TPA members can access the following articles and more on our BREAKING NEWS, TENNCARE News, MEDICARE News and LEGISLATIVE Information pages.  You may also wish to view current News at a Glance, as well as News at a Glance 2006 and News at a Glance 2004.

12.30.05 TennCare: Benzodiazepine and Barbiturate Clarification (TPA username and password required)       12.30.05 Update Medicare Rx:  "Final Preparations are Underway" Provides descriptions of (and directions for accessing) several documents that will assist pharmacists with the January 1 implementation of the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Benefit. (TPA username and password required) 12.23.05 Update MedicareRx: "Medicare Rx Enrollment Numbers Are In" Includes: Dedicated CMS phone number for pharmacists' use on January 1-2; Pharmacy Notice Required by CMS Part D Grievances, Coverage Determinations, Exceptions and Appeals; PDP Transition Policies by Plan; and more. (TPA username and password required)       12.22.05 Pharmacy Cuts in Medicaid Retained in Final Budget Package The compromise budget package approved December 21 in the Senate by a vote of 51-50 (with Vice President Dick Cheney casting the deciding vote) retains cuts in pharmacy reimbursement that will curtail Medicaid patients' access to critical services. Complete article and summary of bill as it related to pharmacy reimbursement (TPA username and password required)       12.21.05 Budget Passes Senate (House will need to vote again) This morning, the Senate passed the budget by a vote of 51-50, with Cheney casting the tie-breaking vote. The budget, projected to produce billions of dollars in savings from the Medicaid pharmacy program, was altered slightly so that the House now will have to vote on it again before it is sent to President Bush for approval. Complete article (TPA username and password required)       12.19.05 Medicaid Reform Update Early this morning, the U.S. House of Representatives passed, on a vote of 212 to 206, the Budget Reconciliation Conference report containing yet another approach to Medicaid Reform. The new approach was unveiled at about 3:00 this morning and voted on just after 5:00 a.m.  Complete article (TPA username and password required)       12.19.05 First Health Premier for Medicare Part D First Health Services Corporation has asked the Tennessee  Pharmacists Association to provide members with information related to the  First Health Premier Medicare Part D Pharmacy Program.  Complete article (TPA username and password required)       12.16.05 Kendall Lynch Moves Onward and Upward It is with very mixed emotions that we at the Tennessee Pharmacists Association inform you that, at the end of this month, Kendall Lynch will be stepping down from his position as Executive Director of the Tennessee Board of Pharmacy. We are losing an experienced, ethical, insightful, knowledgeable, strong leader -- it is, of course, these same qualities that influenced Secure Pharmacy Plus to hire Kendall as its President and Chief Executive Officer. We are happy for Kendall and wish him the very best of luck, and we look forward to working with him in his new position!  Secure Pharmacy Plus press release       12.16.05 Update MedicareRx: Find Out Now if Dual-Eligible Beneficiaries Are in a Plan You Accept (TPA username and password required) Medicare Part D for Hurricane Katrina Evacuees (TPA username and password required)         12.15.05 Medicaid Action Alert - Contact Your Representatives!       12.15.05 TennCare: Tapering Prescription for Benzos and Barbs After numerous discussions with TennCare regarding the discontinuation of coverage of benzodiazepines and barbiturates for adult enrollees, the Tennessee Pharmacists Association is very pleased to announce that the State is offering to reimburse pharmacies for a one-time prescription to help enrollees who need to be tapered off these medications. To obtain this prescription, the prescriber must call and get a PA.  Certain other criteria must also be met. View details in today's TennCare notice. (TPA username and password required)       12.15.05 TennCare:  Changes Related to Grier Require New Form on 1/1/06 New "Prior Authorization Required Form" (TPA username and password required)         12.15.05 NCPDP: National Provider Identifier Bulk Enumeration Process Delayed by CMS (TPA username and password required)         12.7.05 TennCare Notice Major Changes to Grier Consent Decree Process; Benzodiazepine and Barbiturate Classes of Drugs Discontinued for Adults; Provider Education Conference Calls on December 14 and 20; more (TPA username and password required)         12.7.05 Update MedicareRx: "Countdown to Implementation" Announces and includes a link to NDCHealth's Part D Eligibility solution, now available live online, free of charge, providing test cases for pharmacists to submit NCPDP 5.1 E1 transactions. Also includes link to instructions for obtaining Medicare Prescription Drug Plan formularies. (TPA username and password required)         12.6.05 TennCare:  Governor Opens Medicaid Category Earlier, with More Generous Eligibility Criteria (TPA username and password required)         12.6.05 TennCare PDL - New Format (TPA username and password required)       11.29.05 TennCare Workshops Begin TONIGHT in Knoxville (TPA username and password required)       11.23.05 Medicare Part D: National Day of Conversation (TPA username and password required)       11.18.05 House Enacts Cuts to Pharmacy Reimbursement in Medicaid       11.18.05 Pharmacies Must Register to Dispense Isotretinoin: iPledge Program (TPA username and password required)         11.18.05 Immunizers:  1) Survey - Response Needed by 11/21;  2) Flu Season Q&A       11.18.05 Update MedicareRx: "Enrollment is Here..." (TPA username and password required) "Medicare Rx: A National Conversation" will air on TV Saturday, November 19, and Sunday, November 20, 6:30 - 7:00 p.m. EST. Download flyer to post in pharmacies. (TPA username and password required)         11.17.05 TennCare Safety-Net Program Update Today, Governor Bredesen reviewed budgetary information for the TennCare program and the TennCare Safety-Net Program.  TPA was contacted late this afternoon regarding some decisions that have been made based on the budget review process for the TennCare Safety-Net Program. Basically the benefits that were scheduled to end on December 31, 2005, have been extended. Complete article (TPA username and password required)       11.17.05 ALERT: Medicaid Cuts Coming to a Vote       11.17.05 TennCare Notice: "Drug to Inferred Disease" Edit & More (TPA username and password required)         11.16.05 URGENT: Respond Today by 4:00 CST regarding uncompensated care costs for medically necessary services and supplies for Hurricane Katrina evacuees (TPA username and password required)         11.11.05 Medicaid: Vote Postponed to Monday - Contact Representatives! (TPA username and password required)         11.11.05 TennCare:  Holiday Check Schedule, Withdrawal of Pemoline, PDL, Grandfathering Schedule and More (TPA username and password required):     Holiday Check Schedule for Pharmacy Providers Pemoline and Its Withdrawal by the FDA Changes to the Preferred Drug List for December 1, Grandfathering Schedule for Remainder of 2005, etc.       11.10.05 Contact Representatives IMMEDIATELY about Medicaid Reform Proposal       11.10.05 Webcast Demonstration of Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Finder tool: www.cms.hhs.gov/partnerships/mma/webcasts.asp