The Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission collaborated with the Washington Medical Commission, the Washington State Board of Nursing, the Board of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery and the Board of Naturopathy to create brief tip sheets for the ongoing Rite Aid closures. Download the Rite Aid Closures Tip Sheet for Clinicians and the Rite Aid Closures Tip Sheet for Patients. 

Also in Washington, the Department of Health Office of the Assistant Secretary announced policy, procedures and guidelines exercising enforcement discretion to permit pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to practice in the state without an active Washington state credential or certification under chapters 18.130, 18.64, or 18.64A RCW only for the purpose of assisting with prescription transfers due to the closures of Rite Aid and Bartell Drugs pharmacies in Washington.  

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

The Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission collaborated with the Medical Commission, the Board of Nursing, the Board of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery and the Board of Naturopathy to create brief tip sheets for the ongoing Rite Aid closures. Download the Rite Aid Closures Tip Sheet for Clinicians and the Rite Aid Closures Tip Sheet for Patients.

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

Effective July 1, the Health Care Authority (HCA) Apple Health (Medicaid) added a new section to the audio-only behavioral health procedure code list for HCPCS codes billable for Reentry Targeted Case Management (rTCM). The revised list is posted online under "Billing guides and fee schedules"; click on "Reentry services". 

Also in Washington, Apple Health (Medicaid) announced changes to the State Maximum Allowable Costs (SMAC) list for the fee-for-service (FFS) Prescription Drug Program effective September 1. The full SMAC list can be found on the agency's Provider billing guides and fee schedules website under the Prescription Drug Program and applies to claims billed to FFS. 

Also in Washington, the Health Care Authority (HCA) Prescription Drug Program's third quarter Preferred Drug List has been posted. 

Also in Washington, the Health Care Authority (HCA) created a toolkit called Apple Health is Medicaid Communications Toolkit to assist providers, community leaders and advocates to help Washingtonians access care. 

Finally in Washington, in an effort to effort to help prevent opioid misuse and overdose deaths, Fred Meyer's 60 pharmacies partnered with the Health Care Authority (HCA) to provide free locking bags to patients to more safely store their opioid prescriptions. The HCA's Lock Up Your Meds safe storage program is part of the statewide Starts with One campaign to prevent opioid overdoses by increasing the safe use, storage and disposal of opioid prescriptions. 

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

Gov. Bob Ferguson (D) issued a joint statement with the California and Oregon governors to the US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. condemning the dismissal of the 17 members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

Also in Washington, Gov. Bob Ferguson (D) appointed Ryan Moran as the director of the Washington State Health Care Authority, effective August 18. Moran currently serves as Deputy Secretary for Health Care Financing and Medicaid Director for the Maryland Department of Health. 

Also in Washington, the Health Care Authority announced that the Pharmacy Fax Server will be undergoing maintenance June 28 from 3:00 am-6:00 am and June 28 from 7:00 pm to 3:00 am  on June 29. During these times, providers will not be able to submit faxes. Pharmacy Point of Sale (POS) system maintenance activity will impact pharmacy claims requiring SmartPA. If you receive claim exception code 4677 with NCPDP Reject Code 75 – 'Prior Auth Required' during the maintenance window, please resubmit impacted claims after the maintenance period. 

Finally in Washington, due to the timing of the State Biennium End and the observance of Independence Day, payments to providers for the week of June 30, will be delayed and made the following week on July 8. Remittance Advices (RAs) and HIPAA 835 files will also be made available on July 8.  

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

Gov. Bob Ferguson (D) appointed Dennis Worsham as the new Secretary of Health, effective July 7. 

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

The Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission met on May 22. The meeting materials are available online. There was a discussion on the Commission waiving certain staffing rules allowing out-of-state pharmacists and technicians to remotely aid in the transfer of Rite Aid and Bartell’s prescriptions. The next meeting is scheduled for June 26.

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

NACDS sent Gov. Bob Ferguson (D) a letter asking him to veto a surcharge on prescription medications in Section 201 of HB 2081 due to its detrimental impact on pharmacy operations and patient care. This new proposed tax does not apply to retail sales of prescription drugs exempted in current law.   

Also in Washington, the State Department of Health held a Sunrise Review public hearing on May 14 on pharmacist prescriptive authority. The Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee had requested a review of a proposal to increase the pharmacist scope of practice to assess whether it meets the sunrise criteria in RCW 18.120.010. The request would grant the Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission the authority to regulate licensed pharmacist prescribing outside of a collaborative agreement. NACDS and many other groups submitted written comments for the record in advance of the hearing. 

Finally in Washington, the Washington Health Care Privacy Toolkit has been updated with new information, including 2024 updates to reproductive health privacy. 

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

NACDS submitted comments for the Sunrise Review process of pharmacy practice regulations to the Department of Health, recommending adopting a standard of care model that would better utilize pharmacists’ clinical expertise in promoting healthcare access for its residents through community pharmacies.

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

The Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission is meeting on March 27. The agenda, meeting materials and Zoom information was posted on their website. The rules workshop will review the draft Proposed Utilization of Pharmacy Ancillary Personnel Rule Language, which amends WAC 246-945-001, 246-945-315, 246-945-317, 246-945-320, to clarify the utilization of pharmacy ancillary personnel and technology within the pharmacy.

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