The Vermont Board of Pharmacy posted the agenda for the September 27th meeting.  The agenda includes drafts for state pharmacists prescribing protocols for emergency contraception and ACIP-recommended vaccines which are included in the agenda posting.    

On September 18th, the Department of Vermont Health Access (DVHA) made changes to the Pharmacy Manual regarding automatic refills for Medicaid members. Vermont Medicaid does not pay for prescriptions that are not medically necessary or for individuals who are no longer eligible for Vermont Medicaid. Providers may not use automatic refill systems to deliver or provide prescriptions to members. Members and providers may not agree to waive the requirements of this section. Providers may contact members to initiate a refill, but members must choose to fill each prescription, and providers must determine that the member remains eligible for Vermont Medicaid before providers deliver or dispense the prescription. Providers may not assume that, because a member’s prescription authorizes refills, the member has implicitly requested that the provider refill the prescription. For questions, please contact the Change Healthcare Pharmacy Help Desk at 1-844-679-5362. Vermont providers can also send inquiries via email to PBA_VTHelpdesk@changehealthcare.com. 

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.

On August 23, the Board of Pharmacy held its monthly meeting.  On the agenda was a request for input regarding draft proposals for prescribing emergency contraceptives and Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended vaccines.

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.

NACDS joined its members, in-state partners, and representatives from the state medical community to discuss pharmacist and technician scope with members from the Department of Health. Stakeholders also met on July 27 to discuss test and treat legislation for 2024.  

Also in Vermont, on July 26, the Board of Pharmacy held its regular meeting, during which it reviewed the emergency declarations and the Executive Order regarding pharmacies. Link to the agenda 

Finally in Vermont, the Executive Order allows a one-time 30-day maintenance prescription to be filled, as well as emergency licensing for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians from out-of-state to fill any staffing gaps. This Executive Order lasts for 90 days or if there is a State of Emergency, whichever is shorter. There will be updates to come as things change. The next board meeting is August 23. 

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.

Due to the current state of emergency in the state and to ensure that Medicaid beneficiaries have access to the medications they need, the Department of Vermont Health Access (DVHA) is temporarily re-activating SCC 13 as an allowable NCPDP submission clarification code in the adjudication of pharmacy claims. Changes to point-of-sale will be effective from July 13, 2023, to July 25, 2023. This code is utilized by the dispensing pharmacist when processing an early refill for the patient and indicates that an override is needed based on an emergency/disaster situation recognized by the payer. The use of SCC 13 will override a Reject 79 (Refill too soon). It will not override either Reject 75 (prior authorization required) or Reject 76 (Plan limits exceeded). DVHA will monitor claims using this submission clarification code to ensure it is used only when medically necessary. Improper use of SCC13 will subject the claim to recoupment. For questions, please contact the Change Healthcare Pharmacy Help Desk at 1-844-679-5362. Vermont providers can also send inquiries via email to PBA_VTHelpdesk@changehealthcare.com.  

On July 20, Gov. Phil Scott (R) signed the 3rd addendum to his emergency declaration. This addendum added the following relevant to pharmacies: “The Secretary of State is hereby directed to waive such rules and requirements as may be necessary to allow a pharmacist to extend a previous prescription for up to a 30-day supply for a maintenance medication for which the patient has no refills remaining or for which the authorization for refills has recently expired if it is not feasible to obtain a new prescription or refill authorization from the prescriber. “Maintenance medication” means a prescription drug taken on a regular basis over an extended period to treat a chronic or long-term condition. The term does not include a regulated drug, as defined in 18 V.S.A. § 4201.” Additionally, a pharmacist who extends a prescription for a maintenance medication pursuant to this authority shall take all reasonable measures to notify the prescriber of the prescription extension promptly. 

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.

This week, the legislature returned to override the Governor’s veto of H. 305, a bill that will, among its provisions, clarifies the definition of pharmacy technician, allows technicians to perform tests and vaccinations for Covid and other immunizations, allows pharmacists and technicians to administer vaccines for flu and covid for children ages 5 and up, allows a pharmacist to prescribe, order, or administer self-administered hormonal contraceptives for patients 18 years of age or older, vaccinations recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and administered consistently with the ACIP-approved immunization schedules, and finally exempts persons dispensing over-the-counter hearing aids from provisions for audiologists and hearing aid dispensers.

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.

On May 12, the Vermont legislature approved HB 305, which would revise the definition of pharmacy technician to mean an individual who, only while assisting and under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist, performs tasks relative to dispensing prescription drugs, administering immunizations and performing tests for SARS-CoV. Pharmacy technicians may administer immunizations and perform tests for SARS-CoV. This measure also outlines requirements for pharmacy technicians in order to administer immunizations. They may only administer immunizations to individuals 18 years of age and older. Regarding patients five years old and older for flu and COVID-19 vaccines, a licensed pharmacist must be present to assist as needed. Pharmacy technicians may only administer immunizations that: (1) are recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices; and (2) licensed pharmacists are permitted to administer under the State clinical pharmacy protocol. This measure allows a pharmacist to prescribe, order or administer self-administered hormonal contraceptives, including subcutaneous depot medroxyprogesterone acetate as well as, for patients 18 years of age or older, vaccinations recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and administered consistently with the ACIP-approved immunization schedules, as may be amended from time to time. Lastly, this measure exempts persons dispensing over-the-counter hearing aids from provisions for audiologists and hearing aid dispensers. The bill now awaits signature from the Governor.

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.

The Department of Vermont Health Access has published updates to the Preferred Drug List (PDL) effective January 1, 2023.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Sandra Guckian at 703-774-4801.

The Department of Vermont Health Access (DVHA) is implementing changes to its prescription drug benefits programs to ensure Medicaid patients continue to have access to the medications they need for conditions related to COVID-19. The changes center around copayments, prescription instructions, and approved medication treatments. 

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.

The Vermont Office of Boards, Commissions & Public Service announced that there was a vacancy on the Board of Pharmacy. If a Vermont pharmacist is interested in filling the vacant spot the application for filling the new position can be found here. The next Board of Pharmacy meeting is April 27.

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Ben Pearlman at 617-515-2603.