The South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) has announced that it will cover the cost of COVID19 vaccine administration for Healthy Connections Medicaid members, including those enrolled in the family planning and COVID-19 testing limited benefit programs. Those without healthcare coverage can apply for the COVID-19 limited benefit program via the link below. Billing guidance for providers is also available here.

Also in South Carolina. The Board of Pharmacy issued a notice announcing revisions to the protocol for the administration of vaccines by pharmacists. The protocol addresses authorization, qualifications, limitations, consent, and recordkeeping and reporting. The document is dated December 10, 2020.

Lastly in South Carolina. Prisma Health is offering the COVID-19 Vaccine to all pharmacists in the state as pharmacists are considered to be in Phase 1A per South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SC DEHC) vaccine guidelines. If a pharmacist is not able to access the vaccine through his or her employer, he or she can reach out to COVIDVaccine@prismahealth.org to receive an invitation to register for an appointment to receive the vaccine at any of their locations. Additionally, SC DHEC has announced an update to the recipients included in Phase 1A which now includes all pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. They previously differentiated between those pharmacists and technicians who administered the COVID-19 vaccine or tests versus those who conducted normal duties.  Now, all are eligible to receive the vaccine in Phase 1A.

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

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) recently updated the state’s COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan. Please click here to view the updated plan. The Department also released its guidance for Phase 1a of the COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan. Click here to view the guidance.

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

The Board of Pharmacy issued a notice to announce an amendment to update guidance regarding the federal Department of Health and Human Services’ Third Amendment that temporarily expands pharmacists’ and pharmacy interns’ ability to order and/or administer childhood vaccinations and COVID vaccines that have been authorized by the FDA to people aged three to 18, provided they comply with the applicable requirements. The guidance also addresses other topics under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act as they relate to state law, including an October 20 federal guidance on coverage for qualified pharmacy technicians and state-authorized pharmacy interns for childhood vaccines, COVID-19 vaccines, and testing.

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

South Carolina House Bill 4663, was signed by Governor McMaster (R) on September 28. The bill authorizes pharmacists to administer influenza vaccinations to persons under 12. Such vaccines must be administered according to protocol issued by the Board of Medical Examiners upon recommendation of the Joint Pharmacist Administered Vaccines Committee. The bill requires the Committee to submit its initial recommendation to the Board within three months of this measure’s effective date, which will be October 18, 2020.

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

According to the  South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS), the state plans to transition its pharmacy reimbursement methodology to include an average acquisition cost (AAC) component. The state has contracted with Mercer to conduct the survey, which will be emailed to a randomly selected group of pharmacies between September 1^st – 11^th and it will be requesting August data. The new AAC rates will be published and effective on November 2, 2020.

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

The South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) plans to transition its pharmacy reimbursement methodology to include an average acquisition cost (AAC) component. Per SCDHHS, the goal of this transition is to ensure that pharmacy reimbursement rates are responsive to drug pricing fluctuations in the South Carolina market.  To support the development and maintenance of AAC rates, SCDHHS has contracted with Mercer Government Health Consulting to establish and maintain the AAC program. Starting September 2020, pharmacy providers will receive a survey requesting copies of pharmacy invoice records to be sent to SCDHHS. Per SCDHHS, this survey will allow the agency to measure the drug acquisition costs incurred by Healthy Connections Medicaid pharmacy providers. A pharmacy stakeholder information session to discuss the AAC survey process and project timeline will be held via webinar Tuesday, August 25, 2020, at 3 p.m. (EST). Providers and stakeholders can register for the webinar here.

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