Pharmacy News

Thank You to WSPA's 2008 Board of Directors
WSPA would to thank the outgoing board members for their many years of service to the association. We also welcome the 2009 Board of Directors.

Shafer Resigns Post as WSPA CEO
After 15 years as CEO, Rod Shafer will be stepping down effective Nov. 15. Read a letter from Rod Shafer to the WSPA membership.

WSPA Seeks New Chief Executive Officer
The Washington State Pharmacy Association, headquartered in Renton, Washington. Interested persons should submit a letter of interest, a current resume including work history, salary expectations, and the names of no less than three professional references, with at least one being work related. Must be a licensed pharmacist in Washington State or working toward Washington State licensure, with a minimum of five years experience in a senior management role. Critical competencies for this position include: Proven performance in membership development and retention, dynamic communicator in both written and oral communications, proven experience in staff and volunteer leadership/motivation, must have the ability to serve and represent a diverse membership. Knowledgeable in legislative and regulatory processes and advocacy. Applicants should have financial experience including budgeting and tax liabilities for 501(c) 6 and 501(c) 3 organizations. Salary and benefits are commensurate with education and experience. All applications must be postmarked no later than November 30, 2008 to be considered for this position. Submit all correspondence via email to ceosearch@wsparx.org.

CMS’ REQUIREMENT FOR PART D FWA TRAINING
Clarifications verbally conveyed on November 13, 2008 conference call Between NASPA and CMS

• Any training completed prior to January 1, 2009 will not count for the 2009 requirement. The fraud, waste and abuse training must be completed after January 1, 2009, but before December 31, 2009, and annually thereafter.
• All persons in the pharmacy who come in contact with Part D recipients need to be trained.  That includes, but is not limited to: pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and cashiers.
• The training that is currently available on the CMS Med-Learning Network for Fraud, Waste, and Abuse IS NOT INTENTED TO SATISFY THE PART D REQUIREMENT FOR PHARMACIES (clarification on this is forthcoming from CMS)

Go to WSPA FWA Resource Center for Fraud Waste and Abuse Resources

WSPA Medicaid Audit Focus Group Get Clarifications on Medicaid Billing Instructions
Over a year ago, the WSPA and DSHS started a Pharmacy Focus Group to address concerns about the confusion on the Medicaid Billing Instructions that have been identified in recent audits. The groups worked for 6 months to address areas of confusion and miscommunication. The latest version of the Medicaid Billing Instructions (effective Oct 20th 2008) contains a number of clarification.  Visit the WSPA Medicaid Resource Center for tools and contact information for troubleshooting.

Uniform Medical Plan and Aetna Paying for Vaccine Administration
UMP and Aetna are changing the way they accept billing for vaccines and soon pharmacies can bill for vaccines using your established pharmacy point of service software.

Pharmacies will be reimbursed the following:

•          Flu Vaccines $25.00, covers the cost of the vaccine, supplies, and administration

•          All other covered vaccines AWP or MAC contracted rate for the vaccine product PLUS a $20 administration fee for each vaccine administered.  More.

Tamper Resistant Prescription Pad Implementation 10/1/08
Don’t forget that as of October 1, 2008, all fee-for-service Medicaid prescriptions that are either hand-written or printed from an Electronic Medical Records (EMR)/ePrescribing application must contain at least one feature from each of the three categories of tamper-resistance: 1)One or more industry recognized features designed to prevent unauthorized copying of a completed or blank prescription. 2) One or more industry recognized features designed to prevent the erasure or modification of information written on the prescription by the prescriber. 3) One or more industry recognized features designed to prevent the use of counterfeit prescriptions. More resources available in the WSPA TRPP Resource Center  

Changes to the Washington PDL and EA List
The changes to the WA Preferred Drug List and HRSA Expedited Authorization list in Memo 08-63 will be implemented on October 20, 2008. On September 3, 2008 HRSA announced that it would not be implementing the Washinton State Preferred Drug List (WA PDL) on the originally scheduled date of October 1. This memo can also be accessed online at http://fortress.wa.gov/dshs/maa/download/Memos/2008Memos/08-63%20DRUG_Oct.pdf

DOH Developing Prescription Monitoring Program Rules
The Department of Health (DOH) will be drafting rules for the Prescription Monitoring Program created under chapter 70.225 RCW. The department will be developing and administering this program with the goal to better promote public health and welfare by detecting and preventing prescription drug misuse. You are invited to attend our informational and workshop meetings to provide input and comments as the department drafts the rules. More.  

Washington Pharmacists Nationally Recognized for MTM Interventions
Outcomes Pharmaceutical Healthcare recognizes the efforts of pharmacists throughout the country for the MTM encounters they provide for patients. Currently, nine pharmacists from Washington State have been featured on their website and e-newsletters. Congratulation to Suzanne Stapaniuk- Savon Pharmacy 492 in Silverdale, WA, Vranie Chan- Safeway Pharmacy 1930 in Lynden, WA, Andrew Schrimsher- Bartell Drugs 06 in Redmond, WA, Tyler Oatway- Bartell Drugs 38 in Seattle, WA, Lara Andjelkovic- Kelley-Ross Pharmacy in Seattle, WA, Alice Chong- Bartell Drugs 10 in Seattle, WA, Stephen Long- Bartell Drugs 58 in Edmonds, WA, Omar Daoud- Walgreens Pharmacy 03632 in Seattle, WA, Meiyue Ren- Safeway Pharmacy 1506 in Lynnwood, WA, David Skatula; Bartell Drugs 9 in Seattle, WA. To read more about their MTM interventions and Outcomes MTM opportunities in Washington click here.

Four Washington Pharmacies Earn Outcomes MTM Best in Class        
Outcomes Best in Class is a designation provided by Outcomes to selected MTM Centers in recognition of the MTM Center's service excellence across a variety of different MTM performance measures. Congratulations to the outstanding efforts of:
Bartell Drugs #06 8862 161 Ave NE Redmond, WA 98052
Bartell Drugs #38 2222 32nd Ave W Seattle, WA 98199
Fred Meyer #701459 365 Renton Ctr Way SW Renton, WA 98055
Safeway #1477 1423 NW Market St Seattle, WA 98107
To read more about their MTM interventions and Outcomes MTM opportunities in Washington click here.

Safeway Pharmacy Named One of Top MTM Pharmacies for 2007
Outcomes® recognized chain and independent pharmacies for 2007 MTM Performance and Safeway Pharmacy 0373 in Seattle, WA, has been named one of the 8 best individual pharmacies in the country for 2007 for their MTM services to King County Employee patients. They were the top MTM pharmacy in Region 23, representing, Idaho, Oregon, Utah, and Washington. As a group, the eight top pharmacies documented, on average, over $500 in Estimated Cost Avoidance per MTM service. The pharmacies provided services for patients in nine Outcomes administered programs over the course of 2007. Press Release To read more about their MTM interventions and Outcomes MTM opportunities in Washington click here.

Puget Sound Health Alliance Creating Second Community Checkup Report
The second Community Checkup report is in development, and it's time for each clinic to update roster information in OneHealthPort by July 1, 2008. By getting involved, your clinic will be able to make sure the information about your clinic is as current as possible; and you will have the chance to review the draft Community Checkup report results for your clinic before the results are finalized and made public. The report will show results for all clinics in King, Kitsap, Pierce, Snohomish, and Thurston counties with 6 or more clinicians (including Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants) in a number of specialties (go to www.onehealthport.com/services/communitycheckup for the detailed list). Questions? Contact Natasha Rosenblatt at 206.448.2570 x123; or email nrosenblatt@pugetsoundhealthalliance.org.

Thomas Baillie Selected as Dean of UW School of Pharmacy
Univeristy of Washington Provost Phyllis Wise announced the selection of Thomas Baillie to become the next dean of the University of Washington School of Pharmacy upon the retirement of Sid Nelson. Baillie has had a distinguished academic career and also has worked in leadership positions in private industry. His appointment, effective Oct. 1, 2008, is subject to approval by the UW Board of Regents. More

ALERT: Clarification on Tamper Resistant Rx Law
There has been some confusion about which prescriptions must meet this new requirement within Washington State.  DSHS HRSA issued a Numbered Memorandum 07-71 which states that “all written prescriptions for Medicaid clients must comply with federal rules for tamper resistant prescriptions. This applies to all prescriptions where Medicaid is the primary or secondary payer and includes prescriptions for over-the-counter medications. This requirement applies to Medicare Part D prescriptions." The WSPA has confirmed with CMS that Washington State DSHS has the authority to require TRPP for any prescription which they pay any portion of the cost. Therefore, the requirement does apply to Medicare Part D Dual Eligible patients for which Medicaid is paying the co-pay NOT all Medicare Part D patients. WSPA is working with DSHS to notify prescribers of this issue. More in the WSPA TRPP Resource Center Click Here

JCR Introduces Medication Reconciliation Consulting Service
(Oak Brook, Ill.— April 14, 2008) Joint Commission Resources (JCR) today announced the launch of its medication reconciliation consulting service, a new consulting product in partnership with Simpler  HealthcareSM. JCR is a not-for-profit affiliate of The Joint Commission. More.

Mandatory Reporting Rules Adopted by DOH
The Department of Health has adopted mandatory reporting rules.  This was required by SHB 2974, which revised RCW 18.130.070. The adopted rules are attached.  The rules are effective thirty-one days from filing.  If you have any questions, please contact Margaret Gilbert, Senior Staff Attorney, margaret.gilbert@doh.wa.gov. Final Rule. How Do The Mandatory Reporting Rules Affect Me?

WSPA Fraud, Waste and Abuse Resource Page
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) requires Medicare plan sponsors to have policies and procedures to identify and address fraud, waste and abuse (FWA) in the delivery of prescription drugs. CMS also requires Medicare plan providers to have a procedure in place to facilitate pharmacy associates’ fraud, waste and abuse training and education. In accordance with these CMS stipulations, pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) are requiring participating pharmacies to train associates in FWA. To help you, the WSPA has created the WSPA Fraud, Waste and Abuse Resource Page

FDA Requiring Pharmacies to Notify Consumers About How to Report Side-Effects
There is a new FDA requirement that pharmacies notify consumers about how to report side-effects to FDA, including an 800 number to use. This is already in effect but FDA says they won't enforce it until Jan. 2009. The following text is included in the rule: "This part is not intended to apply to authorized dispensers dispensing or administering prescription drug products to inpatients in a hospital or health care facility under an order of a licensed practitioner, or as part of supervised home health care."The rule does not include a definition of "health care facility" but a nursing home would qualify.  Note that prescriptions dispensed to home health care clients are also excluded.  But, as usual, assisted living falls into the zone that has no federal recognition.  So presumably, unless they are clients of a home health agency, prescriptions to assisted living residents will need to have this new labeling. Federal Register Notice