Don’t Cut Corners: Notations on Prescriptions
Not only are new medications frequently released to market, but also new strengths and formulations of existing medications.
Independent pharmacy is in my blood. Both my great-grandfather and grandfather owned Rexall stores in northern Wisconsin. I always had the dream of owning my own independent pharmacy (with my very own soda fountain!), but I have quickly found being part of your independent pharmacy’s success story is even more rewarding for me. I look forward to being part of the trusted PAAS team that helps you navigate the waters of the ever-changing world of pharmacy audits and Fraud, Waste, and Abuse regulations.
Not only are new medications frequently released to market, but also new strengths and formulations of existing medications.
What is worse than receiving an audit notice? Receiving audit results which state “NRS – No Response to Audit Request” when the pharmacy never received the audit notice.
, PAAS National® would like to take this opportunity to update our members on what PBM trends we have seen thus far, draw attention to the guidelines laid out by PBMs and regulations in which we can rely on, and give our thoughts on the current audit situation in the hopes of allowing you to make the most informed business decision.
You may recall the article “Quantity Changes Cause Audit Appeal Trouble ” from the May 2023 Newsline. The article discusses how PAAS National® saw an increase in the number of discrepancies for “unauthorized” refills.
There have been many new albuterol HFA NDCs released since the June 2020 article, First AB-Rated Generic for Proventil® HFA Approved, and since albuterol inhaler substitutions require an extra level of consideration due to not all NDCs being equivalent, a refreshed chart was in order.
After three years of a Public Health Emergency (PHE) due to COVID-19, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) allowed the PHE to expire May 11, 2023. With the end of the PHE came the end of most PBM concessions, including those made in relation to mailing and delivery of medications.
The Biden-Harris Administration is continuing to bolster the importance of equal access to health care and human services for individuals with disabilities through a new proposed rule.
As previously reported in an April 2023 Newsline article, Prepare Yourselves! Onsite Audits Are Coming in Strong, PAAS National® saw a 300% increase in onsite audits in just the 3rd Quarter of 2022, and we have continued to see the number of audits, as well as the information requested in these audits, increase.
Over the last three years, PAAS National®’s President, Trent Thiede, has presented on-demand webinars, ranging from 15 to 45 minutes, to ensure our members gain the knowledge needed to avoid audits, stay abreast on the latest topics in the pharmacy world, and provide information on the more difficult topics in an easy-to-understand manner.
When you think about preventing recoupments, ensuring the correct NDC is billed, the prescription contains calculable directions, and proper DAW or days’ supply are common focuses; and rightfully so. However, there is another element to be aware of when filling prescriptions: documenting when the dispensed quantity is different than the quantity prescribed.
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