The Board of Pharmacy published a final rule on Central Fill Pharmacies, effective May 19, 2023.

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

An amended version of S-4 version  SB 219 codifying PREP Act allowances overwhelmingly passed the Michigan Senate this week by a vote of 36-1. It now goes to the House Health Policy Committee for further consideration. NACDS will be supporting the efforts of members and partners to make appropriate changes to the language in the House. 

Also in Michigan, the Department of Health and Human Services issued Numbered Letter L 23. It clarifies billing requirements for Medication Therapy Management. Medicaid letters and bulletins can be accessed on the provider webpage. 

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

NACDS reminds members that 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 would like us to include in the letter, please send them to Jill McCormack by close of business on May 26. 

Also in Michigan, the Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is soliciting comments from Medicaid Health Plan Common Formulary. The Common Formulary applies to pharmacy claims paid by Medicaid Managed Care Organizations. The public may submit comments on the drugs included or not included on the Common Formulary; new drug products; prior authorization criteria; step therapy criteria and other topics related to drug coverage. The comments will be reviewed by MDHHS and the Michigan Medicaid Health Plan Common Formulary Workgroup. The next drug classes to be reviewed by the Workgroup include Diabetes, GI, P & T Miscellaneous, Non-Drug Products and Endocrine & Metabolic. Changes may be made to the Common Formulary based on comments received. Comments are due June 16 and should be emailed to MDHHSCommonFormulary@michigan.gov . 

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

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’ Mike Sargent at 207-272-6435.