The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) shared flu communications toolkits for healthcare providers to use in promoting flu vaccination for their patients during the 2021 – 2022 flu season. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers a NIVW digital toolkit featuring social media language and graphics, sample newsletter language, and printable resources. ODH posted a Flu Communications Toolkit that offers social media language and graphics and sample newsletter language around the importance of flu shots, in addition to flu and COVID-19 shots, as the best defense. Healthcare providers can monitor flu activity in Ohio, including county-level data, on the ODH Ohio Flu Activity webpage.

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

Dr. John M. Weigand, a central Ohio physician who has served as a leader in the state’s COVID-19 pandemic response, has been appointed Medical Director at the Ohio Department of Health and the Ohio Department of Aging. Since early in the pandemic, Dr. Weigand has served as Chief Medical Officer of the Department of Aging’s Regional Rapid Response Assistance Program (R³AP) and as Medical Director of the Post-Acute Regional Rapid Testing (PARRT) partnership.

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

The Ohio Department of Medicaid’s (ODM) next generation managed care program will go live July 1, 2022. At that time, they will introduce new programs, services, and managed care entities (MCEs). In preparation for the next generation program, ODM is encouraging providers to contact the next generation MCEs that they are interested in contracting with to begin the process to join their provider networks. Provider contracting contact information for the next generation MCEs can be found on the Resources for Providers webpage of the next generation Ohio Medicaid website. Contracting must be completed by February 15, 2022, to be included in the Next Generation Managed Care Provider Directory on day 1 of member transition enrollment.  

Also in Ohio, ODM has announced that the supplemental tiered dispensing fee quarterly payment to pharmacies that planned to be disbursed in the first two weeks of November has been delayed pending CMS approval. NACDS will keep members updated as new information becomes available. 

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

The Board is proposing an amendment to OAC 4729:5-5-06 to require the contact phone number of the dispensing pharmacy on the prescription label.  This rule only applies to labeling of drugs dispensed by an outpatient pharmacy.  Please send all comments to by close of business November 24th to RuleComments@pharmacy.ohio.gov.  

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

The Medicaid Department will hold a public hearing on November 1 at 9:00 a.m. to consider Rule 5160-8-53. This new rule establishes provider payment for diabetes prevention and self-management training (DSMT) services when provided by physicians, advanced practice registered nurses, physician assistants, registered dietitians and pharmacists. The rule also provides for reimbursement for National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP) services but only for physicians, physician assistants and advanced practice registered nurses. The proposed effective date of this rule is January 1, 2022. NACDS intends to submit comments supporting the DMST provisions and asking that pharmacists also be included under the NDPP program. Instructions to access the virtual meeting are included in the rule notice.

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

The Ohio Department of Health (ODM) has published provider guidance regarding administering the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to children. Additionally, Providers who were unable to attend the Oct. 19 webinar about ordering pediatric COVID-19 vaccine can view the presentation COVID-19 Vaccine: Pediatric Vaccine Overview and How to Order Doses Through VOMS.

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

Earlier this year, the Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) announced the selection of seven managed care organizations (MCOs) who will partner with the Department to provide Medicaid Services.  The seven MCOs are: AmeriHealth Caritas Ohio, Inc.; Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield; Buckeye Community Health Plan; CareSource Ohio, Inc.; Humana Health Plan of Ohio, Inc.; Molina Healthcare of Ohio, Inc; and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Ohio, Inc. Providers who are interested in contracting with them are encouraged to contact them. Contact information for the MCOs can be found on the Resources for Providers webpage of the next generation website.

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

The Department of Health has issued two requests to pharmacies. The first asks that pharmacies review its list of participating vaccination providers and make changes if needed. The list is being shared with businesses to encourage them to contact a participating local provider to conduct onsite vaccination clinics. ODH is also asking pharmacies to fill out a survey related to children’s COVID vaccines to gauge vaccine provider availability. Survey participants also have the option to, and are encouraged to share with ODH, any barriers they might face to providing those vaccination opportunities to younger children, as well as any supports that could make vaccinating younger children more feasible. 

Also in Ohio, earlier this year, ODM announced the selection of seven managed care organizations (MCOs) who will partner with the Department to evolve the delivery of managed care services for its more than 3 million members and thousands of medical providers. The seven MCOs selected for the next generation managed care program are: 

• AmeriHealth Caritas Ohio, Inc. 
• Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield 
• Buckeye Community Health Plan 
• CareSource Ohio, Inc. 
• Humana Health Plan of Ohio, Inc. 
• Molina Healthcare of Ohio, Inc. 
• UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Ohio, Inc. 

Providers who are interested in contracting with Ohio Medicaid’s next generation MCOs are encouraged to contact the MCOs. Contact information for the MCOs can be found on the Resources for Providers webpage of the next generation website. 

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

Medicaid (OCM) announced this week that they project July 1, 2022, as the launch date on implementation of the new managed care model that includes the seven next generation managed care plans, the Single Pharmacy Benefit Manager (SPBM), Provider Network Management (PNM) module, Centralized Credentialing, and Fiscal Intermediary. More detail is available on ODM’s managed care page. 

Also in Ohio, ODM has released a FAQ announcing the rates for the Managed Care Supplemental Tiered Dispensing Fee for state fiscal year 2022-23. This in in addition to the dispensing fee currently paid by the plans. Members should expect the first payment of the biennium in November 2021.

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