Effective October 24, Medicaid fee-for-service set a quantity limit on epinephrine injections at four boxes of two syringes (eight syringes total) per rolling 365 days. The Department of Health also announced that due to the current shortage of certain products, the prior authorizations will be automatically approved.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Beginning September 14, the Medicaid Fee-for-Service Pharmacy Program began to reimburse 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.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
The Department of Health (LDH) reported that Mercer received 872 responses to the cost of dispensing survey. LDH will share the complete final report with pharmacy stakeholders soon.
Also in Louisiana…Medicaid Program Integrity (PI) identified approximately $23 million in claims-related overpayments for services over the past 20 years. There are some pharmacy claims that Medicaid will make an effort to collect by offsetting future submitted claims, so LDH sent 479 overpayment letters to pharmacies.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
On July 10, Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) announced three new appointments and two re-appointments to the 17-member Board of Pharmacy. New appointees include:
Serving another term are Rhonny Valentine, a pharmacist who provides relief work for retail pharmacies, and Blake Pitre, a pharmacist and owner of B&J Pitre Pharmacy.
Also in Louisiana…Ben Orlando, RPh with Brookshire Pharmacy in Monroe was honored as the 2018 Louisiana Chain Pharmacist of the Year at the Louisiana Pharmacists Association’s Annual Meeting held last weekend in Lafayette.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
The Department of Health announce that the annual open enrollment for Healthy Louisiana Medicaid Managed Care program began on June 15 and will continue until Tuesday, July 31. During this time, Louisianans can choose a new health plan or do nothing and remain with their current plan. There are five health plans that deliver physical and behavioral health care services to the nearly 1.5 million Healthy Louisiana enrollees. Enrollment changes made during this time will go into effect on Saturday, September 1.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) announced that he will be convening a third special session for 2018 on Monday, June 18 through Wednesday, June 27 aimed at fully funding higher education.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
The Department of Health has been working towards developing a single preferred drug list (PDL) to be used for both the Medicaid fee-for-service (FFS) and the Medicaid managed care (MCO) programs, thereby replacing the six different Medicaid drug lists currently in use. Comments on the draft PDL will be accepted via email before Thursday, May 31.
Also in Louisiana…On May 22, Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) convened a two-week special session to address a $648 million budget deficit. This is the sixth special session the Governor has called in the past two years. A balanced budget must be enacted by the start of the next fiscal year on Sunday, July 1.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
Last week, the Department of Health (LDH) released a report on the economic impact of the Medicaid expansion, showing that the state has benefitted from Gov. John Bel Edward’s (D) Executive Order to bring more federal dollars to provide for the healthcare for the working poor.
Also in Louisiana…On April 16, Medicaid distributed a cost of dispensing survey to pharmacies so that they can update the professional dispensing fee. Completed surveys are due to Mercer by Friday, May 11.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.
On April 4, NACDS and Surescripts testified before the House Health and Welfare Committee in support of mandatory e-prescribing legislation, HB 538, introduced by Rep. Dustin Miller (D). The bill was amended to mandate e-prescribing for opioids only and was passed by a 7-4 margin.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.