March 6, 2008

Electronic Logbook for Pseudoephedrine Sales

Being Rolled Out to Pharmacies

The implementation of Arkansas Act 508, which requires Arkansas pharmacies to use an electronic logbook to track pseudoephedrine, ephedrine, and phenylpropanolamine sales, is now being rolled out to pharmacies across the state.  The state has selected “LeadsOnlabs” as the vendor to provide this electronic logbook.  All pharmacies will be required to use this electronic logbook no later than May, 15, 2008.

There is no cost to pharmacies to use this service.  The data collected from this online reporting will better help pharmacies comply with the various state and federal laws that restrict the sale of pseudoephedrine.  If you have further questions about how to get your pharmacy connected to the “LeadsOnlabs” system, call 888-994-7771.

APA Seeking Comparison Data for QualChoice Patients

QualChoice, a major healthcare carrier in Arkansas, changed pharmacy benefits managers (PBM) at the first of the year.  QualChoice switched from Express Scripts to a newer PBM called ProcareRx.  APA has received several phone calls from members expressing concern over the generic reimbursement that they have been receiving from ProcareRx.

APA is seeking pharmacies that are willing to provide before and after comparisons of their generic reimbursements for these QualChoice plans from the end of last year compared to the first two months of 2008.  Please call Scott at the APA office (501-372-5250) to request a standardized reporting sheet to provide this data to APA.

Medicaid Tamper Proof Prescription Law

to Be Implemented April 1, 2008

The federal law that requires all Medicaid prescriptions to be written on “tamper-proof” prescription pads is scheduled to go into effect Tuesday, April 1, 2008.  You may recall the law was originally scheduled for implementation on October 1, 2007, but the implementation was delayed for six months.  Arkansas Medicaid is required to comply with this federal mandate.  To assist pharmacists and other providers, Medicaid will be sending out a letter that outlines the requirements for these prescription pads. 

For Medicaid prescriptions to be in compliance with this new law, they must be written on a “tamper-proof” prescription pad that contains one or more features designed to:

·         Prevent unauthorized copying of a completed or blank prescription form;

·         Prevent the erasure or modification of information written on the prescription by the prescriber;

·         Prevent the use of counterfeit prescription forms (i.e. sequentially numbered blanks).

APA will continue to monitor the implementation of this law and will provide any additional information as it becomes available.