TennCare has contracted with Mercer Government Human Services Consulting (Mercer) to conduct a professional cost of dispensing survey and a survey of acquisition cost data, also known as the Average Actual Acquisition Cost (AAAC) survey. Both surveys will begin on April 3, 2023, and must be submitted to Mercer no later than May 12, 2023. 

All network pharmacies will be required to complete the professional cost of dispensing survey; however, only select pharmacies will also be required to complete the biannual AAAC survey.  

Mercer will conduct a technical online seminar on March 20, 2023, at 10:00 AM CST to discuss both surveys and answer any provider questions. Please utilize the log in information below to join:   

Link:   https://mmc.zoom.us/s/92516957090?pwd=S0p3bm9JeHFGRTJ4R2NOeTZMNitnUT09 

Passcode: 030511  

Please feel free to direct any questions regarding the survey to (Lora.Underwood@tn.gov) or mercerrxpassage@mercer.com.  

Also in Tennessee, please view the pharmacy provider notification regarding missing AAAC rates. You can contact the OptumRx Pharmacy Supports Center at 866-434-5520 or tnrxeducation@optum.com if you have any questions.  

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

TennCare is now in Phase II of its plan to unwind from the Public Health Emergency. They have created a communications toolkit and offered several other resources that healthcare providers, including pharmacies, can use to share more information with TennCare patients to ensure their coverage does not fall through. 

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

TPA [Tennessee Pharmacists Association] will offer Mental Health First Aid training to 25 attendees at the TPA Winter Meeting, held in Nashville on February 26–27. Space is limited. Register Today! 

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

Tennessee Justice Center will be hosting a webinar on March 1, at 11:00 am (Central) focused on how to prepare your team for having conversations with TennCare beneficiaries about their eligibility redetermination.

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

The Division of TennCare invites you to our virtual Annual Feedback Session for the Episodes of Care Program on March 23. This Session is open to all stakeholders to share successes, ask questions and give feedback to improve program design. The entire session is anticipated to take approximately one hour; however, the session will conclude when all feedback is given. This is a free event, although registration is required. Click HERE to register.

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

TennCare Prescribing Providers, please see Information and Updates to the TennCare Preferred Drug List (PDL) due to Amoxicillin shortages. We encourage you to review this information thoroughly and contact the OptumRx Pharmacy Supports Center at 866-434-5520 or tnrxeducation@optum.com should you have questions. 

Also in Tennessee, TennCare has established a plan for unwinding from the Public Health Emergency. In its first phase, TennCare seeks partnership from healthcare providers to encourage TennCare patients to update their contact information and register for TennCare Connect. Shareable resources are available on the website. 

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

Gov. Bill Lee (R) named Dr. Ralph Alvardo, MD, FACP as the Commissioner for Tennessee Department of Health. Dr. Alvardo brings decades of diverse professional experience to Tennessee, which includes nearly 30 years as an attending physician, serving in the Kentucky State Senate since 2015 and leading the Senate Health and Welfare Committee as chairman since 2019. 

Also in Tennessee, TennCare announces additional drugs to the CoverRx list, including Synthroid, Armour Thyroid and Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT). The TennCare CoverRx coverage was effective December 1.  

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

In collaboration with researchers at the UTHSC College of Pharmacy and grant support from Genentech, Tennessee Pharmacy Association would like to share an opportunity for community-based/outpatient pharmacies to enroll in a study investigating pharmacists’ management of influenza using point-of-care testing. Click here to learn more and enroll.

Also in Tennessee, updated versions of the Preferred Drug List (PDL), criteria PDL and interim criteria PDL are available, as well as the monthly provider notice for October 2022. Below is a summary of the updates:

• The following agents will be added to the PDL as non-preferred:
  • Adlarity, Bylvay, Epsolay, Livmarli, Livtencity, Norliqva, Opzelura, Rezurock, Skytrofa, Tavneos, Tarpeyo, Triumeq PD
• Clinical criteria and/or quantity limits will be updated for the following agents:
  • Nubeqa, Nucala, Olumiant, Skyrizi
• The following agents will be added to the interim criteria PDL:
  • Radicava ORS, Vtama
• Proventil HFA will be moved to preferred on the PDL in response to marketing discontinuation of Proair HFA

Updates to clinical criteria/quantity limits from the Q3 PAC meeting will also became effective on October 1 and were summarized in the September provider notice.

These documents are available on the TennCare website.

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

Tennessee Pharmacy Association will provide one-hour OSHA training via online seminar, starting on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022. Ten different time slots are available. Register today

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