MO HealthNet (MHD) issued Bulletin 46-38 announcing that due to the decrease in the Pharmacy Reimbursement Allowance (Pharmacy Tax), the adjustment to account for the Medicaid-reimbursed prescriptions was decreased effective January 1, 2024. In-state pharmacy providers receive a professional dispensing fee of $12.22, plus an adjustment to account for the cost of the Missouri Pharmacy Reimbursement Allowance attributable to Medicaid-reimbursed prescriptions. The professional dispensing fee plus the current adjusted amount will total $12.65. Out-of-state pharmacy providers continue to receive a professional dispensing fee of $8.85. Long-term care pharmacy providers supplying covered drugs to participants in long-term care facilities continue to receive an additional $0.50 dispensing fee. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.

The Missouri Pharmacy Association (MPA) is asking pharmacies to distribute this one-pager to educate and help facilitate action on PBM reform legislation.  

Also in Missouri, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) approved the MO HealthNet Division’s (MHD) application for substance use disorders (SUD) 1115 Demonstration Waiver, effective January 1, 2024. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.

Missouri became the final state in the country to implement a statewide prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP). Its new online system allows healthcare professionals to track patients’ drug histories in an electronic database. As per the new law passed two years ago, dentists, doctors, pharmacists, and other professionals who dispense controlled substances will now be required to enter patient and prescription information into the database. 

Also in Missouri, the Department of Social Services (DSS) MO HealthNet Provider Bulletin Volume 46 Number 34 confirmed that starting November 29, 2023, authorized pharmacy providers can bill for COVID-19 vaccines regardless of Vaccines for Children (VFC) enrollment or participant age. Retail pharmacies can only bill if the prescribing provider is an enrolled MO HealthNet pharmacist. Other VFC vaccines must still be administered by a VFC provider. 

Finally in Missouri, MO HealthNet made changes to the Preferred Drug Listing for Insulin Agents effective January 9. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.

The Board of Pharmacy hosted a webinar providing new information on the Prescription Drug Monitor Program (PDMP).

For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.

The Board of Pharmacy is hosting an online seminar on the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) at Noon on November 29. Click here to register for the online seminar.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.

On September 28, the Board of Pharmacy issued a statement on working conditions recommending that pharmacies review current operations and address any issues that may impede safe patient care, including pharmacy staffing and any metrics/quotas that may hinder safe patient services. The Board also recommends pharmacies provide any additional resources or protections needed to minimize any job-related stressors of pharmacy personnel.

Also in Missouri, the Board of Pharmacy posted the September newsletter which includes detailed information on pharmacists’ new immunization authority, and the recently revised statewide naloxone standing order.

Also in Missouri, the state’s Department of Social Services Division of Health published rules in the State Register (p13-15) establishing a Pharmacy Federal Reimbursement Allowance and methodologies to determine the formula for the amount of allowance each pharmacy is required to pay for the privilege of providing outpatient prescription drugs.

Finally in Missouri, the Department of Health and Senior Services’ Division of Regulation and Licensure issued an emergency regulation on Controlled Substances.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.

The Board of Pharmacy released emergency rules regarding pharmacist vaccine administration, effective August 28, 2023. The rules establish guidelines for independent vaccination by pharmacists, for vaccines approved as of January 1, 2023, as well as provide guidance for vaccines administered under protocols. They also clarify that pharmacists may continue to administer vaccines that are periodically/annually reformulated or updated, such as seasonal influenza vaccines, if the FDA approved the original vaccine before January 1, 2023.   

The Board issued a Supplemental Pharmacy Practice Guide summarizing the 2023 legislative changes.  

Also in Missouri, the Department of Commerce and Insurance issued emergency rules on pharmacists’ immunization procedures: 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.

The Missouri Board of Pharmacy released emergency rules regarding pharmacist vaccine administration, effective August 28, 2023. The rules establish guidelines for independent vaccination by pharmacists, for vaccines approved as of January 1, 2023, as well as provide guidance for vaccines administered under protocols. They also clarify that pharmacists may continue to administer vaccines that are periodically/annually reformulated or updated, such as seasonal influenza vaccines, if the FDA approved the original vaccine before January 1, 2023.  

The Board issued a Supplemental Pharmacy Practice Guide summarizing the 2023 legislative changes. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.

Gov. Gov. Mike Parson (R) appointed two new pharmacists to the Board of Pharmacy, Darren Harris, and Tammy Thompson, replacing Pamela Marshall and Christina Lindsay whose terms had expired.  

Also in Missouri, the Department of Social Services (DSS) launched a public dashboard at https://dss.mo.gov/mis/clcounter/ to provide transparency regarding the resumption of eligibility determinations for MO HealthNet, Missouri’s Medicaid program. The dashboard displays data for annual renewals due at the end of June. DSS plans to update the dashboard each month. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.