The Medicaid Pharmacy Program announced, effective Monday, January 28, Kapyay® ER will no longer be preferred over its generic equivalent. The current Preferred Drug List (PDL) is available on the website.

Also in Maryland…The Medicaid Pharmacy Program announced, effective Friday, February 15, Reyataz® capsules will no longer be preferred over its generic equivalent.

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

Effective January 1, 2019, pharmacists are able to prescribe certain contraceptives to patients and be reimbursed under Medicaid and the state’s Children’s Health Insurance Program. The Board of Pharmacy has published online guidance on complying with the law and the required patient screening forms

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

The Department of Health (MDH) is seeking retail pharmacists to serve on the Drug Utilization Review (DUR) Board. New members will be appointed in January 2019 and applications are due Friday, September 14. Information concerning duties and powers of the board can be found in the latest issue of the Maryland Register. Interested applicants must submit a formal application through the MDH’s Office of Appointments and Executive Nominations. For further information or questions, contact Kim Bennardi of MDH.

The Maryland Medicaid Pharmacy Program will be conducting a stakeholder meeting on Wednesday, June 13 in Baltimore to discuss the mandatory pharmacy cost of dispensing survey that will be conducted this summer. All providers that participate in the Maryland Medicaid Pharmacy Program are invited to attend.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-837-4195.

The Senate Finance Committee held a hearing on SB 13, legislation that would require pharmacies to report dispensing information on all drugs to the state’s Health Information Exchange. The Maryland Association of Chain Drug Stores and the Maryland Pharmacists Association testified in opposition to the bill, citing the lack of input by pharmacy previous to the bill being filed. Following that testimony, the Committee adopted a motion directing the Maryland Health Care Commission to further explore the concept through stakeholder’s workgroup meetings.

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