HB 424, by Rep. Chris Taylor (R) related to immunization administration authority, was amended and reported out of the House Health and Welfare Committee last week. The bill is scheduled on the House Calendar on Monday, April 25. The bill would allow pharmacists to continue their authority granted under the federal Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREP Act) authority to immunize patients seven years of age and older without a prescription. NACDS is urging members to take action immediately utilizing the NACDS RxIMPACT Alert.

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

A final rule was published in the March 20, 2022, Louisiana Register codifying the authority for pharmacy technicians and pharmacist interns to administer medications effective immediately. It also simplifies existing administrative requirements for vaccines provided by pharmacy providers.  

Also in Louisiana, the House Committee on Health and Welfare meeting was cancelled this week because of the special session Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) convened on redistricting. We now expect HB 424 by Rep. Chris Turner (R) to be heard next Wednesday, April 6th. The bill allows pharmacy interns or certified pharmacy technicians, supervised by a pharmacist, to administer influenza immunizations; it lowers the minimum age from seven years of age to three without a patient-specific prescription or medical order. NACDS urges members to continue to contact all House members encouraging them to support the bill. 

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

Legislation that makes permanent provisions granted under the PREP (Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness) Act filed by Rep. Chris Turner (R) will be heard in the House Health and Welfare Committee on Wednesday morning, March 23 at 9:30 AM. HB 474 will allow the pharmacist, pharmacy intern and pharmacy technician, without a patient specific prescription or medical order, to administer all vaccines to anyone three years old and older.  

Also in Louisiana, Gov John Bel Edwards (D) announced that he would NOT renew the COVID-19 public health emergency order that expired on March 16th. The Board of Pharmacy (Board) issued a  guidance document listing all the current interim policies and their expiration dates. 

At their May 11th meeting, the Board will consider whether to terminate or further extend any interim policies. Three of the policies (identified in guidance document) were based on the federal declaration of emergency as opposed to the state declaration of emergency. Since the federal declaration of emergency is still in effect, the expiration dates for those three interim policies were extended for the duration of the federal public health emergency.

Of particular importance to many pharmacies and pharmacists is the authority provided by the federal PREP Act Declaration and its subsequent amendments for pharmacists to order and administer COVID-19 tests and therapeutics. For as long as the federal public health emergency and PREP Act Declaration are in place and not modified, that authority remains in effect. 

Finally in Louisiana, all providers who file claims with the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH), including pharmacy providers and immunizing pharmacists, are reminded that they must enroll in the new Medicaid Provider Enrollment Portal to continue being reimbursed. All existing providers must log in and submit an enrollment through the portal. LDH had requested a deadline extension from March 31st to June 30, 2022, but it is still pending approval from CMS, so providers are encouraged to act now to complete enrollments so that their claims will not be denied.  

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

The Board of Pharmacy unanimously approved supporting filing legislation on collaborative practice agreements, statewide protocols for patient care services, requiring PBM licensing and a bill that would add pharmacy interns and certified pharmacy technicians as authorized immunizers, and reducing the age threshold from 7 to 3 years and older for influenza immunizations and from 17 to 3 years and older for all other immunizations. The legislature convenes on March 14th.

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

The Board of Pharmacy is meeting at 9 AM on February 17th in Baton Rouge. Items on the agenda of interest include legislative proposals on collaborative practice agreements, statewide protocols for patient care services and immunizations.

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

The Department of Health (LDH) Bureau of Health Services Financing announced that effective February 7, 2022, the Medicaid Fee for Service (FFS) Pharmacy Program and Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) will pay for certain COVID-19 oral antiviral agents. Also, on January 26, the Pharmacy Program implemented coverage for OTC at home FDA authorized COVID-19 tests with no copay, with an effective date of January 17, 2022. The fee for service dispensing fee is $10.99. 

Also in Louisiana, the Board of Pharmacy’s Regulation Revision Committee approved with no objections the legislative proposal changing the age thresholds in pharmacy immunization law to match age thresholds in PREP Act. Next it will be considered by the full Board at their February 17th meeting in Baton Rouge.  

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

The Board of Pharmacy’s Regulation Revision Committee will meet in Baton Rouge on February 2nd to consider several legislative proposals including changing the age thresholds in pharmacy immunization law to match age thresholds in PREP Act. [01-12-2022] Consideration of Legislative Proposal 2022-H ~ Immunizations (Draft #1) If approved by the Committee, the items will be considered by the full Board on February 17th.

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

Referencing the federal law and regulations, the Board of Pharmacy’s Regulation Revision Committee sent to the full Board for final consideration at the February 16 meeting draft CLIA guidelines confirming that properly credentialed pharmacies may perform moderately complex lab testing. 

Also in Louisiana, the Department of Health (LDH) Bureau of Health Services Financing issued a Provider Update on reimbursement for COVID-19 booster shots and third doses for Medicaid Fee for Service (FFS) Pharmacy Program and Managed Care Organizations (MCOs). Effective January 18th, Louisiana Medicaid will reimburse enrolled pharmacies for the administration fee or $37.08 or billed charges, and not for the ingredient for COVID-19 vaccines. No dispensing fee shall be reimbursed.  

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

At the Regulation Revision Committee (RRC) meeting on January 5th, members revised and approved several proposed legislative bill drafts of interest to chain pharmacies, including (1) amending the prescription monitoring program law to provide limited access to audit trail information to designated representatives of Louisiana Medicaid; (2) require Pharmacy Benefit Managers to obtain a permit from the Board of Pharmacy; (3) revising the definition of collaborative practice and authorizing pharmacists to provide certain patient care services in accordance with statewide protocols developed by the Board’s Public Health and Pharmacy Protocol Advisory Committee and approved by the Board of Pharmacy; and (4) changing the definition of collaborative practice and adding a definition of a collaborative practice agreement authorizing pharmacists to engage in collaborative practice in accordance with rules promulgated by the Board of Pharmacy. The RRC also approved a draft CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments) Waived Testing Policy statement confirming pharmacist’s authority to perform these tests under federal law. The full Board of Pharmacy will be considering all these issues at their February 16th meeting. 

Also in Louisiana, the Department of Health (LDH) issued a new Naloxone standing order. They also issued Louisiana Medicaid Pharmacy Point of Sale (POS) Diagnosis Code Requirement and Bypass Diagnosis Codes – Effective January 1, 2022; Louisiana Medicaid Pharmacy Point of Sale Clinical Authorization and Criteria Updates – Effective January 1, 2022; and Louisiana Medicaid Pharmacy Point of Sale Quantity Limits – Effective January 1, 2022 

Finally in Louisiana, in advance of the December 28, 2021, Board of Pharmacy’s Public Hearing, NACDS submitted comments in support of proposed rules that make permanent certain authorities for pharmacy technicians and interns authorized under the PREP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) Act. Specifically, the proposed rules would codify authority for pharmacy technicians and interns to administer vaccines, in addition to making other changes to the existing rules that simplify existing administrative requirements for vaccines provided by pharmacy providers. We anticipate that the final rule will be published on March 20, 2022, Louisiana Register, and become effective immediately. 

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