Federal law requires all providers who order, refer or prescribe (ORP) services or items for Medicaid members to be enrolled in respective state Medicaid programs. Currently, pharmacists are notified at point of sale if prescriptions were written by a non-enrolled Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) provider with the statement “prescriber enrollment is required in SC’s Medicaid program.” Pharmacists that dispense vaccines and naloxone through South Carolina protocols without a prescription are required to be enrolled in South Carolina’s Healthy Connections Medicaid program. Please refer to information provided by the South Carolina Pharmacy Association.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.

The Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) issued Medicaid Bulletin (MB #26-013), reminding all enrolled Medicaid providers of the importance of safeguarding provider identifiers, login credentials and all information associated with Medicaid enrollment. Unauthorized access to provider information can result in fraudulent billing, inappropriate account changes and potential program integrity concerns. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.

Reminder: federal law requires all providers who order, refer or prescribe services or items for Medicaid members to be enrolled in that state's Medicaid program. This requirement applies to pharmacist administering drugs as allowed under state protocols and submitting their NPIs in the prescriber field. Please review the Medicaid Enrollment of Ordering, Referring and Prescribing (ORP) Providers and Collection of ORP Data bulletin (MB# 25-015) published on July 2, 2025, as background.    

Also in South Carolina, NACDS met with the Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) on March 11 and inquired about mass enrollment of pharmacists as Medicaid providers. The provider enrollment department has informed NACDS that, unfortunately, due to system limitations and CMS requirements, they are unable to offer a mass enrollment process to any provider type.  

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.

The Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) is reminding providers about the April 1 effective date for the change to the agency’s 340B drug program billing polices previously announced in bulletin MB #26-004. As a reminder, this change applies to providers who purchase physician-administered drugs through the Health Resources and Services Administration’s 340B drug pricing program. This policy change only applies to services rendered on or after April 1 to Healthy Connections Medicaid members in an outpatient setting who are enrolled in the Medicaid fee-for-service program.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.

The Department of Public Health (DPH) provided its weekly update on the state of the measles outbreak. The outbreak, which now has infected 789 people, sent some residents to the hospital. The state hopes to diminish complications by increasing MMR [measles, mumps and rubella] vaccination coverage. The Department of Public Health has launched a new Measles dashboard. Please visit the homepage for measles updates from the Department of Public Health, which includes public exposure locations. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.

Effective for dates of service on or after December 1, the Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) is updating its billing policy for providers who purchase physician-administered drugs through the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) 340B drug pricing program. The changes described in this bulletin only apply to services rendered to Healthy Connections Medicaid members in an outpatient setting who are enrolled in the fee-for-service Medicaid program. 

These policy updates will be published in the Physicians Services, Clinic Services, Hospital Services and Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Services provider manual by December 1, 2025. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.

The Board of Medical Examiners has approved revisions to the SC Protocol for Administration of Vaccines by Pharmacists effective September 17. These changes follow recommendations from the Joint Pharmacist Administered Vaccines Committee on September 15.  

Key Update:  

Pharmacists, pharmacy interns, and eligible pharmacy technicians are now authorized to administer FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccines without a licensed practitioner's order, provided administration follows recommendations from one of the following:  

• ACIP (Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices)  

• AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics)  

• AAFP (American Academy of Family Physicians) or  

• ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists)  

Important Reminders:  

• Age restrictions still apply. As outlined in Appendix J, pharmacists may only administer FDA-approved or EUA COVID-19 vaccines to individuals 16 years of age and older, in accordance with guidelines from the groups above.  

• All pharmacies must have a printed copy of the most current protocol in the area where vaccines are administered.  

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.

Gov. Henry McMaster (R) has issued an executive order prohibiting the use of SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits to purchase candy, energy drinks, soft drinks and other sweetened beverages. The order directs the Department of Social Services to submit a waiver request to the USDA Food and Nutrition Service to implement the policy. 

The executive order also provides specific definitions for candy, energy drinks, soft drinks and sweetened beverages, while outlining certain exceptions. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.

US Rep. Nancy Mace (R) announced her candidacy for governor this week at The Citadel, where she made history as the first female graduate. She enters a crowded Republican primary field that already includes US Rep. Ralph Norman, Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, Attorney General Alan Wilson and state Sen. Josh Kimbrell.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.