Executive Order No. 21-18 Continued Waivers to Facilitate Hospital Planning and Ensure Additional HealthCare Workforce Capacity expired on March 31. Executive Order No. 21-18 extended Executive Order 21-15 Further Health Care Workforce Capacity that permitted pharmacists to have any number of pharmacist interns and pharmacy technicians under their supervision when administering vaccinations. Beginning April 1, the ratio reverts to pre-pandemic levels.

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

Gov. Pete Ricketts (R) signed into law LB 767, creating the Pharmacy Benefit Manager Licensure and Regulation Act. This act "…establishes the standards and criteria for the licensure and regulation of pharmacy benefit managers…." The effective date is January 1, 2023. 

Also in Nebraska, the Department of Health and Human Services issued a "Health Alert Network Advisory" about increasing incidence of syphilis in the state. 

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

The Department of Health and Human Services posted the fee schedule for COVID-19 Monoclonal Antibodies effective March 11.  

Also in Nebraska, the Department of Health and Human Services announced the next COVID-19 Medicaid Provider call will take place on April 6 at noon (Central). This webpage also includes links to notes and audio recordings of previous calls.   

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

The Board of Pharmacy published a REVISED meeting agenda for March 7 and draft January 10, 2022 meeting minutes. 

Also in Nebraska, The Department of Health and Human Services has posted the draft minutes from the January 11, 2022, DUR Board Meeting. 

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

The Department of Health and Human Services announced the next COVID-19 Medicaid Provider call will take place on March 2 at noon (Central).  

Also in Nebraska, the Department of Health and Human Services has posted the DUR (Drug Utilization Review) Board March 8 meeting agenda and DUR Policy Statements (as of July 2021). 

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

The Department of Health and Human Services announced the next COVID-19 Medicaid Provider call will take place on February 16 at noon (Central). 

Also in Nebraska, prior to a Health and Human Services Committee hearing, NACDS submitted a statement for the record in support of LB 812, legislation that would permit pharmacy technicians to administer vaccines under certain conditions.

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

The Department of Health and Human Services announced the next COVID-19 Medicaid Provider call will take place on February 2 at noon (Central).   

Also in Nebraska, the Department of Health and Human Services made available the new COVID-19 Ad Hoc Fee Schedule (1.1.2022), including adjustments to payments for administration of COVID-19 vaccines. 

Also in Nebraska, the Department of Health and Human Service posted the revised fee schedule for injectables effective January 1, 2022 REVISED. 

Also in Nebraska, the Department of Health and Human Services issued Provider Bulletin 22-05A to notify providers that effective January 15, 2022, OTC COVID at-home tests will be covered by Medicaid. The reimbursement policy is up to $12.00 for a kit containing one test or up to $24.00 for a kit containing two tests is allowed.  

Finally, the Department of Health and Human Services issued Provider Bulletin 22-06 announcing changes to the Tobacco Cessation Program. Effective December 26, 2021, enrollment in the Nebraska Tobacco Free Quitline is no longer required to be able to receive tobacco cessation products; enrollment is still encouraged. 

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

The Department of Health and Human Services published Provider Bulletin 22-04 with recent updates on COVID-19 vaccines consistent with CDC guidance. It also published reimbursement for oral antiviral medications, vaccines, and monoclonal antibody administration. Of note, for COVID-19 oral antiviral medications purchased and provided by the government, Medicaid will pay its standard dispensing fee for fee-for-service members. The state’s Medicaid managed care health plans may pay a contractual dispensing fee to the pharmacy for Medicaid members enrolled in the health plan.

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

Effective January 1, 2022, prescribers shall use electronic prescription technology for controlled substance prescriptions with exceptions.

Also in Nebraska, the Department of Health and Human Services announced the next COVID-19 Medicaid Provider call will take place on January 19 at noon (Central).  

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