NACDS was alerted that an error has occurred when the Health Care Authority (HCA) made the Retroactive Time Period payments to the pharmacies under Section 4(b) of the Washington State Medicaid lawsuit Settlement Agreement, and that HCA is taking steps to correct the error which will impact some pharmacies’ reimbursement. HCA discovered that it had overpaid 197 pharmacies while underpaying 334 pharmacies and will be correcting the erroneous payments.
Also in Washington, the Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission (PQAC) filed a CR-103E Emergency Rulemaking order codifying in rule the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval of certain naloxone hydrochloride nasal sprays as over the counter. PQAC considers the ongoing opioid epidemic to be a public health emergency in Washington state. This rule, filed on April 5, 2024, took effect immediately and will remain in effect for 120 days but will be refiled as needed while permanent rulemaking is in progress.
Also in Washington, the Health Care Authority Apple Health (Medicaid) added the new over the counter (OTC) birth control pill – Norgestrel oral tablets (Opill) – to the list of covered drugs that also includes family planning supplies without a prescription, such as condoms, emergency contraception and spermicides.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.