The Department of Insurance has posted a draft rule pursuant to the PBM Licensure and Regulation Act. NACDS is currently reviewing the rule and intends to file comments by the June 9 deadline. If there are comments you’d like us to include in the letter, please send them to Jill McCormack by close of business on May 26,, 2023. 

Also in Michigan, the Board of Pharmacy will hold a public hearing on Pharmacy – General Rules NOH 6.2.2023.pdf on June 2, 2023 at 9:00 a.m.. Written comments can be submitted to BPL-BoardSupport@michigan.gov. The open comment period ends June 2 at 5:00 p.m. 

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

On March 2, the Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) began mailing beneficiary alert letters to notify beneficiaries that an eligibility renewal packet will be sent soon. Per federal legislation, Michigan will restart Medicaid eligibility renewals for both fee-for-service Medicaid and Medicaid Health Plan (MHP) beneficiaries effective April 1, 2023. MDHHS plans to continue to mail the beneficiary alert letters each month to additional groups of beneficiaries until February 2, 2024. Providers should continue to verify beneficiary eligibility prior to services. Visit the eligibility and enrollment webpage for step-by-step instructions. Eligibility redetermination or renewal dates can be viewed within the CHAMPS eligibility inquiry screen. For more information on how benefits are changing with the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE), visit Medicaid Benefit Changes.  

Also in Michigan, MDHHS issued two bulletins:  

• Medicaid Bulletin MMP 23-14 discusses Updates to the MDHHS Medicaid Provider Manual; Medicaid Eligibility Requirements; Federal Public Health Emergency and is issued on March 2, 2023.  
• Medicaid Bulletin MMP 23-10 discusses Telemedicine Policy Post-COVID-19 Public Health Emergency and is issued on March 2, 2023. 

All Medicaid bulletins can be accessed at www.michigan.gov/medicaidproviders click on “Policy, Letters & Forms”.

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

The Board of Pharmacy published an agenda for an April 7 regulation workgroup meeting where they will be taking oral testimony on the Pharmacy Technician Rules. They will accept written comments at BPL-BoardSupport@michigan.gov until the close of business on April 6. For a copy of the draft rule and more information, click here.

Also in Michigan, the Department of Health and Human Services has issued a proposed policy for public comment; comments should be sent to frankmane@michigan.gov by April 18.

• 2305-F2F-P – COVID-19 Response: Reversal of Temporary COVID-19 Relaxation of Face-to-Face Requirement Policies and Update of Face-to-Face and In Person Definitions. The proposed effective date is May 12.

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

The Board of Pharmacy has posted the minutes from the January 19 Rules Committee Work Group Meeting, where a proposed rule regarding central fill and other shared pharmacy services was discussed.

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

NACDS reminds members that pharmacists can prescribe self-administered hormonal birth control under delegated authority, including oral contraceptives, the patch, and the ring, by opting into the program. The change happened under an interpretive statement issued by the state’s Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Department (LARA) under direction of a previous executive directive 2022-05 issued by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) in May of 2021. Pharmacists must enter into a delegation agreement; a sample delegation agreement is available on LARA’s website. The governor’s executive directive in May instructed state departments and agencies to identify and assess opportunities to increase protections for reproductive health care.

Also in Michigan, on October 3, LARA issued a notice that the state will formally begin enforcing Michigan’s 2020 e-prescribing law on January 1, 2023. Though the law was originally to take effect in 2021, it included a provision allowing Bureau of Professional Licensing to delay enforcement until the federal Centers for Medicaid and Medicare (CMS) began enforcing the mandate on Part D prescription drug programs. LARA also released an Application for waiver of electronic prescribing requirements form for prescribers and posted an FAQ document. Note that pharmacists are not required to verify that a prescriber qualifies for a waiver when filling paper prescriptions.  

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

On September 19th, the state authorized delegated pharmacists to have prescriptive authority to prescribe self-administered hormonal birth control— including oral contraceptives, the patch, and the ring. The action allows pharmacists to opt into this program but does not require participation. The change happened under an interpretive statement (see attached) issued by the state’s Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Department (LARA) under the direction of a previous executive directive 2022-05 Gov. Whitmer issued in May this year. Pharmacists must enter into a delegation agreement prior – a sample delegation agreement is available on LARA’s website and attached. The governor’s executive directive in May instructed state departments and agencies to identify and assess opportunities to increase protections for reproductive health care. Here is the link to the Governor’s press release.

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHSS) has updated the Medicaid PDL (Preferred Drug List) effective 6/1/2022.

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.

At the Michigan Pharmacy Provider Liaison Quarterly Meeting. Discussion focused on clarifications of several policy documents. The next pharmacy liaison meeting will be held on June 9. 

Final Policies Issued 

HASA 22-02: COVID-19 Response: Coverage of FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) COVID-19 Monoclonal Antibody Injections by Pharmacy Providers 

Published L-Letters 

L 22-05: Clarification of Michigan Automated Prescription System (MAPS) 

Record Retention 

L 22-04: Additional Guidance and Clarification for the Coverage of COVID- 19 Prevention, Treatment, and Support Services. 

Proposed Policy: 

2156-Pharmacy: Signature Log and Proof of Delivery Requirements 

2202-Pharmacy: COVID-19 Response: Coverage of U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) COVID-19 Monoclonal Antibody Injections by Pharmacy Providers 

2155-Pharmacy: Update to Contraceptive Supply Limit 

Web Announcements: 

Summary of Michigan Single PDL (Preferred Drug List) Changes – effective 2/01/2022 https://michigan.magellanrx.com/provider/external/medicaid/mi/doc/en­ us/MIRx PDL changes.pdf 

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D) signed into law on February 23 three bills — HB 4348,  HB 4351, and HB 4352 aimed at lowering the costs of prescription drugs, ensure that pharmacists can provide advice to patients about treatment options, and provide oversight and transparency for pharmacy benefit managers. The laws will require that PBMs be licensed with the Department of Insurance and Financial Services. In addition, the legislation provides government oversight on pharmacy audits and appeals with help from state regulators. The law takes effect January 1, 2024 

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.