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.

The Department of Health issued two final rules effective May 20, 2019.

• Final rule revising standards for the Pharmacy Benefits Management Program. The rule reinstates federal upper payment limits and conforms the reimbursement methodology for physician-administered drugs in a physician office setting with a CMS-approved state plan amendment.
• Final rule adding numerous diseases to the list of mandatory disease reporting requirements, and a requirement for children to receive meningococcal vaccinations in accordance with the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice of the United States Public Health Service.

Also in Louisiana… Prior to adjourning on June 6, the legislature approved HR 257, a resolution by Rep. Frank Hoffmann (R) urging the Department of Health to pursue value-based payments in Medicaid to increase access to buprenorphine/naloxone and naltrexone products for opioid use disorder treatment.

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