Louisiana

In response to a survey from the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH), NACDS submitted comments recommending ways LDH can improve the pharmacy benefit delivery models used by the state’s Medicaid managed care organizations. Specifically, NACDS suggested that they adopt policies to help ensure patient access to neighborhood pharmacies by promoting the ability for any willing pharmacy to participate in a managed care organization’s network provided that a pharmacy accepts the terms and conditions of that network. We also advocated that LDH carve out the prescription drug benefit from the Medicaid managed care program to the state’s fee-for-service program. Lastly, we recommended the adoption of a Medicaid managed care reimbursement methodology that seeks to ensure a pharmacy’s costs are covered, which aligns with methodology used under the state’s Medicaid fee-for-service program.

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

Michael Silber2021-06-25T09:24:08-04:00June 25, 2021|Louisiana|

Louisiana

The Board of Pharmacy recently approved several rules effective May 20, 2021.

Final rule increases the amount of medication that may be dispensed under an emergency prescription to a 90-day supply. The rule also provides for special permitting of pharmacists licensed outside the state to allow participation in disaster relief.
Final rule establishes standards for licensure of pharmacy benefit managers engaged in certain activities. The rule establishes procedures for board review of applications for the initial issuance of the permit, the renewal of the permit, applications for the reinstatement of disciplined permits, and the permanent closure of a permit.

Also in Louisiana, the Department of Health (LDH) is reviewing the current transportation services and pharmacy benefit delivery models for its Medicaid managed care program. LDH is seeking input by June 21, 2021, on the key factors that must be considered when improving these models. This feedback can be provided at: https://ldh.la.gov/index.cfm/form/241.

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

Erica Joyner2021-06-11T15:10:37-04:00June 11, 2021|Louisiana|

Louisiana

The new Medicaid Provider Enrollment Portal designed to meet Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) requirements for screening and enrolling Medicaid providers and must be used by all Medicaid providers, including those who do not participate in fee-for-service will launch in June of 2021. The fiscal intermediary and current provider enrollment vendor, Gainwell Technologies, will send providers an invitation to the mailing address on file when it is time for them to visit the portal and complete the enrollment process. Providers can find additional information and submit questions on the provider enrollment webpage and in the Informational Bulletin 21-5: New Louisiana Provider Enrollment Portal

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

Michael Silber2021-04-30T09:13:58-04:00April 30, 2021|Louisiana|

Louisiana

Medicaid is launching a new Medicaid Provider Enrollment Portal in April to screen and enroll all Medicaid providers. The enrollment portal is being designed to meet a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) requirement and must be used by all Medicaid providers. More information can be found here.

Also in Louisiana, the legislature convenes its budget session Monday, April 12, 2021.

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

Michael Silber2021-04-09T10:01:51-04:00April 9, 2021|Louisiana|

Louisiana

Medicaid is launching a new Medicaid Provider Enrollment Portal in April to screen and enroll all Medicaid providers. The enrollment portal is being designed to meet a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) requirement and must be used by all Medicaid providers. More information can be found here.

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

Michael Silber2023-10-10T09:03:21-04:00April 2, 2021|Louisiana|

Louisiana

On February 24, 2021, the Board of Pharmacy will be meeting virtually. Several issues of interest to chain pharmacies previously discussed by the Regulation Revision Committee are PBM regulations, draft legislative language on collaborative practice, and limited prescriptive authority are included on the agenda. More information on the meeting and the agenda can be found here.

Also in Louisiana, The Board of Pharmacy is holding a public hearing on February 25, 2021, to solicit comments on several issues dealing with marijuana, state of emergency, and other issues. More information about the hearing and the agenda can be found here.

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

Michael Angeloni2021-02-19T10:59:06-05:00February 19, 2021|Louisiana|

Louisiana

As it is being required by CMS, the Louisiana Department of Health announced plans to launch the new Medicaid Provider Enrollment Portal for screening and enrolling both FFS and MCO patients in April of 2021. All providers must submit applications through the portal within six months of the launch. More information is available here.

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

Michael Angeloni2021-02-12T09:14:01-05:00February 12, 2021|Louisiana|

Louisiana

The Louisiana Department of Health’s Medical Director of the Office of Behavioral Health, Dr. James Hussey, renewed the Naloxone Standing Order for calendar year 2021. More information can be found here.

Also in Louisiana. Effective December 23, 2020, the Louisiana Medicaid Fee for Service (FFS) Pharmacy Program and Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) announced that they are paying an administration fee of $15.92 for the first dose and $26.68 for the second dose for the COVID-19 vaccines. More information can be found here.

Lastly in Louisiana. The Board of Pharmacy is soliciting stakeholder comments and will hold a public hearing on February 25, 2021^h on two rules of interest to pharmacies.

Proposed rule would increase the amount of medication that may be dispensed under an emergency prescription to a 90-day supply. The rule also would provide for special permitting of pharmacists licensed outside the state to allow participation in disaster relief.
Proposed rule to clarify standards for pharmacists, pharmacies, and prescriptions and medication administration, removing outdated minimum specifications for prescription departments, extending the time for the reporting changes in the pharmacist-in-charge, and specifying that board-credentialed individuals must not be made to practice for longer than six hours without a rest break. The rule also would provide for the disposal of hard copy prescription records once stored in the electronic recordkeeping system, update the application process for pharmacy permits, remove minimum specifications for prescription departments in telepharmacy dispensing sites, and extend the quantity of medication that may be dispensed under an emergency refill.

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

Michael Angeloni2021-02-05T08:19:29-05:00February 5, 2021|Louisiana|

Louisiana

The Board of Pharmacy’s Regulation Review Committee met virtually on January 26 to discuss pharmacists’ expanding scope of practice. Last Fall during the special session, the Legislature approved Senate Resolution 39 by Sen. Regina Barrow (D) directing the Board of Pharmacy to make recommendations relative to pharmacists’ testing, screening, and treatment of certain health conditions. The committee approved recommending modernizing the collaborative practice agreements and limited prescriptive authority using Oregon as the model for consideration by the full Board at their February 24, 2021 meeting. Draft language can be found at the links below.

Also in Louisiana. The Department of Health (LDH) is reaching out to community pharmacies to encourage future partnership opportunities with pharmacies to better manage chronic disease and prevention. Click here for the PowerPoint Presentation. Contact LDH’s Marie Darr at marie.darr@la.gov for more information.

Also in Louisiana. Although the Prescription Monitoring Program Advisory Council’s January in-person quarterly meeting was canceled due to COVID, the Board of Pharmacy staff did provide NACDS and the other council members with the report Please click here for more information.

Lastly in Louisiana. LDH continues to add more information to its COVID-19 dashboard. More information and updates can be found here.

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

Michael Angeloni2021-01-29T10:51:45-05:00January 29, 2021|Louisiana|