Gov. Tom Wolf (D) has announced new measures allowing healthcare professionals, including pharmacists, to re-enter the workforce to assist with the COVID-19 crisis. Specifically, pharmacists whose licenses are expired/inactive for less than four years can apply for reactivation of their licenses. Their CE requirements and license reactivation fees will be suspended. For previous pharmacy related actions in PA go to: https://www.dos.pa.gov/Documents/2020-03-21-Pharmacy-Omnibus-Requirement-Suspension.pdf 

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

A bill that would preempt municipalities from establishing separate Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMP) has been signed by Gov. Tom Wolf (D). SB 432, began as a bill increasing access to the state PDMP, was amended by Rep. Seth Grove (R), due to members’ concern about the City of Philadelphia passing a law in December requiring pharmacies to report to a new city based PDMP. Now enacted, it will preempt Philadelphia from implementing their PDMP statute. NACDS thanks the Pennsylvania Association of Chain Drug Stores efforts on the ground to address the issue.

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

The Department of Human Services has issued a Bulletin stating their intention to move to a single Preferred Drug List (PDL) for both the fee-for-service and managed care programs on Jan. 2, 2020. The new PDL is attached to the Bulletin for your reference. 

Also in Pennsylvania… Act 96 of 2018, the law mandating the use of e-prescribing for controlled substances is effective Thursday, Oct. 24th. Mandatory e-prescribing is a critical policy initiative for NACDS that we actively successfully lobbied for along with our pharmacy partners in the Commonwealth. For further information see the FAQs published by the Department of Health.

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

The Department of Human Services (DHS) issued a provider Bulletin announcing that both their managed care and fee for service Medicaid programs will operate under a single Preferred Drug List (PDL) beginning Jan. 1, 2020. For further information, and to view the new PDL see the Bulletin.

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

The Department of Health has posted guidance on Act 96 of 2018, which will require all controlled substance prescriptions (with some exceptions) to be electronically prescribed effective Thursday, October 24.

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

Last week, Gov. Tom Wolf (D) signed legislation requiring commercial insurers to cover medication synchronization programs for patients on maintenance medications. HB 195 (Act No. 46), sponsored by Rep. Eric Nelson (R), passed both chambers unanimously prior to approval by the Governor. Specifically, the law requires insurers to allow coverage for partial fills, prorate patient copays and pay a full dispensing fee. It will be effective Thursday, July 2, 2020.

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

The Board of Pharmacy has announced a new online system (www.pals.pa.gov) and application process for new pharmacy and non-resident pharmacy applications. They will no longer accept paper applications.

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