has been created by the Department of Health (LDH). In addition, the legislation mandates that pharmacists complete a training program approved by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). This training may take place as a stand-alone course or as part of an equivalent curriculum-based training program offered by an ACPE-accredited college/school of pharmacy.  

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

The Department of Health (LDH) published several bulletins of interest for pharmacies: 

• Louisiana Medicaid Pharmacy Point of Sale Age Limits and Prior Drug Use Edits – Effective August 1, 2025 

• Louisiana Medicaid Pharmacy Point of Sale Clinical Authorization and Updates – Effective August 1, 2025 

• Louisiana Medicaid Pharmacy Point of Sale Quantity Limits – Effective August 1, 2025 

• Louisiana Medicaid Pharmacy Point of Sale Diagnosis Code Requirements – Effective August 1, 2025 

Also in Louisiana, LDH shared the slide deck from the July Medicaid PBM transition virtual meeting. 

Also in Louisiana, in 2024, Act 711 of 2024 (R.S. 37:1218.2) became law, enabling pharmacists to independently dispense and/or administer HIV PrEP and PEP medications and order/interpret related rapid or laboratory testing. LDH posted the information about the statewide protocol, standing order, guidelines and training resources. 

Finally in Louisiana, the Board of Pharmacy posted the August 20 meeting agenda. 

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

The Board of Pharmacy will meet on August 19 and 20 at the Board’s office in Baton Rouge. The agenda has not yet been posted, but the meeting schedule is provided below:

• Reinstatement Committee – 10:30 am on August 19
• Impairment Committee – 1:00 pm on August 19
• Finance Committee – 2:30 pm on August 19
• Executive Committee – 3:30 pm on August 19
• Board Meeting – 9:00 am on August 20
• Administrative Hearing – 12:30 pm on August 20

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

The Board of Pharmacy adopted new requirements for the Pharmacist-in-Charge (PIC), that were effective on June 20. The amended rule reduces the minimum experience requirement for a pharmacist to qualify as a PIC from two years to one year of active pharmacy practice, and it expands the responsibility for the supervision, management and regulatory compliance of the entire prescription department to include both the PIC and the owner of the pharmacy permit. 

Also in Louisiana, the Board of Pharmacy published the July 2025 newsletter. 

Finally, the Board of Pharmacy released the July 2025 Advisory Council update on the Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP). 

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