Effective April 1, all prescribing providers must be enrolled with ProviderOne as an Apple Health provider. This includes any pharmacists who administer vaccines or prescribe products within their scope of practice. While this requirement has been in effect for the fee-for-service program since 2014, starting in April this applies to managed care organizations (MCOs). 

Also in Washington, Apple Health (Medicaid), administered by the Health Care Authority will implement changes to the State Maximum Allowable Costs (SMAC) list for the fee-for-service (FFS) Prescription Drug Program. View MAC memo for rate changes effective June 1. 

Finally in Washington, the Health Care Authority (HCA) announced that Trinity Wilson was appointed Medicaid Director, overseeing Apple Health (Medicaid) and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Wilson brings more than 12 years of experience in Apple Health, with a background spanning eligibility policy and operations, customer and provider services and enterprise systems. She has served as Interim Medicaid Director since November 2025. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.

The Board of Pharmacy has released updated self-inspection worksheets for 2025, covering various pharmacy practice settings and specialties. The comprehensive collection includes worksheets for general pharmacy operations, hospitals and HPACs, manufacturers, wholesalers and healthcare entities. Additional specialized addenda are available for long-term care facilities and various USP standards including nonsterile compounding (USP 795), sterile compounding (USP 797), hazardous drugs (USP 800) and radiopharmaceuticals (USP 825).

The Board also published a 2025 DSCSA self-inspection worksheet to help pharmacies comply with Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) requirements. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.

The legislature adjourned on March 13. Unfortunately, our priority bill, SSB 5924, legislation that would have removed administrative barriers to pharmacist-provided care by allowing independent prescribing and diagnosis within a pharmacist's scope of practice, did not advance. It was based on the Department of Health Sunrise Review recommendations.  

Also in Washington, effective April 1, the Health Care Authority (HCA) is publishing quarterly updates to many of the Apple Health Billing Guides.  

Also in Washington, effective April 1, all pharmacy providers who prescribe must be enrolled with ProviderOne as Apple Health providers. This requirement applies to pharmacists who administer vaccines or prescribe products within their scope of practice. While this has been required for the Medicaid fee-for-service program since 2014, it will now also apply to Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs). 

Also in Washington, the Department of Health Pharmacy Commission review of pharmacies submitting data to the Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) Clearinghouse revealed that about 25% are not reporting the date a prescription is sold (dispensed). Pharmacies dispensing controlled substances must report three specific and distinct dates to the PMP: (1) Date of dispensing (sold date); (2) Prescription issue date (written date); and (3) Prescription number and fill date (fill date). Pharmacies may need to contact their software vendors to ensure their systems' date fields are updated to enable accurate reporting to the PMP. 

Finally, in Washington, the state Health Care Authority's (HCA) Health Care Cost Transparency Board's next meeting is on March 25.  

For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.

SSB 5934, the standard of care bill that could expand pharmacists’ practice authority by allowing them to independently prescribe and diagnose within their scope of practice based on education and experience, passed the Senate but died in the House Health Care and Wellness Committee. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.

SSB 5934, the standard of care bill, would expand pharmacists’ practice authority by allowing them to independently prescribe and diagnose within their scope of practice, based on education and experience. The bill passed the Senate earlier this month and is awaiting a hearing in the House Health Care and Wellness Committee. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.

The state’s standard of care legislation, SSB 5924, expands pharmacists’ practice authority by allowing independent prescribing and diagnosis within their scope of practice, based on education and experience. The bill was approved by the full Senate on February 17 and now advances to the House for further consideration.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.

NACDS sent members a Call to Action for SSB 5924, legislation expanding pharmacist practice authority by allowing independent prescribing and diagnosis within a pharmacist’s scope of practice, determined by their individual training, education and experience. The amended bill on the Senate floor lists certain conditions that pharmacists, meeting defined educational and experiential criteria, are authorized to treat.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.

The Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee approved a substitute to SB 5924, a bill aimed at expanding prescriptive authority for pharmacists. This legislation seeks to eliminate administrative barriers to pharmacist-provided care by permitting independent prescribing and diagnosis within a pharmacist's scope of practice, based on their individual training, education and experience. An amendment to the bill now includes a list of specific conditions that pharmacists, who meet certain educational and experience requirements, are authorized to treat. 

Also in Washington, SB 6228 and identical HB 2707, legislation that would repeal the pharmaceutical wholesale distribution Business & Occupations (B&O) preferential tax rate, had a hearing in the Senate Ways and Means Committee in late January, but no action was taken. The House bill was referred to the Finance Committee. The Healthcare Distributors (HAD) requested we share its one-pager with our members. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.

The Washington State Pharmacy Association (WSPA) is hosting two legislative days this year on January 28 and February 23 to meet with legislators to inform them about practice and priority issues. 

Also in Washington, the Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee is holding a hearing on January 30 on SB 5924, legislation expanding prescriptive authority for pharmacists by removing the administrative barriers to pharmacist-provided care by allowing independent prescribing and diagnosis within a pharmacist's scope of practice and based on individual training, education and experience. The legislation is modeled after laws enacted in Idaho and Iowa and builds on 46 years of safe pharmacist prescribing and diagnostic authority already permitted in the state through Collaborative Drug Therapy Agreements (CDTAs). This week, NACDS issued a CALL to ACTION asking members to register in support of the bill. 

For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.