Pharmacy made tremendous advances in the Commonwealth in the 2023 Regular Legislative Session that will dramatically improve patient care and advance practice. HB 2274, allowing pharmacists to test and treat for flu, COVID, strep and UTIs (urinary tract infections) under a statewide Board of Pharmacy protocol, is on Governor’s desk for signing, along with its companion, SB 948. The bills are the final piece in updating Virginia’s law to match the PREP Act. Notably, the Legislature also passed SB 1538 to clarify that Medicaid must reimburse for all the pharmacy-based services currently authorized in the Commonwealth. The bill applies to both Fee-for–Service and Managed Care. NACDS thanks the Virginia Association of Chain Drug Stores (VACDS), the Virginia Pharmacists Association (VPhA) and members for their tremendous efforts on the ground during this short session. NACDS will continue to update members as the bill signing process unfolds.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.

HB 2274, a bill that would allow pharmacists to test and treat for flu, COVID, strep and UTIs (urinary tract infections) under a statewide Board of Pharmacy protocol, is on Governor’s desk for signing. Its companion, SB 948, was conformed to the house bill and is now on the House Floor after passing the Senate unanimously. NACDS continues to collaborate with members and in-state partners to get these bills across the finish line. They are the final piece in updating Virginia’s law to match the PREP Act. NACDS is also advocating for SB 1538, which would strengthen the Medicaid reimbursement provisions for pharmacy-based services. This bill passed the Senate and will now be heard in the House.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.

Companion bills that would allow pharmacists to test and treat for flu, COVID, strep and UTIs (urinary tract infections) under a statewide Board of Pharmacy protocol have passed their Chambers of origin and met the bill crossover deadline, making them eligible to continue to advance. HB 2274 passed the House by a 57-42 vote, while the Senate unanimously adopted SB 948. passed the Senate unanimously. They now go to committees in the opposite chamber for consideration. NACDS continues to collaborate with members and in-state partners to advance these bills that are the final piece in updating Virginia’s law to match the PREP Act. NACDS is also advocating for SB 1418, which would strengthen the Medicaid reimbursement provisions for pharmacy-based services. This bill passed the Senate and will now be heard in the House. 

Also in Virginia, Medicaid has posted a draft bulletin detailing upcoming changes that will rebrand its Fee-for-service (FFS) and managed care programs as Cardinal Care and unify the Medallion 4.0 and Commonwealth Coordinated Care Plus (CCC Plus) managed care programs under a single managed care contract, pending approval by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The bulletin states that the changes will follow a strategic, phased-in implementation, beginning January 1, 2023, and will be fully operational by July 1, 2023. Comments on the draft bulletin are due March 15. 

Finally, in Virginia, the Board of Pharmacy has published a notice outlining recent drug scheduling changes. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.

Two companion bills that would allow pharmacists to test and treat under a statewide Board of Pharmacy protocol have advanced in their respective chambers. HB 2274 is poised for a vote on the House floor and SB 948 passed the Senate unanimously. The bills add the authority for pharmacists to test and treat for Flu, Strep, COVID and UTIs to the existing ten conditions/therapies that pharmacist can currently treat. However, opposition from the medical community to the UTI provision drove 10 negative votes in the House Health, Welfare and Institutions Committee, with the bill just squeaking out of committee with 11 favorable votes. NACDS has been working closely with in-state partners and members to advance these practice advancements over the last several sessions and issued an RxImpact Alert this week encouraging outreach to House members prior to the upcoming floor vote. 

Also in Virginia, the Board of Pharmacy published a reminder that pharmacists must obtain at least two (2) hours of continuing education (CE) in 2023 on the following subjects related to opioids: medications for opioid use disorder (OUD), including methadone, buprenorphine, naltrexone, naloxone or any other drug indicated for OUD. The CE must be obtained between January 1 and December 31. Inquiries may be directed to pharmbd@dhp.virginia.gov 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.

NACDS reminds members that Medicaid has recently expanded its list of maintenance medications eligible to be filled with a 90-day supply. Medicaid-covered patients are eligible for the long fills after receiving two 34-day or shorter fills of drugs on the list. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.

DMAS (Department of Medical Assistance Services) has issued a memo informing pharmacy providers that DMAS fee-for-service (FFS) and the Medicaid Managed Care Organizations will provide up to five professional dispense fees per month (defined as a rolling 30-day period) for buprenorphine-based opioid use disorder (OUD) products, effective December 1, 2022.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.

The COVID-19 Standing Order has been updated to include the most recently authorized bivalent boosters

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.

The Board of Pharmacy has posted the draft minutes from the September 6 meeting. Note that they approved emergency regulations to comply with treatment provisions passed into law in 2022 under HB (House Bill) 1323 that allows pharmacists to prescribe tobacco cessation medications. Specifically, they approved the changes to apply to all current statewide protocols reflecting new requirements under HB 1323 and added tobacco cessation treatment to the permitted protocols. Additionally, the board proposed amendments to its workforce regulations pursuant to HB 1324. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.

The Department of Health has issued an updated standing order for COVID vaccines reflecting current CDC (Centers for Disease Control) recommendations.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Jill McCormack at 717-592-8977.