Effective May 1, the Medicaid single preferred drug list took effect for all managed care organizations and Medicaid fee-for-service.

Also in Louisiana…In partnership with the Louisiana Pharmacists Association, The University of Louisiana Monroe College of Pharmacy and the Xavier University of Louisiana College of Pharmacy, NACDS co-sponsored the Pharmacy Legislative Day at the Capitol on April 29. In the rotunda, pharmacists and students set up displays and provided screenings and education to state lawmakers, legislative staff, lobbyists and tourists.

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

The Department of Health, Bureau of Health Services Financing will be holding a public hearing on Thursday, February 28 on proposed rules amending the Pharmacy Benefits Management Program changing the pharmacy ingredient cost reimbursement methodology from average acquisition cost (AAC) to the national average drug acquisition cost (NADAC).

Also in Louisiana…The Board of Pharmacy finalized regulations that took effect on January 20 modifying the prescription monitoring program regulations to include naloxone as a drug of concern, thus requiring reporting and tracking for public health purposes.

Also in Louisiana…The Board of Pharmacy announced the integration of the prescription monitoring program data into electronic health records (EHRs) and pharmacy management systems across the state. The goal is to minimize any workflow disruption by providing near-instant and seamless access to critical controlled substance prescription history information of patients to both prescribers and pharmacists directly within their EHRs and pharmacy management systems.

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

The Department of Health Bureau of Health Services Financing will be holding a public hearing on Thursday, February 28 on proposed rules amending the Pharmacy Benefits Management Program changing the pharmacy ingredient cost reimbursement methodology from average acquisition cost (AAC) to the national average drug acquisition cost (NADAC).

Also in Louisiana…The Board of Pharmacy finalized regulations that took effect on January 20 modifying the prescription monitoring program regulations to include naloxone as a drug of concern, thus requiring reporting and tracking for public health purposes.

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

On January 7, 2019, the Dr. Barbara Gee, Secretary of the Department of Health, issued a standing order for naloxone.

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

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:

• Robert Cloud, PharmD, Director of Pharmacy at the Glenwood Regional Medical Center,
• Kevin LaGrange, an independent pharmacist at Professional Arts Pharmacy and
• Rock LeBas, an independent pharmacist and owner of Glenn’s Family Pharmacy and son of Rep. Bernard LeBas (D).

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.