Renee Williams-Clark has left TennCare as Chief Pharmacy Officer. Lorraine Buerhaus has been named interim CPO. Pharmacists interested in applying for this position can do so here.  

Also in Tennessee, The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) will present its free online seminar, “Diversion is a Threat to Patient Safety: Adopting Best Practices for Safe Management of Controlled Substances,“ on April 6, 1-2 pm ET. 

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

Please see the updates to PDL, Clinical Criteria, and Interim Criteria below and the attached documents for March 2022. These changes went into effect on March 1st.  

• Added to preferred: dimethyl fumarate, Dexilant, SPS, 
• Added to non-preferred: Tecfidera, Tecfidera starter pack, dexlansoprazole, Dhivy, ciprofloxacin/dexamethasone, Epclusa pellet, Mavyret pellet
• Added to interim: Rezurock, Vuity, Voxzogo,  
• BaG additions: Dexilant 
• BaG removals: Tecfidera, Tecfidera starter pack 
• Hepatic C Direct Acting Antivirals prior authorization criteria and PA forms: removal of restrictions surrounding prior history of substance or alcohol abuse, where applicable, removed questions related to pregnancy, concomitant ribavirin use, and renal function dosage adjustments.  

Additionally, these documents can be found on the TennCare website: www.optumrx.com/tenncare  

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

The Department of Health has provided an update on COVID-19 oral antiviral therapeutics in the state, specifically, Paxlovid® by Pfizer and Molnupiravir by Merck, with guidance for pharmacies requesting them.

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

The Department of Health held a COVID-19 Provider online seminar on February 11, 2022 and discussed availability of certain therapeutics in the state. A recording and slides from the online seminar have been posted online.

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

The Tennessee Department of Health is expanding access to COVID-19 vaccine with a particular focus on rural and underserved areas. TDH (Tennessee Department of Health) is partnering with pharmacies and community health clinics to add more than 100 new vaccination sites across the state.

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

Effective January 15, 2022, to broaden access to SARS-CoV-2 at-home testing, the Division of TennCare began coverage of rapid at-home tests with Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) through the OptumRx Pharmacy Point of Sale System.  

For further questions, please contact OptumRx Provider Liaisons at tnrxeducation@optum.com  

Also in Tennessee, please see updates to the TennCare Preferred Drug List, Clinical Criteria, TennCare Branded Drugs to be Classified as Generics and Interim Criteria below for February 2022. These changes went into effect on February 1st.  

• Added to preferred: molnupiravir, Paxlovid 
• Added to non-preferred: sertraline capsules 
• Added to interim: Bylvay, Qulipta, Scemblix, Invega Hafyera, Lybalvi 
• BaG removals: Xopenex, Uloric 

Finally in Tennessee, Lucy A. Shell, PharmD, TPA’s Director of Pharmacy Practice Initiatives and former Interim Executive Director, was named Executive Director for the Tennessee Board of Pharmacy, effective Feb. 21.

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

Applications for TPA executive officers, society leaders, and committee members are being accepted through Dec. 15. Volunteer or nominate a colleague to serve.

Also in Tennessee, the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) is required by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to audit providers of COVID-19 vaccines. The Tennessee Pharmacists Association requested a checklist for those who have been selected for an audit, and one was prepared by TDH. Please review the checklist and the Routine and Emergency Vaccine Management Plan in their entirety.

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

TPA has partnered with the South Carolina Pharmacy Association for the 19th Annual SE Women of Pharmacy Leadership Conference! TPA members pay at the member rate for full registration: Use the code STATE.

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

Please see the Provider Notice, which includes updates to the TennCare Preferred Drug List, Clinical Criteria, and Interim Criteria below for November 2021. These changes go into effect on November 1. 

• BaG removals: Clindesse 
• Added to non-preferred: Suboxone, Clindesse 
• Added to preferred: buprenorphine-naloxone film (BESMART only), cinacalcet 
• Modified criteria/quantity limits for Emflaza, Xeljanz, Xeljanz solution, Xeljanz XR, Olumiant, Rinvoq 

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