August 2011

How will Medicaid Managed Care Expansion affect you and your patients?
 
The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) recently announced it is urging the federal government to reject Florida's request to extend and expand its Medicaid managed care pilot program statewide from 5 to 67 counties. Click here to review the letter NCPA sent to the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

B. Douglas Hoey, RPh, MBA, NCPA executive vice president and CEO, emphasized the failures of previous Medicaid managed care attempts and specifically pointed out the independent study from Georgetown University Health Policy Institute which revealed that Florida's five-year old pilot program hasn't produced verifiable costs savings and has caused significant disruptions to beneficiary access and patient-provider relationships. Hoey added, "We know the status quo is unsustainable.

That is why NCPA recommends Florida find real savings and better results through more proven coordinated care and higher generic prescription drug utilization rates, two initiatives that independent community pharmacies excel at. Florida's approximately 1,300 independent community pharmacies stand ready to assist in those efforts."

PPSC applauds NCPA's actions and asks that you consider contacting your congressional delegation and solicit their support in asking for CMS to carefully examine the ramifications of Florida's Medicaid managed care program expansion. For those of you outside of Florida be warned that Medicaid managed care expansions are under consideration by a number of states as legislatures throughout the nation wrestle with budget shortfalls and increasing recipient caseloads. Talk with your state pharmacy associations and other organizations and find out if Medicaid managed care is being considered, and if so, what you can do to help them in representing your interests.

PPSC is soliciting your input about the potential impact to your businesses and patients from the Medicaid managed care expansion. Please give us your feedback to share with legislators and regulators by emailing PPSC.
 

Sincerely,
 
Bill
 
Bill Mincy, BPharm.

 
Oppose Medco ESI Merger 

Help PPSC put a stop to the proposed merger between the two PBM giants, Medco and Express Scripts. The union of these conglomerates will reduce competition and raise health care costs. Please act now by contacting the FTC, your State's Governor and Attorney General.

To take action, please click HERE

Do You Have Mail Order Wastes?

NCPA and PPSC would like your assistance in battling PBM abuses, especially if you participate in the Dispose My Meds program. Send in your detailed stories and pictures of mail order wastes being disposed of at your community pharmacy. If possible, include wastes from specific programs like, TRICARE, Veteran's Affairs, or Medicare Part D.

To take action, please click HERE

National Mail Order Competitive Bidding Program Schedule

With summertime rapidly coming to an end, PPSC wants to make sure your pharmacy is ready for the National Mail-Order Competition being conducted this fall and winter. The Centers for Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced a timetable so that DMEPOS suppliers have sufficient time to prepare for the competition.

For more information, please click HERE

Pharmacy Diversion Awareness Conference

On September 17th and 18th, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will host a “Pharmacy Diversion Awareness Conference” that is open for free to all pharmacy employees. The conference's purpose is to assist pharmacy employees in recognizing and responding to possible diversion activity such as doctor shoppers, robberies and forged prescriptions.

For more information, please click HERE

Is Your Pharmacy Prepared?

With the flooding aftermath of Hurricane Irene that left millions without power on the Eastern coast, PPSC wants to know if your pharmacy is prepared for a natural disaster. NCPA has composed a "Disaster Preparedness Checklist" which offers suggestions to help minimize the potential consequences that could occur as a result of a natural catastrophe.

For more information, please click HERE

National Community Pharmacists Association Political Action Committee (NCPAPAC)

As we all know, it takes political contributions to be successful in Congress. We also know we are in a fight for our survival. For community pharmacy to really make its voice heard in Washington, NCPA's Political Action Committee, NCPAPAC, needs your support now more than ever. The NCPAPAC motto rings true today: "Get into politics or get out of pharmacy."

For more information, please click HERE

STATE REPORTS

Florida

Counterfeit-Proof Prescription Pads

In accordance with HB 7095, beginning September 1st all written controlled substances prescriptions must be on a counterfeit-proof prescription pad manufactured by the vendors on the approved Florida Department of Health's list. The D.O.H will also accept the current Standard Register-manufactured Veterans Administration prescription pads.

For more information, please click HERE

User Guide for Controlled Substances Reporting System Version 3.0

The Florida Department of Health Drugs, Devices and Cosmetics Program have issued a “User Guide for the Controlled Substances Reporting System” which provides instructions on how to properly register and upload your monthly file. The CSR (controlled substance reporting) system will become mandatory on September 1st for any practitioners prescribing controlled substances.

To view a copy of the Guide, please click HERE

Florida Managed Medicaid

The Florida Bureau of Pharmacy Services will put into action a new legislative directive pursuant to Florida state 409.912(51) effective on September 1, 2011. Medco, on behalf of its Florida Medicaid Sponsors, will require all Florida pharmacies to attain a hard copy of Florida Medicaid’s "Informed Consent for Psychotherapeutic Medication" attestation form for all new prescriptions for psychotherapeutic drugs for children 12 years of age and younger.

For more information, please click HERE


The Florida Pharmacy Political Action Committee of Continuous Existence (FP-PACCE)

The Florida Pharmacy Political Action Committee of Continuous Existence (FP-PACCE) is a means of pooling resources and reaching candidates who have or will have an understanding of what's best for the practice of pharmacy and each aspect of patient care in the state of Florida.

For more information, please click HERE


Florida Pharmacy Small Business PAC


The Florida Pharmacy Small Business PAC (FPSBP) serves the interests of independent community pharmacies and their ability to compete in the world of business, as well as to serve their communities as pharmacy has for centuries without regard to race, religion or gender. The Florida Pharmacy Small Business PAC is a way for independent owners to work toward protecting their practices and profession. The PAC supports candidates for election and state legislators in office that are pharmacy friendly, understand and support our profession and the patients we serve.

For more information please contact:
Paul Franck, FIPN President HERE

Alabama

Technician Renewals Approaching

All pharmacy technicians that desire to work in the State of Alabama must renew their registration bi-annually on odd numbered years due on October 31, 2011. The technician is also required to annually complete three hours of ACPE (Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education) CE, one hour being a live presentation.

For more information, please click HERE

North Carolina

Inactive Medicaid Provider Numbers

The Division of Medical Assistance will terminate Medicaid provider numbers that have been inactive within the past 12 months that pertain to billing. The termination of Medicaid provider numbers will help to diminish fraudulent claims billing practices.

For more information, please click HERE

Tennessee

Smoking Cessation Products Covered by TennCare

With TennCare covering nearly a quarter of Tennessee's population, the Bureau of TennCare revealed that smoking cessation products are now covered for all Tennesseans enrolled in the Medicaid program.

For more information, please click HERE

PPSC, one of the nation's oldest and largest pharmacy services companies, was founded by pharmacists for pharmacists with the goal of providing our pharmacies with the services, tools and products they need to meet their business objectives. Today, PPSC serves more than 40,000 pharmacies. For more on PPSC, click here.