The Office of Pharmacy Services has issued a new bulletin applying to COVID-19 Home Test Kit Coverage and another new bulletin regarding coverage for oral COVID-19 antivirals for the Medicaid Fee-for-Service (FFS) Program. Anyone interested in directly receiving upcoming Advisories may forward his/her name, company affiliation and email address directly to Deborah.washington@maryland.gov 

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

Gov. Hogan (R) has issued an Executive Order that provides for staffing flexibility to pharmacies as they engage in COVID-19 vaccinations and testing. 

Also in Maryland, the Department of Health has published an Advisory regarding Epidolex prescriptions due to a conflict between the federal and state scheduling process. 

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

The Maryland Insurance Administration (MIA) has released its report on the impact of Rutledge v. PCMA court decision and the subsequent Webhi decision on Maryland law and the MIA’s ability to regulate Pharmacy Benefits Managers (PBMs) relationships with pharmacies in Maryland. The report was mandated by the passage of HB 601 of 2021. It concluded that, should the legislature pass legislation regulating PBMs when providing services to an ERISA plan, ERISA would not preempt the MIA’s enforcement of those laws. The report also provides a summary of previously passed laws related to PBMs in Maryland and MIA’s current methods of enforcing them. The report cites comments jointly submitted from NACDS and the Maryland Association of Chain Drug Stores last fall, which highlighted examples of pro-pharmacy laws that align with the Rutledge decision. 

Also in Maryland: On December 15, the Department of Health (MDH) issued an updated Vaccination Matters Order and guidance.  

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

The Maryland Insurance Administration (MIA) has released its report on the impact of Rutledge v. PCMA and the subsequent Webhi decision on Maryland law and the MIA’s ability to regulate Pharmacy Benefits Managers (PBMs) and their relationship with pharmacies in Maryland. The report was mandated by the passage of HB 601 of 2021. It concluded that, should the legislature pass legislation regulating PBMs when providing services to an ERISA plan, ERISA would not preempt the MIA’s enforcement of those laws. The report also provides a summary of previously passed laws related to PBMs in Maryland and MIA’s current methods of enforcing them. The report cites comments from NACDS and the Maryland Association of Chain Drug Stores submitted last fall, which highlighted examples of pro-pharmacy laws that align with the Rutledge decision.

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

This week, Governor Hogan announced a 30-day State of Emergency in response to rising COVID-19 metrics in Maryland. The announcement includes Authorization of Booster Shots for 12- to 15-Year-Olds. Gov. Hogan’s press release is also available here.

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

The State Health Information Exchange, CRISP (Chesapeake Regional Information System for our Patients) now allows pharmacists access to clinical data for patient treatment and clinical care coordination. It also allows pharmacists to see alerts in the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) like nonfatal overdoses and deceased patient notifications. To access this information, the pharmacy must complete the CRISP Participation Agreement and review additional policies and procedures. For information about the CRISP participation agreement and how to sign, click here. Pharmacies should also contact CRISP outreach at support@crisphealth.org.

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

The following laws that passed in the 2021 Legislative session went into effect on October 1:

• HB 429 This law allows therapeutic substitution under certain circumstances. It requires a pharmacist, or the pharmacist’s designee, to inform a consumer of the availability of a therapeutically equivalent brand name drug that is the lowest cost alternative to the originally prescribed drug or device and the cost difference between the equivalent drug or device and the prescribed drug for cash paying customers only. It does not apply to prescriptions reimbursed by a third-party payor. Also requires the pharmacy to provide written notice, or to maintain a record that indicates a patient was notified in writing or orally, that the generic product is equivalent to the brand name product.
• SB 298 This law requires an owner of a pharmacy to provide notice of the closing of the pharmacy at least 14 days prior to the anticipated closing of the pharmacy, It also requires the notice to indicate the name of the pharmacy where customer prescriptions and records will transferred, and that a customer may request that their prescriptions and records be sent to another pharmacy. The Board of Pharmacy will have to promulgate regulation on this law.

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

The Office of Pharmacy Services has published an Advisory on the Concurrent use of Opioids and Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) for the Fee-for-Service (FFS) Program. Anyone interested in directly receiving upcoming Advisories may forward his/her name, company affiliation and email address directly to Deborah.washington@maryland.gov

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

Medicaid published Advisory #231 from the Office of Pharmacy Services in reference to the Pharmacy Provider Guidance on COVID-19 Additional Vaccine Dose for The Maryland Medicaid Fee-for-Service (FFS) Program.

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