Effective Jan. 1, 2022, the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) will increase the reimbursement rates for the services and supplies related to: Incontinence Supplies, Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services (DAODAS) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Services. These changes will be reflected on the SCDHHS website by Jan. 1, 2022. 

Providers with questions regarding this bulletin should contact the SCDHHS Provider Service Center at (888) 289-0709. The Provider Service Center’s hours of operations are 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday 

Also in South Carolina, the Department of Insurance has provided a complaint form for pharmacies or interested parties to file complaints with the South Carolina Department of Insurance relating to pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) services. SC law requires pharmacies to make reasonable efforts to exhaust a PBM’s internal appeal requirements prior to filing a complaint with the SCDOI. A copy of the appeal outcome must accompany the complaint submission. 

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

The Department of Health and Environmental Control released a statement earlier today regarding the Omicron variant of COVID-19. DHEC is closely monitoring the variant and proactively preparing for any potential threats posed. See their full statement here, along with various resources and tracking data.

Also in South Carolina, the Centers for Medicare, and Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced the enrollment application fee amount for calendar year 2022 will be $631. This fee is required with any applicable Healthy Connections Medicaid provider enrollment application. The South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) will collect the application fee before executing a provider agreement. The fee applies to initial enrollment, reactivation, revalidation, or addition of a new practice location. SCDHHS has contracted with the SC.gov Enterprise Payment System to facilitate collection of the application fee. Payments may be made by debit, credit, or e-check. Paper checks will not be accepted. More information on payment options can be found by visiting www.scdhhs.gov/provider and selecting “Online Application Fee Payment.” The provider enrollment application fee is only applicable to providers CMS has identified as institutional providers. Providers who are enrolled in or have already paid the application fee to Medicare and/or another state’s Medicaid agency or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for the same enrollment location jurisdiction.

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

The South Carolina Pharmacy Association is hosting their 19th Annual SE Women of Pharmacy Leadership Conference. You are invited to register for this event at the member rate using the discount code “STATE”.  Click here for more information and register. Early Bird registration rates and hotel block are open from now until November 28, 2021. After this date, or after the block is filled, rooms are subject to prevailing rates and availability, and general registration rates will apply. 

Also in South Carolina, the Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) will operate on an updated schedule for Healthy Connections Medicaid claims submission and payments for one week in November 2021 to accommodate the 2021 Thanksgiving holiday. Thursday, Nov. 25, 2021, and Friday, Nov. 26, 2021, have been designated as South Carolina state holidays. Due to the holidays, claims must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 20 to be included with the payment scheduled for Friday, Nov. 26. Payments will run on Monday, Nov. 22 and electronic remittance advice will be available on Tuesday, Nov. 23. Payments will be dated Friday, Nov. 26. 

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

SCPhA is hosting APhA’s Pharmacy-Based Immunization Delivery Certificate Training Program on January 30, 2022 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at 1350 Browning Rd, Columbia, SC 29210. More information can be found here.

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

Register for the SCPhA Virtual Fall Pharmacy Night happening on October 28th @ 7pm! There will be an overview of the pharmacy landscape after COVID-19. Registration link.

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

The S.C. Department of Commerce, Clemson University, and the S.C. Department of Agriculture has invited members of the business community to join an educational webinar on October 12^th from 2:00-3:00 pm EST detailing the potential impacts of African Swine Fever (ASF) on the food supply chain and food security in South Carolina between the pork industry, animal health officials and private industry partners integral to the food supply chain.

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

The South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) will reimburse for the administration of additional doses of the COVID-19 vaccine consistent with the updated emergency use authorization issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). More information can be found here.

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

SCDHHS offers free monthly training workshops for providers. These recurring virtual workshops cover a variety of topics including training on Medicaid basics, how to submit claims using the web-based tool and third-party liability (TPL). To register for a workshop, please visit the Medicaid eLearning site, www.medicaidelearning.com, or call (888) 289-0709 and select option 1. Additional training resources for providers are also available online through the Medicaid eLearning site. You can find a complete schedule of provider workshops here.

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

The South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) regularly offers free training to prospective and enrolled Healthy Connections providers. In response to the public health emergency related to coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19), many of these trainings are also now available virtually. Information about an upcoming training opportunity for Fall 2021 is listed here. 

Also in South Carolina, the Practice and Technology Committee Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, August 24, 2021 at 10:00 am via Webex. The Committee will continue their discussion on Remote Order Processing.  

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