Secretary of Health Laura Ferrara Scott, MD, issued a standing order this week authorizing pharmacies to administer RSV vaccines.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.

The Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) released the agenda for the July 24 meeting which will be held remotely at 2:00 p.m. Please register for the meeting in advance. The Board continues to welcome public comment and input on all its work. Please submit comments to comments.pdab@maryland.gov, and they will be provided to the Board prior to the upcoming Board Meeting. Please visit the Board’s website for more information about the upcoming and previous board meetings, presentation materials, and to learn more about the PDAB’s work. 

Also in Maryland, The Department of Health (MDH (Maryland Department of Health)) is currently accepting applications and nominations for physicians and pharmacists to serve on the Medicaid Drug Use Review (DUR) Board in 2024. The DUR Board is comprised of up to twelve (12) licensed and actively practicing physicians and pharmacists in Maryland. Members are appointed by the Secretary of MDH and serve one term of three (3) years from the date of their appointment with the option to serve an additional three (3) year term. All interested applicants are required to submit a formal application by August 1, 2023. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.

Medicaid issued Advisory #248 from the Office of Pharmacy Services in reference to the Generic vs. Brand Status on Maryland’s Preferred Drug List effective July 1, 2023. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.

Beginning July 20, 2023, pharmacies will be required to report Naloxone dispensing to the PDMP (Prescription Drug Monitoring Program) because of passage of a 2022 law. Additionally, the PDMP is changing certain ASAP (American Society for Automation in Pharmacy) fields from “optional” to “required.” For more information, see the updated PDMP RxGov Data Submitter Reference Guide with changes dictated by the naloxone statute, changes to required fields and new guidance from ASAP for v4.2A & v4.2B. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.

Gov. Wes Moore signed the following bills into law: 

• HB 693– Allows pharmacist to delegate administration of certain vaccines to pharmacy technicians: – to adults 18 years of age and older: COVID, flu, pneumonia; and RSV or shingles to patients 50 years of age and older; allows techs to perform remote data entry under supervision. Effective upon signing, April 4, 2023. 
• SB 678 – Requires Medicaid, CHIP and commercial insurers to reimburse pharmacies for services within their scope of practice if the plan would otherwise cover. Effective October 1, 2023; signed May 5, 2023.  
• HB 374– Pharmacy audits – clarifies that the state’s audit law applies to PBMs contracted with Managed Care Plans; adds new auditing thresholds and requirements that apply to all insurers and Managed Care; and requires PBMs to provide a secure electronic method of communication between the pharmacy and the PBM for sharing auditing information by October 2025. Provides that the Department of Insurance may promulgate rules. Effective January 1, 2024; signed May 5, 2023.  
• HB 382 -Requires the State Department of Health and Prescription Drug Advisory Board to complete a study on MMC claims for calendar years 2021 and 2022 and on the costs of implementing a pharmacy reimbursement cost-based rate floor in MMC. The study is due to the General Assembly in October 2023. Effective upon signing, April 4, 2023. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.

The General Assembly adjourned Sine Die this week. The following priority bills for pharmacy are on their way to Gov. Moore (D) for his signature: 

• HB 693– Allows pharmacists to delegate the administration of certain vaccines to adults to Pharmacy technicians and allows technicians to perform remote data entry. This “emergency bill” will be effective upon signing. 
• SB 678 – Requires Medicaid, CHIP, and commercial insurers to reimburse pharmacies for services within their scope of practice if the plan would otherwise cover. Effective Oct 1, 2023. 
• HB 374– Clarifies that the statutory audit provisions in current audit law applies to PBMs (Pharmacy Benefits Managers) contracted with Managed Care Plans; adds new requirements that apply to all insurers and managed care; and requires PBMs to provide a secure electronic method of communication between the pharmacy and the PBM for sharing auditing information by Oct 2025. Provides that MIA (Maryland Insurance Administration) may promulgate rules. Effective Jan 1, 2024. 
• HB 382 -Requires the MDH (Maryland Department of Health) (Maryland Department of Health) and Prescription Drug Advisory Board to complete a study on MCC claims around the costs of implementing a pharmacy reimbursement cost-based rate floor in the Medicaid Managed Care program. The study is due to the General Assembly in Oct 2023.  

NACDS thanks our state partners and members for their work to get these bills across the finish line. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.

SB 678 has passed the House and Senate and is on its way to the Gov. Wes Moore’s (D) desk. It will require Medicaid, CHIP and commercial health plans to pay for services provided by pharmacists within their scope of practice.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.

Sen. Malcolm Augustine (D) has introduced SB 372, to make state law permanently consistent with the PREP Act’s pharmacist vaccine and testing allowances. The bill is a continuation of HB 1040 of 2021, that temporarily adopted the same provisions in state law with a sunset date in June 2023. A separate bill allowing pharmacy technicians to vaccinate and perform remote data entry will be introduced soon. NACDS is actively working on the ground with in–key legislators, in-state partners and members to advance this bill in the 2023 session. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.

The Senate Finance Committee will hold a hearing on SB 64, legislation that would allow pharmacists to prescribe post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for HIV prevention, on January 31. If any members wish to submit written testimony, please contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.