The Board of Pharmacy is holding a Regulation Revision Committee meeting at 8:30 AM on January 22. To review the agenda, go to – https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/6FTCCrkBDZfEykwF422Ak?domain=pharmacy.la.gov 

Also in Louisiana… the Louisiana Department of Health Secretary Barbara Gee renewed the annual Standing Order for distribution or dispensing of Naloxone and other opioid antagonists effective 1/1/2020. 

Also in Louisiana… Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) appointed Dr Sajal K. Roy, a pharmacist from Madisonville to serve a six-year term on the Board of Pharmacy, replacing Diane Milano. 

Also in Louisiana… in advance of the December 27 public hearing, NACDS provided the Board of Pharmacy with comments and recommendations on several proposed rules on immunizations and dispensing prescription refills.

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

The Department of Health Bureau of Health Services and Financing issued a Medicaid provider notice that effective December 15, the Fee-for-Service Pharmacy program and Managed Care organizations will implement a new POS diagnosis code requirement and quantity limits for certain nasal sprays.

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

NACDS provided the Pharmacy Congress with revised draft bill language that would expand pharmacists’ scope of practice and provide payment parity. NACDS is working to secure broad support from all pharmacy stakeholders to find bill sponsors and promote the legislation in 2020.  

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

The Board of Pharmacy’s Regulation Revision Committee will be meeting on Thursday, October 17. In advance of the meeting, members are encouraged to submit letters of support urging the Board to amend rules to eliminate the pharmacy technician-to-pharmacist ratio.

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

Effective October 1, the Department of Health (LDH) implemented a new educational alert at the point-of-sale for concurrent uses of opiates and antipsychotic medicines for the Medicaid fee-for-service program

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

Effective September 15, Medicaid Fee-for-Service (FFS) Pharmacy Program began reimbursing enrolled pharmacies for influenza vaccines and administration of the vaccines for Medicaid recipients who are nineteen years of age and older when the administering pharmacist is an enrolled Medicaid provider. The cost of the vaccine will not be reimbursed for recipients under the age of nineteen as these vaccines are available through the Louisiana Vaccines for Children (VFC) program. If Medicaid FFS is billed for a recipient 18 years of age or younger, only the administration fee will be reimbursed for these recipients.

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

The Department of Health reminded Medicaid providers that the Emergency Overrides Hurricane season continues through Saturday, November 30. When severe weather causes residents to evacuate and businesses to close early, pharmacy providers are allowed to fill a prescription with a minimum three-day emergency supply. Controlled substances and specialty drugs are NOT included in the emergency fill provision. The current Medicaid Immunization Coverage for Fee-for-Service and Managed Care Organizations chart includes information on vaccines and how they are covered.

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

At the August 14 Board of Pharmacy meeting, the Board reviewed NACDS’ comment letter with suggestions aimed at reducing prescriptive rules, including utilizing technologies, eliminating technician ratios and expanding duties. After a lengthy discussion, the Board referred 25 of the 50+ NACDS recommendations to the Regulation Revision Committee for further discussion and possible action. The agenda has been posted for the Regulation Revision Committee meeting at the Board office at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, September 17. Members are encouraged to participate.

Also in Louisiana… The Department of Health (LDH) Office of Public Health announced that Louisiana residents can now access on-line their immunization records in LINKS. By reducing the administrative burden of immunization record requests, LDH hopes that patients will take greater control over their health and improve immunization rates.

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

Legislation, requiring prescribers to indicate on the prescription it is medically necessary if the prescriber wants more than a seven-day supply of an opioid drug dispensed, took effect on August 1.

Also in Louisiana… The Department of Health has posted two Medicaid provider bulletins:

• Point of Sale (POS) Therapeutic Duplication for Antipsychotic Pharmacy Claims and Diagnosis Code Requirement for Progesterone (Crinone^®) and Tobramycin (Kitabis^®) – Effective August 1, 2019
• Updated Single Preferred Drug List (PDL) for Select Drugs – Effective August 1, 2019 Criteria updates only; no changes in preferred status.

Also in Louisiana… Senate President John A. Alario, Jr. (R), who has served in the Legislature since 1972, announced that he will retire in January due to term limits.

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