Effective Sunday, July 1, all pharmacies participating in the TennCare or CoverKids pharmacy program must have a valid TennCare issued Medicaid ID. Failure to obtain a valid Medicaid ID may result in rejected claims and disqualification as a provider for these networks. This requirement applies to MagellanRX and Express Scripts and any subsequent pharmacy benefits manager for TennCare or CoverKids. Pharmacies that need a Medicaid ID are required to register through the TennCare electronic registration portal.

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

SB 2362, sponsored by Sen. Rusty Crowe (R), was signed by Gov. Bill Haslam (R) on May 21. Effective immediately, this measure specifies that a pharmacy or pharmacist has the right to provide an insured information regarding the amount of the insured’s cost share for a prescription drug. The measure prohibits a pharmacy or a pharmacist from being penalized by a pharmacy benefits manager for discussing such information or for selling a lower priced drug to the insured if one is available.

Also in Tennessee…SB 777, sponsored by Sen. Ed Jackson (R), was signed by Gov. Bill Haslam (R) on May 21. This measure makes several changes related to prescribing and dispensing of buprenorphine.

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

On May 3, Gov. Bill Haslam (R) signed into law HB 1993. The newly enacted law requires that on or after Wednesday, January 1, 2020, prescriptions for Schedule II controlled substances in the state of Tennessee must be issued as an electronic prescription from the person issuing the prescription to a pharmacy. The name, address and telephone number of the collaborating physician of an advanced practice registered nurse or physician assistant shall be included on the electronic prescription. The measure does exclude certain types of prescriptions.

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