The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) released recent updates and information including the following:  

• The Heritage Health pharmacy reference guide has recently been updated (August 2021). 
• Because COVID-19 State of Emergency ended on June 30, those licensees, including pharmacy technicians, impacted by the original order (Executive Order 20-10) will be notified through a mailing that they need to renew their licenses before October 31. 
• The 471-000-540 Nebraska Medicaid Practitioner Fee Schedule for Injectables was updated effective July 1. 
• Provider Bulletin 21-13 includes changes to Preferred Drug List (effective July 15) and Hepatitis C (July 1) Criteria. 
• DHHS announced that all Nebraskans eligible for Medicaid expansion will receive equal benefits coverage, including OTC medications, starting October 1.
• DHHS issued notice of public hearing on August 18 to receive comments on proposed changes to Nebraska Medicaid Managed Care (NAC Title 482, Chapters 2, 4 and 5). The proposed changes include removing language restricting managed care organizations from offering certain coverage, including over-the-counter drug coverage, as value-added services. Also, the proposed changes include removing language that excludes Basic benefit plan enrollees from certain services, including pharmacy services. These changes align the rules with the withdrawal of Nebraska’s 1115 demonstration waiver and implementation of the Heritage Health Adult program. 

Also in Nebraska, the draft July 13 minutes from the recent Medicaid DUR Board Meeting and the Board Policy Statements are now available. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

The next meeting of the Medicaid DUR Board Meeting will be held on July 13.  

 Also in Nebraska, given the expansion of testing availability throughout the state and decreased volume of specimens submitted to Test Nebraska, the Department of Health and Human Services announced that Test Nebraska will no longer be collecting COVID-19 specimens after July 18.  

Finally in Nebraska, Gov. Pete Ricketts (R) announced the end of the coronavirus state of emergency at 11:59 p.m. on June 30. The Governor issued Executive Order (EO) 21-09 to rescind pandemic-related executive orders. With a few exceptions, the coronavirus executive orders will expire on July 30, which is thirty days after the state of emergency ends. NACDS researched and identified the following as impacting pharmacies, pharmacists, interns and/or technicians and expiring on July 30. 

• Executive Order 20-10  
• Executive Order 20-15  
• Executive Order 20-37  
• Executive Order 21-01  

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

Effective July 1, 2021, the METAVIR fibrosis score required for coverage by Nebraska Medicaid will be changed to F0. The current prior authorization criteria require a METAVIR fibrosis score of at least F2. These changes mean that patients with a METAVIR fibrosis score of F0 may have their prescribed antiviral medications to treat hepatitis C be covered by Nebraska Medicaid. Prior authorization for Hepatitis C antiviral medications will continue to be in place. See Provider Bulletin 21-11 for additional details.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

On May 5, 2021, Gov. Pete Ricketts (R) signed LB 583, requiring Schedule II-V controlled substances prescriptions to be electronically prescribed with exceptions effective January 1, 2022.  However, dentists will be required to do so beginning January 1, 2024.

Also in Nebraska, the Department of Health and Human Services published the agenda for the next conference call meeting of the Board of Pharmacy on Monday, May 24, 2021.  The March 22 conference call meeting minutes are also available.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

The meeting materials for the next meeting of the Drug Utilization Review (DUR) Board on May 11, 2021, have been posted.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

The next meeting of the Drug Utilization Review (DUR) Board will be May 11, 2021.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.