The Philadelphia Department of Public Health recently published a letter and FAQ reminding all city pharmacies that as of January 1, 2019, they were required to stock two doses of naloxone. The requirements are the result of an Ordinance that was adopted in November 2018. Additionally, the Ordinance requires pharmacies to post signage indicating that naloxone is available. For additional information, contact dph.opioid@phila.gov.

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

In its first meeting of 2019, the House Insurance Committee favorably reported HB 195, legislation facilitating medication synchronization and requiring insurers to allow for prorated copays and full dispensing fees for partial fills. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Eric R. Nelson (R) and supported by the Pennsylvania Association of Chain Drug Stores, now goes to the full House for consideration.

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

The Wolf Administration’s Opioid Command Center sent a letter to pharmacies regarding its Stop Overdoses in PA: Get Help Now outreach campaign that will take place the week of December 10. Specifically, they want pharmacies to be aware they may see an increase in the number of persons seeking naloxone and request that pharmacies adjust stock accordingly. Additionally, they ask pharmacies to educate pharmacists on the Department of Health’s standing order.

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

This week, Gov. Tom Wolf (D) signed two pharmacy-backed bills into law, including HB 353 and HB 270. HB 353 requires e-prescribing for all controlled substances effective one year from the date of governor’s signing on October 28. Wolf also signed HB 270, which expands income guidelines for the Pharmaceutical Assistance Contract for the Elderly (PACE) program, estimated to make an additional 14,500 senior citizens eligible for the PACENET pharmacy benefit. NACDS participated in negotiations with the Wolf Administration that resulted in an amendment to the bill that would allow retail pharmacies to perform medication synchronization for PACE beneficiaries and includes a provision that allows for a pro-rated co-pay and requires the payment of the full dispensing fee for partial fills to synchronized medications.

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

HB 353, requiring all controlled substances to be prescribed electronically is on its way to Gov. Tom Wolf (D) for his signature. The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Tedd Nesbit (R), passed both the House and Senate unanimously. It will be effective one year after it is signed. NACDS thanks Rep. Nesbit and Sen. Richard Alloway II (R) for their leadership on this issue and the Pennsylvania Association of Chain Drug Stores for its on-the-ground advocacy.

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

The Department of Human Services issued a Medical Assistance Bulletin last week announcing that on August 8 Medicaid implemented an increase in the pharmacy Professional Dispensing Fee (PDF) from $7.00 to $10.00, based on negotiations with CMS regarding the SPA filed last year. Additionally, Medicaid intends to process retroactive payments to April 1, 2017. Retroactive payments will be processed during the fourth quarter of 2018 and will be received by providers by the end of the current calendar year. The Medical Assistance Bulletin states that the increase is a result of CMS’ concern that the originally-proposed $7.00 PDF did not reflect the PDFs of neighboring states. The amended SPA has been approved by CMS. NACDS thanks the Pennsylvania Association of Chain Drug Stores and the Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association for joining with us to advocate with both CMS and the legislature on this critical issue.

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

The Pharmaceutical Contract for the Elderly (PACE) Program has issued a Provider Bulletin that outlines changes to its policy on coverage of opioids, effective Wednesday, October 10. Please contact Amy Brewer of Magellan Medicaid Administration with any questions.

NACDS recently learned that beginning August 7, the Department of Human Services (DHS) began paying pharmacies an increased professional dispensing fee (PDF) of $10.00 for Medicaid fee-for-service pharmacy claims. The increased PDF was approved by CMS in late July. Last summer, DHS filed a SPA for NADAC + $7.00 PDF that NACDS opposed. In addition to filing comments with CMS and DHS expressing concerns with the SPA, NACDS met with Medicaid staff and supported the efforts of in-state partners with legislators to oppose the $7.00 PDF.

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

An Administration Budget Proposal that would have required data collection from pharmacies next year, in anticipation of a pharmacy tax the following year, was rejected by the House and Senate Republican Caucuses and did not make it into the final budget.

Also in Pennsylvania… two measures championed by pharmacy made advancements as the General Assembly broke for summer recess:

• HB 1800 – Medication Synchronization – was passed out of the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee, received two floor considerations and then was re-referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee for a Fiscal Note. We anticipate final action on this bill when they reconvene in the fall.

• HB 353 – Mandatory E-Prescribing for Controlled Substances – After extensive negotiations with the Pennsylvania Medical Society (PMS), the bill was voted out of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee last week with support from a number of allies. This bill also had two floor considerations and then was re-referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee for a Fiscal Note. We also anticipate this bill moving forward in the Fall.

Also in Pennsylvania… In the June 12, 2018, Provider Bulletin, PACE announced new edit criteria for benzodiazepines, sedative hypnotics, muscle relaxants and opioids effective Monday, July 23.

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