Message from Mike
Flu & H1N1
information for your patients
|
The demand for flu shots likely will be
greater this year than in the recent past due to
publicity and fear about "swine flu." Here's some
information about both the vaccine for this year
and the H1N1 vaccine:
Flu immunizations
Did you know pharmacists now have the legal
authority to administer flu vaccines to children 7
and older? Yes, HB 1409 by Rep. Chuck Hopson, RPh
also says this authorization does not require
physician authorization.
SB 531 by Sen. Dan Patrick (R-Houston) also
passed and includes a provision to add qualified
pharmacists to the list of providers who may
be reimbursed for administering immunizations to
Medicaid patients.
It's important to note this program will not
be administered through HHSC's Vendor Drug
program. It will be administered through the same
division that pays physician claims at HHSC--Fee
for Service Medicaid Benefits (FSMB). HHSC is
gearing up for this and will have an online
registration process for pharmacists to go live by
Oct. 1. We expect additional information from
HHSC on this, and will send to you as soon as we
receive it.
H1N1
immunizations H1N1, the swine flu
vaccine, is a separate program administered
by the Department of State Health
Services.
To help DSHS with it's statewide planning and
to be certain you can get all the H1N1 vaccine you
want, it's very important that you
register ASAP online at the DSHS Web
site.
The vaccine will be
distributed free
to providers registered with
DSHS specifically to provide
H1N1.
To register as a H1N1 provider
and to get additional information, go to www.texasflu.org.
After you complete and submit your
preregistration information online, a page will
appear with a Preregistration ID number. Please
print this page and save the ID number for your
records. You will need the ID number to order
H1N1 vaccines.
You only need to complete the preregistration
once per vaccination site. However, if you have
significant changes, you may complete a
replacement
pre-registration.
Advocate Rx
Solutions We are gratified
that so many of you are interested in our newest
preferred vendor, Advocate
Rx Solutions. Judged by the number of you who
read the newsletter and opened the link to
Advocate Rx Solutions, this is a service many of
you want.
We continue to seek services and
products that add value to your American
Pharmacies participation. Watch for surveys we'll
be sending to APRx
stockholders.
Continued
success,
Mike
Gohlke
President, American
Pharmacies |
| Surety
bond required for Part B drug
providers |
Even if you do not offer DME at your
pharmacy, you still need a surety bond to
participate in Medicare Part B drugs. Yes, Part B,
not Part D.
The National Community
Pharmacists Association recommends the following
source for the bond because they can respond to
your request in just four business days. Their fee
is $250 per bond.
Mayer and Steinberg
(410) 484-7000
Be sure to ask for the NCPA bond
program. |
| Answers
regarding AWP & Humana |
|
We continue to get questions
almost daily about Humana and other new contracts
pharmacists are receiving. The best source
for answers is the News section of the Texas
Pharmacy Business Council Web
site.
It includes information about the issue, plus
links to a conversion chart and calculator to help determine
AWP and WAC equivalents as you review new
contracts.
Watch for TPBC newsletters and
PharmPhlashes. |
| Members
only |
|
Expert business and law advice for
American Pharmacies members.
- Medicaid Integrity Program provider audits
- Complaints
made against you to the Texas State Board of
Pharmacy
- The
independent pharmacist's duty to warn
- Auditing
loopholes in Medicare Part D
- Safeguard
your business from employee fraud
- Hiring
and firing tips
- The
pharmacist's guide to on-site audits
- Contracting
tips for independent
pharmacists
| |
| |
|
Dividends
&
Rebates |
|
American
Pharmacies distributed rebates or dividends to
stockholders on the following dates. To read the
letters, go to the Members
Only
section.
To
get your password, go to the Contact Us section
and type your preferred password in the Comments
area.
If
you would like to become an American
Pharmacies stockholder to receive extra
$$$, contact an American Pharmacies business
development manager.
North
Texas
972.393.9576
Kaye
Stroud
South Texas
512.623.9900
Source
/Date
APRx
FY 2009 Year End / 7 August 09
McKesson / 12
March 09
Morris & Dickson / 20 Feb
09
McKesson / 20 Feb 09
AmerisourceBergen /
21 Jan 09
McKesson / 19 Dec 08
Morris &
Dickson / 19 Dec 08
McKesson / 21 Nov
08
|
| Your
APRx board |
Vance
Oglesbee, RPh
Chairman
Robert Kinsey,
RPh
Vice Chairman
Bruce Rogers,
RPh
Secretary/Treasurer
Lynn Everett,
RPh
Immediate Past Chairman
DIRECTORS
Ray Carvajal,
RPh
Buddy de la Rosa,
RPh
Alton Kanak,
RPh
Michael Muecke,
RPh
Dennis Song,
RPh |
| |
