Medicaid open enrollment for Healthy Louisiana, the Medicaid managed care program, begins on October 15, 2020, and runs through November 30, 2020. During this time, beneficiaries have an opportunity to choose a new health plan or remain with their current plan.

Also in Louisiana. On August 13, the Board of Pharmacy discussed NACDS supported proposed rules regarding technician ratios and technicians administering immunizations.

Also in Louisiana. The Department of Health issued an informational bulletin summarizing temporary changes in provider policies and managed care practices. This bulletin is to inform all providers rendering services to Louisiana Medicaid members, including members of all Medicaid managed care organizations (MCO) on issues including but not limited to, Laboratory Testing of Suspected Patients, Laboratory Testing using High Throughput Technology, Testing and Treatment Coverage, and COVID-19 Counseling and Evaluation and Management Services.

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

The Department of Health (LDH), which oversees Medicaid, has issued several updates for pharmacies. Links to those updates are below:

• Louisiana Medicaid Pharmacy Point of Sale (POS) Diagnosis Code Requirement for Select Medications – August 3, 2020
• Louisiana Medicaid Pharmacy Point of Sale (POS) Quantity Limits – August 3, 2020
• Louisiana Medicaid Pharmacy Point of Sale (POS) Edits for Lumateperone (Caplyta™) – August 3, 2020
• Louisiana Medicaid Pharmacy Point of Sale Clinical Authorization for Select Drugs – August 3, 2020
• Louisiana Medicaid Provider Updates

Also in Louisiana. LDH announced several extensions through October 31, 2020, due to COVID. Those extensions apply to:

• Existing approved prior authorizations on prescribed drugs and physician-administered drugs (drugs included as a medical benefit). According to LDH, this will not affect the number of refills originally authorized by the prescriber.
• Member copays for prescribed drugs, which will continue to be waived.
• A 90-day supply of appropriate maintenance medications that are not controlled substances. This includes cardiovascular drugs (hypertension, coronary artery disease, thrombosis), diabetes drugs, respiratory drugs (inhaled and oral), contraceptives, antivirals, direct-acting antivirals for hepatitis C, immunosuppressives, antipsychotics, and antidepressants, among others.
• Member signatures, which will not be required.

Also in Louisiana. The Board of Pharmacy will be holding a virtual full board meeting on Thursday, August 13, 2020.  The full agenda can be found here.

Also in Louisiana. The Board of Pharmacy posted its new Pharmacy Law Book.  The new law book can be found here.

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

Chain pharmacies have created a new chain drug committee organization called the Louisiana Alliance of Retail Pharmacies under the umbrella organization, the Louisiana Retail Association. NACDS pledged to work closely with the LARP lobbyists on key legislative and regulatory initiatives aimed at broadening the scope of pharmacy practice to help fill the gaps in healthcare.

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

At the Louisiana Pharmacists Association’s virtual annual meeting this week, NACDS honored Walgreens pharmacist Jeff Gaude as the Louisiana Chain Pharmacist of the Year. Jeff was selected by his peers as an outstanding pharmacist dedicated to the advancement of the profession.

Also in Louisiana. The Board of Pharmacy scheduled a special Board meeting at 9 AM on July 28, 2020.  Meeting details and agenda can be found here.

Also in Louisiana. NACDS is continuing efforts to urge the Louisiana Office of Public Health (OPH) to persuade  Gov. John Bel Edwards to issue an Executive Order NACDS drafted leveraging pharmacists and other qualified healthcare professionals and vaccinators in mass immunization efforts once COVID-19 vaccines are available. The NACDS model language would also allow pharmacists to delegate technical, non-clinical immunization tasks to pharmacy technicians, and includes a provision requiring insurance carriers, Medicaid, and any contracted pharmacy benefit managers reimburse pharmacies for the cost of acquiring and administering a COVID-19 vaccine.

Also in Louisiana. NACDS virtually attended the Board of Pharmacy’s Regulation Revision Committee (RRC) meeting monitoring the discussions on pharmacy staffing ratios, telepharmacy counseling requirements, and electronic prescribing draft rules. While the Committee voted against increasing the pharmacy technician ratio, they did commit to discussing the issue of pharmacy technicians administering immunizations at the August 12, 2020 Board meeting. The electronic prescribing rules were not discussed, so they remain on the RRC agenda for their next meeting this Fall.

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

During the 2020 Regular Session, the Legislature adopted House Concurrent Resolution 71 which directs all professional licensing boards to adopt emergency rules to suspend the collection of license renewal fees for existing businesses located in Louisiana for licenses, certificates, permits, and registrations. To be in compliance, at the June 25^th teleconference meeting, the Board adopted emergency rules effective July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2021.

Also in Louisiana. The Legislature reached a balanced budget agreement last week and adjourned their special session on June 30^th. Lawmakers may return for another special session in October to either spend more federal coronavirus aid or make cuts if the budget situation worsens.

Also in Louisiana. Gov. Edwards issued Proclamation 83 JBE 2020 extending the public health emergency until July 24, 2020, unless terminated sooner which means that all previously issued waivers and guidance from the Board relative to this public health emergency have also been extended.

Also in Louisiana. At the June 25^th Board of Pharmacy meeting, Board members voted to terminate their recognition of NABP Passport effective July 31, 2020.  A copy of that notice is here.  Holders of the NABP Passport who have been practicing within or for the State of Louisiana without a separate credential issued by the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy will no longer be authorized to do so after July 31, 2020. The Board also approved an Emergency Rule suspending the collection of license renewal fees from existing businesses located within Louisiana for those credentials scheduled to expire between July 1, 2020, and June 30, 2021.

Lastly in Louisiana. Effective June 20^th, final rules on drug disposal and pain medication treatment guidelines were adopted. In addition, the following Final and Emergency rules have also been published.

• Final rule of the Board of Pharmacy amends regulations under LAC 46:LIII, Chapters 15, 25, and 27, to allow pharmacies to accept returns of previously dispensed drugs for disposal and specify requirements for the disposal of controlled substances and hazardous drugs. The rule also removes the requirement that pharmacies accept returns of controlled substances for disposal and instead allows pharmacies to accept such drugs for disposal. In addition, the rule requires pharmacies to advise patients or their designees of drug disposal options.

• Final rule of the Office of Workers’ Compensation Administration amends regulations under LAC 40:I, Chapter 21, to revise chronic pain disorder medical treatment guidelines. The rule revises guidelines for nonoperative therapeutic procedures.

The Department of Public Health extended until October 22, 2020, an  Emergency rule amending regulations for the continuation of Medicaid programs and services during the coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency. The rule relaxes requirements related to fair hearing requests and asset verification, provides for coverage of diagnostic testing for uninsured individuals, waives the requirement for daily visits by hospice providers, and allows for telemedicine visits by hospice providers. The rule also allows for reimbursement of ambulance providers for allowable services on-site without transport, waives copayments for pharmacy services, and allows a 90-day supply of maintenance medications.

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

Legislators are continuing to meet in a special session convened earlier this month attempting to negotiate a balance budget agreement prior to the star of the new fiscal year on July 1, 2020. 

Also in Louisiana... Two COVID-19 emergency rules have been extended until November. 

Emergency rule of the Department of Health, Bureau of Health Services Financing, adopts regulations under LAC 50:I, Chapter 5, to establish provisions for the delivery of telemedicine during a declared disaster under the Medical Assistance Program. The rule provides that services may temporarily be provided through the use of an interactive audio telecommunications system, without the requirement of video, if such action is determined to be necessary. The rule, which is issued in response to the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, extends a March 16th emergency rule. The rule is effective July 15, 2020, and expires Nov. 12, 2020. 

Emergency rule of the Department of Health amends regulations under LAC 51:II, Chapter 1, to add coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19)/infections with SARS-CoV-2 to the list of reportable diseases. The rule also requires laboratories and health care facilities to report testing results. The rule is effective July 5, 2020 and expires Nov. 2, 2020.  

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

The Board of Pharmacy is meeting via teleconference at 1 PM on June 25, 2020. http://www.pharmacy.la.gov/assets/docs/Board/2020-0625_1_Agenda.pdf

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

The regular session of the state legislature is scheduled to adjourn at 6 PM on June 1, 2020. Immediately after adjournment, at 6:01 PM, Gov. John Bel Edwards is expected to convene a special session to finalize the budget through June 30, the constitution deadline date for a balanced budget. 

Also in Louisiana... The Board of Pharmacy held a full Board meeting via Zoom on May 27th . The Board discussed problems with adequate testing sites for pharmacy graduates, and a pending House Concurrent Resolution 71 that if passed and signed by Gov. Edwards, would temporarily suspend the annual licensing fees imposed by licensing boards and agencies on businesses. The Board plans to hold an emergency virtual Board meeting in June to take action on these two issues. 

Also in Louisiana... NACDS submitted a comment letter raising concerns about adding seven medications that are used to treat hepatitis, as well as gabapentin and oral liquid formulations of promethazine to the drugs of concern list that must be reported to the Prescription Monitoring Program.  

Also in Louisiana... NACDS confirmed that Sen. Mark Abraham will not pursue passage of SB 488, legislation that would have prohibited chain pharmacies from enforcing any policy which would restrict the quantity or dosage of a prescription for a controlled substance or restricts a filling a prescription for a controlled substance issued by a specific prescriber.

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

NACDS and the Louisiana Retailers Association (LRA) submitted a joint letter to Louisiana Governor John Bel Edward’s Rural Development Task Force Chairman Jim Clinton sharing our ideas how community pharmacies are vital to helping reopen the economy. NACDS and LRA also sent a similar letter earlier this month to the Governor’s Health Equity Commission and have been participating in their meetings focused on addressing health disparities during the COVID-19 Pandemic. 

 Also in Louisiana... Gov. John Bel Edwards issued a proclamation extending the public health emergency until June 5, 2020.  

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