10 CCR 2505-10
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CARE POLICY AND FINANCING MEDICAL ASSISTANCE - SECTION 8.800 Pharmaceuticals, Podiatry Services, Immunization Services 10 CCR 2505-10 8.800 [Editor’s Notes follow the text of the rules at the end of this CCR Document.] _________________________________________________________________________
8.800 PHARMACEUTICALS
8.800.1 DEFINITIONS
A. 340B Pharmacy means any pharmacy that participates in the Federal Public Health Service’s 340B Drug Pricing Program as described in Title 42 of the United States Code, Section 256b (2020). Title 42 of the United States Code, Section 256b (2020) is hereby incorporated by reference into this rule. Such incorporation, however, excludes later amendments to or editions of the referenced material. This statute is available for public inspection at the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, 1570 Grant Street, Denver, CO 80203. Pursuant to C.R.S. §24-4- 103(12.5)(V)(b), the agency shall provide certified copies of the material incorporated at cost upon request or shall provide the requestor with information on how to obtain a certified copy of the material incorporated by reference from the agency of the United States, this state, another state, or the organization or association originally issuing the code, standard, guideline or rule.
B. Average Acquisition Cost (AAC) means the average acquisition cost for like drugs grouped by Generic Sequence Number (GSN). For GSNs with both generic and brand drugs, the Department shall determine two separate AAC rates for the GSN. One AAC rate shall be based on the average acquisition cost for all generic drugs while the other shall be based on the average acquisition cost for all brand drugs.
C. Conflict of Interest means having competing professional or personal obligations or personal or financial interests that would make it difficult to fulfill duties in an objective manner.
D. Department means the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing.
E. Dispensing Fee means the reimbursement amount for costs associated with filling a prescription. Costs include salary costs, pharmacy department costs, facility costs, and other costs.
F. Dispensing Prescriber means a health care professional who, as licensed by Colorado state law, prepares, dispenses and instructs members to self-administer medication.
G. Drug Class means drugs that are grouped together due to a common mechanism of action, or to treat a particular disease, symptom or indication.
H. Emergency Situation means any condition that is life threatening or requires immediate medical intervention as determined in good faith by the pharmacist.
I. E-prescription means the transmission of a prescription through an electronic application.
J. Fiscal agent means a contractor that supports and operates the pharmacy benefit management system on behalf of the Medical Assistance Program.
K. Federal Upper Limit (FUL) means the upper limit for multiple source drugs as set by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services pursuant to Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 447.512-447.516 (2020). Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 447.512-447.516 (2020) is hereby incorporated by reference into this rule. Such incorporation, however, excludes later amendments to or editions of the referenced material. This statute is available for public inspection at the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, 1570 Grant Street, Denver, CO 80203. Pursuant to C.R.S. §24-4-103(12.5)(V)(b), the agency shall provide certified copies of the material incorporated at cost upon request or shall provide the requestor with information on how to obtain a certified copy of the material incorporated by reference from the agency of the United States, this state, another state, or the organization or association originally issuing the code, standard, guideline or rule.
L. Generic Sequence Number (GSN) means a standard number to group together drugs that have the same ingredients, route of administration, drug strength, and dosage form.
M. Good Cause means failing to disclose a Conflict of Interest; participating in wrongdoing or misconduct in the case of serving as a member of a committee or other advisory body for the Department; failing to perform required duties; or missing two scheduled meetings per calendar year.
N. Government Pharmacy means any pharmacy whose primary function is to provide drugs and services to members of a facility whose operating funds are appropriated directly from the State of Colorado or the federal government excluding pharmacies funded through Indian Health Services.
O. Institutional Pharmacy means any pharmacy whose primary function is to provide drugs and services to hospitalized patients and others receiving health care provided by the facility with which the pharmacy is associated.
P. Mail Order Pharmacy means any pharmacy that delivers drugs primarily by mail.
Q. Maintenance Medication means any drug, as determined by the Department, which is used to treat a chronic illness or symptoms of a chronic illness.
R. Maximum Allowable Cost (MAC) means the rate for a covered drug which does not possess Average Acquisition Cost (AAC) nor National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC) rates. This rate is calculated using an adjustment of the national pricing benchmark Wholesale Acquisition Cost (WAC).
S. Medical Assistance Program shall have the meaning defined in Section 25.5-1-103(5), C.R.S. (2020).
T. Medical Assistance Program Allowable Charge means the allowed ingredient cost plus a dispensing fee or the provider’s Usual and Customary Charge, whichever is less, minus the member’s copayment as determined according to Section 8.754.
U. Medical Director means the physician or physicians who advise the Department.
V. Medicare Part D means the prescription drug benefit provided to Part D eligible individuals pursuant to the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003.
W. Medicare Part D Drugs means drugs defined at Title 42 of the United States Code, Section 1395w-102(e) (2020) and Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Section 423.100 (2020). Title 42 of the United States Code, Section 1395w-102(e) (2020) and Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Section 423.100 (2020) are hereby incorporated by reference into this rule. Such incorporation, however, excludes later amendments to or editions of the referenced material. This statute is available for public inspection at the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, 1570 Grant Street, Denver, CO 80203. Pursuant to C.R.S. §24-4-103(12.5)(V)(b), the agency shall provide certified copies of the material incorporated at cost upon request or shall provide the requestor with information on how to obtain a certified copy of the material incorporated by reference from the agency of the United States, this state, another state, or the organization or association originally issuing the code, standard, guideline or rule.
X. Non-preferred Drug means a drug that is designated as non-preferred by the Medical Director pursuant to Section 8.800.16, and requires prior-authorization before being payable by the Medical Assistance Program.
Y. National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC) is a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services published rate which represents the national average of the drug acquisition costs submitted by retail community pharmacies.
Z. Old Age Pension Health Care Program and Old Age Pension Health Care Supplemental Program (OAP State Only) means the program established to provide necessary medical care for clients that qualify for Old Age Pension but do not qualify for the Medical Assistance Program under Title XIX of the Social Security Act and Colorado statutes.
AA. Over-the-Counter (OTC) means a drug that is appropriate for use without the supervision of a health care professional such as a physician, and which can be purchased by a consumer without a prescription.
BB. Part D eligible individual has the same meaning as defined in Section 8.1000.1.
CC. Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee (P&T Committee) means an advisory board that shall perform reviews and make recommendations which facilitate the development and maintenance of the Preferred Drug List as described in Section 8.800.17.
DD. Preferred Drug means a drug that is designated preferred by the Medical Director pursuant to Section 8.800.16.A, that is payable by the Medical Assistance Program without first obtaining a prior authorization unless otherwise required to protect the health and safety of specific members.
EE. Preferred Drug List (PDL) means a list, applicable only to fee-for-service and primary care physician Medical Assistance Program members, which identifies the Preferred Drugs and Non- preferred Drugs within a drug class.
FF. Prescriber means a healthcare professional who, as licensed by Colorado state law, may prescribe and authorize the use of medicine or treatment to a member. Prescribers must be enrolled in the Medical Assistance Program to receive reimbursement.
GG. Provider Bulletin means a document published and distributed by program and policy staff to communicate information to providers related to the Department.
HH. Retail Pharmacy means any pharmacy that is not a 340B Pharmacy, Government Pharmacy, Institutional Pharmacy, Mail Order Pharmacy, or Rural Pharmacy.
II. Rural Pharmacy means any pharmacy that is the only pharmacy within a twenty-mile radius.
JJ. Submitted Ingredient Cost means a pharmacy’s calculated ingredient cost. For drugs purchased through the Federal Public Health Service’s 340B Drug Pricing Program, the Submitted Ingredient Cost means the 340B purchase price.
KK. Total Prescription Volume means all new and refill prescriptions dispensed for all payer types. Payer types include but are not limited to Medicaid, Medicare, commercial, third-party, and uninsured.
LL. Usual and Customary Charge means the reimbursement amount the provider charges the general public to pay for a drug.
MM. Wholesale Acquisition Cost (WAC) means with respect to a drug or biological, the manufacturer’s list price for the drug or biological to wholesalers or direct purchasers in the United States, not including prompt pay or other discounts, rebates or reductions in price, for the most recent month for which the information is available, as reported in wholesale price guides or other publications of drug or biological pricing data.
8.800.2 CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION
8.800.2.A. A pharmacy must be licensed or certified by the appropriate regulatory body in the state in which it is located. Pharmacies located outside of Colorado must also be registered in Colorado if required by the Colorado Board of Pharmacy. 8.800.2.B. Any pharmacy or Dispensing Prescriber, whether in-state or out-of-state, that submits claims for reimbursement must be enrolled in the Medical Assistance program in accordance with Sections 8.040.1 and 8.013.1. The Department may deny a provider application, and the Department may terminate or not renew a provider agreement in accordance with Sections 8.076, 8.125, and 8.130.
8.800.2.C. An out-of-state pharmacy may enroll as a Medical Assistance Program provider subject to the same conditions of participation as an in-state pharmacy.
8.800.3 MAIL ORDER
8.800.3.A. Only Maintenance Medications may be delivered through the mail.
8.800.4 DRUG BENEFITS
8.800.4.A. Only those drugs designated by companies participating in the federally approved Medical Assistance Program drug rebate program and not otherwise excluded according to these rules are regular drug benefits. Notwithstanding the foregoing, drugs not covered by rebate agreements may be reimbursed if the Department has made a determination that the availability of the drug is essential, such drug has been given an “A” rating by the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and a prior authorization has been approved. Reimbursement of any drugs that are regular drug benefits may be restricted as set forth in these rules. 8.800.4.B. Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 1396r-8 (d)(2), certain drugs or classes of drugs may be excluded from coverage or may be subject to restrictions.
1. The following are covered with restrictions:
2. The following are excluded from coverage:
b Agents when used to promote fertility;
8.800.4.C. The following are not pharmacy benefits of the Medical Assistance Program:
1. Spirituous liquors of any kind;
2. Dietary needs or food supplements;
3. Personal care items such as mouth wash, deodorants, talcum powder, bath powder, soap of any kind, dentifrices, etc.;
4. Medical supplies;
5. Drugs classified by the FDA as "investigational" or "experimental”.
6. Less-than-effective drugs identified by the Drug Efficacy Study Implementation (DESI) program; and 7. Medicare Part D Drugs for Part D eligible individuals.
8. Agents when used for cosmetic purposes or hair growth. 8.800.4.D. Aspirin, OTC insulin and medications that are available OTC and that have been designated as Preferred Drugs on the PDL are the only OTC drugs that are regular benefits without restrictions. Nonprescription drugs prescribed for a medically accepted indication in the following classes may be covered: aspirin; cough and cold or allergy preparations consisting of antihistamines, analgesics/antipyretics, cough suppressants, decongestants, and expectorants or combinations thereof; doxylamine; emergency contraceptives; fluoride preparations; intranasal corticosteroids; iron supplements; laxatives; l-methylfolate; pain relievers; proton pump inhibitors; pyridoxine; smoking cessation preparations.
8.800.4.E. Restrictions may be placed on drugs in accordance with Title 42 of the United States Code, Section 1396r-8(d)(2020). Title 42 of the United States Code, Section 1396r-8(d)(2020) is hereby incorporated by reference into this rule. Such incorporation, however, excludes later amendments to or editions of the referenced material. This statute is available for public inspection at the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, 1570 Grant Street, Denver, CO 80203. Pursuant to C.R.S. §24-4-103(12.5)(V)(b), the agency shall provide certified copies of the material incorporated at cost upon request or shall provide the requestor with information on how to obtain a certified copy of the material incorporated by reference from the agency of the United States, this state, another state, or the organization or association originally issuing the code, standard, guideline or rule.
1. Without limiting the foregoing, restrictions may be placed on drugs for which it has been deemed necessary to address instances of fraud or abuse, potential for, and history of, drug diversion and other illegal utilization, overutilization, other inappropriate utilization or the availability of more cost-effective comparable alternatives. 8.800.4.F. To the extent the drug categories listed in Section 8.800.4.B are not Medicare Part D Drugs, they shall be covered for Part D eligible individuals in the same manner as they are covered for all other eligible Medical Assistance Program members. 8.800.4.G. Generic drugs shall be dispensed to members in fee-for-service programs unless:
1. Only a brand name drug is manufactured.
2. A generic drug is not therapeutically equivalent to the brand name drug.
3. The final cost of the brand name drug is less expensive to the Department.
4. The drug is in one of the following exempted classes for the treatment of:
5. The Department shall grant an exception to this requirement if:
8.800.5 DRUGS ADMINISTERED OR PROVIDED IN PHYSICIAN OFFICES OR CLINICS
8.800.5.A. Extended-release injectable drugs which treat mental health or substance use disorders, and are administered in a pharmacy, physician’s office, or clinic, may be considered part of the physician services benefit and billed on the physician claim form; such drugs may also be considered a pharmacy benefit and billed by a pharmacy. Any other drugs administered in a physician's office or clinic are considered part of the physician's services benefit only and are not a pharmacy benefit.
8.800.5.B. Dispensing Prescribers whose offices or sites of practice are located within 25 miles from the nearest participating pharmacy shall not be reimbursed for drugs or services that are dispensed from their offices.
8.800.6 COMPOUNDED PRESCRIPTIONS
8.800.6.A. Compounded prescriptions shall be billed by submitting all ingredients in the prescription as one multiple-line claim. The provider will be reimbursed for each ingredient of the prescription according to Section 8.800.13.A-G, and will also be reimbursed for the dispensing fee according to Section 8.800.13.H-I. A compounding fee, over and above the stated dispensing fee, will not be paid.
8.800.7 PRIOR AUTHORIZATION REQUIREMENTS
8.800.7.A. Prior authorization shall be obtained before drugs that are subject to prior authorization restrictions may be provided as a benefit. Prior authorization requests may be made by the member’s physician, any other health care provider who has authority under Colorado law to prescribe the medication being requested or any long-term-care pharmacy or infusion pharmacy that fills prescriptions on behalf of the member and is acting as the agent of the prescriber. The prior authorization request shall be made to the Fiscal Agent. The prescriber shall provide any information requested by the Fiscal Agent including, but not limited to, the following:
1. Member name, Medical Assistance Program state identification number, and birth date;
2. Name of the drug(s) requested;
3. Strength and quantity of drug(s) requested; and 4. Prescriber’s name and medical license number, Drug Enforcement Administration number, or National Provider Identifier.
8.800.7.B. When the prior authorization request is received, it shall be reviewed to determine if the request is complete. If it is complete, the requesting provider shall be notified of the approval or denial of the prior authorization request via telephone and/or facsimile at the time the request is made, if possible, but in no case later than 24 hours after the request is made. If the prior authorization request is incomplete or additional information is needed, an inquiry to the party requesting the prior authorization shall be initiated within one working day from the day the request was received. If no response is received from that party within 72 hours of the Department’s inquiry, the prior authorization shall be denied. 8.800.7.C. In an emergency situation, the pharmacy may dispense up to a 72-hour supply of a covered drug that requires a prior authorization if it is not reasonably possible to request a prior authorization for the drug before it must be dispensed to the member for proper treatment. The pharmacist may call the prior authorization help desk to receive override approval. Prescriptions dispensed under the override approval are eligible for reimbursement. 8.800.7.D. PRIOR AUTHOIRZATION FOR NEW DRUGS 1. If a new drug entity, including new generic drugs and new drug product dosage forms of existing drug entities, is approved by the FDA and is in a Drug Class already subject to prior authorization, the new drug entity may be subject to prior authorization without any comment period.
2. If a new drug entity, including new generic drugs and new drug product dosage forms of existing drug entities, is approved by the FDA and is not in a Drug Class already subject to prior authorization, the new drug entity may be subject to prior authorization and will be reviewed by the DUR board within six months.
8.800.7.E. Any changes to the drugs that are subject to prior authorization or any documentation required to obtain a prior authorization shall be published in the Provider Bulletin, Appendix P or PDL. Notification in the Provider Bulletin, Appendix P or PDL shall satisfy any notification requirements of any such changes. The Appendix P and PDL documents can be accessed on the Department’s website at www.colorado.gov/hcpf.
8.800.8 LIMIT REQUIREMENTS
8.800.8.A. Limits shall include a limit on the number of units of a drug that a member may receive in a 30-day or 100-day period, as applicable. Limits placed on the coverage of any drugs under the Medical Assistance Program shall result in pharmaceutical services still being sufficient in the amount, duration and scope to meet all applicable federal laws and regulations. 8.800.8.B. The Department shall solicit and maintain a list of any interested parties who wish to comment on any proposed limits on drugs. The list of interested parties shall be notified of any proposal and shall be given reasonable time, not to exceed 30 days, to comment or recommend changes before any such drugs are limited. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a new drug is approved by the FDA and that drug is in a class of drugs already subject to limits, the new drug shall also be subject to limits without any comment period. 8.800.8.C. Any limits on drugs or changes to the drugs that are subject to limits shall be published in the Provider Bulletin. Notification in the Provider Bulletin shall satisfy any notification requirements of any such limits or changes to the limits.
8.800.9 DRUG UTILIZATION REVIEW
8.800.9.A. PROSPECTIVE DRUG UTILIZATION REVIEW 1. A pharmacist shall review the available member record information with each drug order presented for dispensing for purposes of promoting therapeutic appropriateness by considering the following:
2. When in the pharmacist's professional judgment a potential problem is identified, the pharmacist shall take appropriate steps to avoid or resolve the problem, which may, if necessary, include consultation with the prescriber.
8.800.9.B. MEMBER COUNSELING 1. A pharmacist or pharmacist designee shall offer drug therapy counseling to each Medical Assistance Program member or the caregiver of such member with a new prescription or with a refill prescription if the pharmacist or pharmacist designee believes that it is in the best interest of the member. The offer to counsel shall be face-to-face communication whenever practicable or by telephone.
2. If the offer to counsel is accepted, a pharmacist or pharmacist designee shall review the member’s record and then discuss with the member or the member’s caregiver those matters that, in the exercise of his or her professional judgment, the pharmacist or pharmacist designee considers significant including the following:
3. Alternative forms of member information shall not be used in lieu of the personal discussion requirement for member counseling but may be used to supplement this discussion when appropriate. Examples of such alternative forms of member information include written information leaflets, auxiliary or pictogram labels, and video programs.
4. Member counseling by a pharmacist or pharmacist designee as described in this section shall not be required for members of a hospital or institution where other licensed health care professionals administer the prescribed drugs pursuant to a chart order.
5. A pharmacist or pharmacist designee shall not be required to counsel a member or caregiver when the member or caregiver refuses such consultation. The pharmacist or pharmacist designee shall keep records indicating when counseling was not or could not be provided.
8.800.9.C. RETROSPECTIVE DRUG UTILIZATION REVIEW 1. The Department shall periodically review claims data in order to identify patterns of fraud, abuse, gross overuse, or inappropriate or medically unnecessary care among physicians, pharmacists and members receiving drug benefits or associated with specific drugs or categories of drugs.
2. Such reviews shall be based on predetermined criteria that monitor for therapeutic problems including but not limited to therapeutic appropriateness, over-utilization, under- utilization, appropriate use of generic products, therapeutic duplication, drug-disease contraindications, drug-drug interactions, incorrect drug dosage or duration of drug treatment, and clinical abuse/misuse.
8.800.9.D. DRUG UTILIZATION REVIEW (DUR) BOARD 1. The DUR Board shall serve in an advisory capacity to the Department. The DUR Board’s activities shall include but are not limited to the following:
2. The DUR Board shall meet at least quarterly.
3. The DUR Board shall consist of nine members appointed by the Executive Director of the Department based upon recommendations of relevant professional associations. Membership on the Board shall consist of four physicians and four pharmacists, all of whom are licensed and actively practicing in Colorado, and one non-voting representative from the pharmaceutical industry. The physicians and pharmacists shall serve two-year terms and may be reappointed to additional terms at the discretion of the Executive Director. The terms shall be staggered so that in each year, there are two physician members and two pharmacist positions that are reappointed. The pharmaceutical industry representative shall serve a one-year term and shall not be reappointed.
4. The membership of the DUR Board shall include health care professionals who have recognized knowledge and expertise in one or more of the following:
5. The DUR Board shall have those responsibilities as set forth in Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Section 456.716(d)(2020). Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Section 456.716(d)(2020 -) -is hereby incorporated by reference into this rule. Such incorporation, however, excludes later amendments to or editions of the referenced material. This statute is available for public inspection at the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, 1570 Grant Street, Denver, CO 80203. Pursuant to C.R.S. §24-4-103(12.5)(V)(b), the agency shall provide certified copies of the material incorporated at cost upon request or shall provide the requestor with information on how to obtain a certified copy of the material incorporated by reference from the agency of the United States, this state, another state, or the organization or association originally issuing the code, standard, guideline or rule.
6. The DUR Board is also responsible for preparing and submitting a report to the Department on an annual basis which shall include the following information:
7. The DUR Board under the direction of the Department may delegate to a retrospective DUR contractor the responsibility of preparation of continuing education programs, the conduct of interventions and the preparation of any reports.
8.800.10 BILLING PROCEDURES
8.800.10.A. Charges for prescribed drugs shall be submitted on an appropriate pharmacy claim form or electronically in a Department approved format. All entries shall be legible. 8.800.10.B. Each claim must identify the member, Prescriber, date of service, National Drug Code number of the drug actually dispensed, prescription number, quantity dispensed, days’ supply, the Usual and Customary Charge and any other information required by the Department.
8.800.11 PRESCRIPTION RECORD REQUIREMENTS
8.800.11.A. The original prescription shall be a hard copy written, faxed or electronically mailed or otherwise transmitted by the prescriber or reduced to writing by pharmacy staff when received by telephone. All information required by the Colorado State Board of Pharmacy shall appear on each prescription including any information required if a substitution for a drug is made. All refill information shall be recorded in accordance with the Colorado State Board of Pharmacy requirements.
8.800.11.B. All records for new prescriptions and refills for which payment from the Medical Assistance Program is requested shall be maintained in accordance with Colorado State Board of Pharmacy requirements except that such records must be retained for the length of time set forth in Section 8.040.2.
8.800.11.C. The pharmacist shall be responsible for assuring that reasonable efforts have been made to obtain, record, and maintain the following member information from the member or his/her apparent agent for each new prescription:
1. Name, address, telephone number, date of birth or age, and gender;
2. Individual history where significant, including disease state or states, known allergies and drug reactions, and a comprehensive, chronological list of medications and prescribed relevant devices; and 3. Additional comments relevant to the member's pharmaceutical care as described in the Prospective Drug Review and Member Counseling sections set forth in Section 8.800.9. 8.800.11.D. TAMPER-RESISTANT PRESCRIPTION DRUG PADS OR PAPER 1. The use of tamper-resistant prescription drug pads or paper is required for all written or electronically printed prescriptions for all Medical Assistance Program members when:
2. To be considered tamper-resistant, the pad/paper used for a written or electronically printed prescription shall integrate three distinct characteristics. The three characteristics and the specific features required are as follows:
3. The use of tamper-resistant prescription pads or paper is not required when:
4. The pharmacy may dispense up to a 72-hour supply of a covered outpatient prescription drug in an emergency situation, provided that the pharmacy obtains a compliant prescription in writing, or by telephone, facsimile, or E-prescription, within 72 hours of filling the prescription.
5. When a Medical Assistance Program member is determined retroactively eligible after a pharmacy has filled the recipient’s prescription, the prescription shall be deemed to comply with the tamper-resistant pad/paper requirements. This presumption applies only to prescriptions that were filled before the member was determined eligible. Prescriptions that are filled or refilled after the member is determined eligible require a new, tamper- resistant prescription or the pharmacy may obtain verbal confirmation of the prescription from the prescriber or may obtain the prescription from the prescriber by facsimile or E- prescription.
8.800.11.E. PRESCRIPTION TRACKING AND CLAIM REVERSALS 1. The pharmacy shall keep:
2. Pharmacies using a chronological log shall review all Medical Assistance Program prescriptions in shall-call status (filled but not released to the member or the member’s agent) at least weekly and enter a reversal of prescriptions not picked up within 14 days of billing. In no case shall prescriptions be kept in shall-call status for more than 21 days. The pharmacy shall maintain a record of each reversal for audit purposes.
3. Pharmacies using an electronic prescription tracking system shall review all Medical Assistance Program prescriptions in shall-call status on a daily basis and enter a reversal of prescriptions not picked up within 10 days of billing. In no case shall prescriptions be kept in shall-call status for more than 14 days. The pharmacy shall maintain a record of each reversal for audit purposes.
4. Upon receipt of a written request from the Department or the Medicaid Fraud Unit for a record of Medical Assistance Program claims and reversals, the pharmacy has up to 72 hours or three working days to provide the requested information or to enter into an agreement with the Department or Unit stating the specific time within which the data shall be produced.
8.800.11.F. Any information, documents or records required to be retained under Section 8.800.11 shall be made available for inspection to authorized personnel of the Department, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services or the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
8.800.12 BASIS FOR REIMBURSEMENT
8.800.12.A. Reimbursement shall be made for prescribed drugs provided to members when all of the following conditions are met:
1. The item dispensed is a covered benefit under the Medical Assistance Program and meets any and all restriction requirements as set forth in Section 8.800 or any policies thereunder;
2. The person prescribing the item is licensed to do so under applicable law;
3. The item is dispensed pursuant to a valid prescription order;
4. The prescription is dispensed in accordance with applicable federal and state laws, rules, and regulations, including those regulations governing the Medical Assistance Program; and 5. The prescription is written on a tamper-resistant prescription drug pad or paper or is excluded from the tamper-resistant prescription drug pad or paper requirements set forth in Section 8.800.11.D.
8.800.13 REIMBURSEMENT CALCULATION
8.800.13.A. Covered drugs for all members except for OAP State Only clients shall be reimbursed the lesser of:
1. The Usual and Customary Charge minus the member’s copayment, as determined according to Section 8.754; or 2. The allowed ingredient cost plus a Dispensing Fee minus the member’s copayment, as determined according to Section 8.754.
3. Covered drugs for the OAP State Only Program shall be reimbursed according to Section 8.941.9.
8.800.13.B. The allowed ingredient cost for Retail Pharmacies, Rural Pharmacies, 340B Pharmacies, Institutional Pharmacies, Government Pharmacies and Mail Order Pharmacies shall be the lesser of AAC, NADAC or Submitted Ingredient Cost. If AAC and NADAC are not available, the allowed ingredient cost shall be the lesser of MAC or Submitted Ingredient Cost.
1. The Department shall grant an exception to the allowed ingredient cost for clotting factor which shall be the lesser of Submitted Ingredient Cost or WAC. 8.800.13.C. MAC rates shall be calculated as follows:
1. The generic drug MAC rate shall be WAC minus 10 percent.
2. The brand name drug MAC rate shall be WAC minus 3 percent. 8.800.13.D. AAC rates shall be rebased monthly using invoices and/or purchase records provided to the Department through a representative group of pharmacies. If the Department cannot establish a process to obtain invoices and/or purchase records on a monthly basis, the Department shall survey one-fourth (1/4) of all Medicaid enrolled pharmacies every quarter to rebase AAC rates. 8.800.13.E. A pharmacy wanting to inquire about a listed AAC rate shall complete the Average Acquisition Cost Inquiry Worksheet posted on the Department’s website. The pharmacy shall email the completed worksheet with a copy of the receipt invoice to the Department or designated vendor as indicated on the Average Acquisition Cost Inquiry Worksheet. The Department shall have five (5) days to provide an inquiry response to the pharmacy. If the AAC rate requires revision, the Department shall then have 5 additional days to update the AAC rate. 8.800.13.F. To address weekly fluctuations in drug prices, the Department shall apply a percent adjustment to existing AAC rates for drugs experiencing significant changes in price. The percent adjustment shall be determined using weekly changes in price based on national pricing benchmarks. Every week, the Department shall post an updated AAC price list, with the adjusted AAC rates, on the Department’s website (www.colorado.gov/hcpf). A percent adjustment shall only be applied to an AAC rate until the Department can rebase the rate through the process discussed in Section 8.800.13.D.
8.800.13.G. Any pharmacy, except a Mail Order Pharmacy, that is the only pharmacy within a twenty- mile radius may submit a letter to the Department requesting the designation as a Rural Pharmacy.
8.800.13.H. Dispensing Fees shall be determined based upon reported dispensing costs provided through a Cost of Dispensing (COD) survey completed every two fiscal years. The Dispensing Fees for Retail Pharmacies, 340B Pharmacies, Institutional Pharmacies and Mail Order Pharmacies shall be tiered based upon annual Total Prescription Volume. The Dispensing Fees shall be tiered at:
1. Less than 60,000 total prescriptions filled per year = $13.40 2. Between 60,000 and 90,000 total prescriptions filled per year = $11.49 3. Between 90,000 and 110,000 total prescriptions filled per year = $10.25 4. Greater than 110,000 total prescriptions filled per year = $9.31 8.800.13.I. The designation of a pharmacy’s Dispensing Fee shall be updated annually. Every October, the Department shall contact a pharmacy requesting the completion of an attestation letter stating the pharmacy’s Total Prescription Volume for the period September 1 to August 31. A pharmacy shall have until October 31 to provide the completed attestation letter to the Department. Using the attestation letter, the Department shall update a pharmacy’s Dispensing Fee effective January 1. A pharmacy failing to provide the Department an attestation letter on or before October 31, regardless of their previous Dispensing Fee, shall be reimbursed the $9.31 Dispensing Fee.
8.800.13.J. The Department shall determine the Dispensing Fee for a pharmacy enrolling as a Medicaid provider based on the pharmacy’s Total Prescription Volume. During the enrollment process, a pharmacy shall provide the Department an attestation letter stating their Total Prescription Volume for the previous twelve (12) months. Using the attestation letter, the Department shall determine the pharmacy’s Dispensing Fee effective upon approval of enrollment. A pharmacy failing to provide the Department an attestation letter during the enrollment process shall be reimbursed the $9.31 Dispensing Fee. The Dispensing Fee shall be used until it can be updated the following year in accordance with 10 C.C.R. 2505-10, 8.800.13.I.
1. If a pharmacy has been open for less than 12 months, the Department shall annualize the Total Prescription Volume to determine the pharmacy’s Dispensing Fee.
2. If a pharmacy is new and possesses no Total Prescription Volume history to annualize, then the pharmacy shall provide a good faith estimate of their expected Total Prescription Volume.
8.800.13.K. In November of each year, the Department shall compare a pharmacy’s Total Prescription Volume and Medicaid percent provided with the attestation letter to their Medicaid claims data. If the Department identifies any inconsistencies, the Department shall request a pharmacy to provide documentation that substantiates their Total Prescription Volume for the period September 1 to August 31 within thirty (30) days. If the Department determines that the pharmacy incorrectly reported their Total Prescription Volume, the pharmacy shall be reimbursed at the correct tier based on their actual Total Prescription Volume. If a pharmacy does not provide the documentation to the Department within the 30 days, the pharmacy shall be reimbursed the $9.31 Dispensing Fee.
8.800.13.L. The tiered Dispensing Fee shall not apply to Government Pharmacies which shall instead be reimbursed a $0.00 Dispensing Fee.
8.800.13.M. The tiered Dispensing Fee shall not apply to Rural Pharmacies which shall instead be reimbursed a $14.14 Dispensing Fee.
8.800.13.N. Dispensing Prescribers who dispense medications that are reimbursed as a pharmacy benefit pursuant to 8.800 shall be reimbursed a $1.89 Dispensing Fee.
8.800.14 PRESCRIPTION QUANTITIES
8.800.14.A. For chronic conditions requiring maintenance drugs, the maximum dispensing quantities for new and refill prescriptions shall be a 100-day supply. For all other drugs, the maximum dispensing quantities for new and refill prescriptions shall be a 30-day supply. The Department may set or change minimum or maximum dispensing quantities of certain drugs.
8.800.15 REIMBURSEMENT FROM PHARMACIES REDISPENSING UNUSED MEDICATION
8.800.15.A. A pharmacy participating in the Medical Assistance Program may accept unused medication from a hospital, hospital unit, hospice, nursing care facility, or assisted living residence that is required to be licensed pursuant to Section 25-3-101, C.R.S. (2016), or a licensed health care provider for the purpose of dispensing the medication to another person. 8.800.15.B. A pharmacy shall reimburse the Department for the Medical Assistance Program Allowable Charge that the Department has paid to the pharmacy if medications are returned to a pharmacy and the medications are available to be dispensed to another person.
8.800.16 PREFERRED DRUG LIST
8.800.16.A. ESTABLISHING THE PREFERRED DRUG LIST 1. To develop and maintain the PDL, the Department shall take the following steps:
2. After the P&T Committee meets, the Medical Director shall review the recommendations of the P&T Committee and the Department and determine whether a reviewed drug is designated a Preferred Drug or a Non-preferred Drug.
3. After the Medical Director has designated a reviewed drug as Preferred or Non-preferred, the Department shall refer that drug to the DUR Board for recommendations on prior authorization criteria.
4. After the DUR Board meets, the Medical Director shall review the recommendations of the P&T Committee, the DUR Board and the Department and determine the efficacy, safety and appropriate prior authorization criteria for Preferred and Non-preferred Drugs to ensure the health and safety of members.
5. The Department shall provide public notice of PDL updates at least ten days before such changes take effect.
6. Drug Classes included on the PDL shall be reviewed at least annually. 8.800.16.B. NEW DRUGS 1. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a new drug entity, including new generic drugs and new drug product dosage forms of existing drug entities, in a Drug Class already included on the PDL.
2. The Preferred or Non-preferred designation for a new drug shall continue until the relevant Drug Class is reviewed and the designation is changed pursuant to Section 8.800.16.A.
3. New drug prior authorization information is addressed in Section 8.800.7.D. 8.800.16.C. EXCLUSION OF DRUGS, DRUG CLASSES OR INDIVIDUALS FROM THE PDL 1. The following exclusions are intended to promote good health outcomes and clinically appropriate drug utilization and to protect the most vulnerable Medical Assistance Program members.
2. After reviewing the recommendations of the P&T Committee and the Department, the Medical Director may, notwithstanding any other provision of this section and to the extent allowed by federal and state law:
3. Individual Medical Assistance Program members shall be exempted, on an annual basis, from prior authorization requirements for all Non-preferred Drugs if:
8.800.16.D. AUTHORITY OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 1. The decisions of the Medical Director, made under the authority of this section, shall be implemented by the Department at the sole discretion of the Executive Director.
2. If the Medical Director position is unfilled, the duties and obligations of that position, as described in this section, shall be performed by the Executive Director. 8.800.16.E. SUPPLEMENTAL REBATES 1. The Department may enter into supplemental rebate agreements with drug manufacturers for Preferred Drugs. The Department may contract with a vendor and/or join a purchasing pool to obtain and manage the supplemental rebates.
8.800.17 PHARMACY AND THERAPEUTICS COMMITTEE
8.800.17.A. MEMBERSHIP 1. The P&T Committee shall consist of at least nine members, but not more than thirteen members, appointed by the Executive Director.
2. Physicians and pharmacists on the P&T Committee shall have knowledge and expertise in one or more of the following:
1. P&T Committee members must complete and sign a conflict of interest disclosure form, prior to their appointment to the P&T Committee, which discloses any financial or other affiliation with organizations that may have a direct or indirect interest in business before the P&T Committee.
2. At any meeting, a P&T Committee member must recuse himself or herself from discussion and decision making for an entire Drug Class if he or she has a Conflict of Interest with any drug in that Drug Class.
3. At any meeting, if a P&T Committee member does no recuse themselves after the disclosure of a potential conflict, the P&T Committee will vote as to whether or not the member has a Conflict of Interest. The Department then makes the final determination if the member has a Conflict of Interest.
8.800.17.C. DUTIES 1. Among other duties, the P&T Committee shall:
8.800.17.D. NOTICE/OPEN MEETINGS 1. P&T Committee meetings and the proposed agenda shall be posted publicly at least thirty days before the meeting.
2. The P&T Committee meetings shall be open to the public. If a P&T Committee meeting is required to be held in executive session pursuant to state or federal law, the executive session shall be convened after conclusion of the open meeting.
8.800.18 PRESCRIPTION DRUG CONSUMER INFORMATION AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM 8.800.18.A. The Prescription Drug Consumer Information and Technical Assistance Program provides Medical Assistance Program members the opportunity to speak with a licensed pharmacist, or a licensed pharmacy intern under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist, to review the member’s medications, receive information on the prudent use of prescription drugs, explore how to avoid dangerous drug interactions, and improve member outcomes. 8.800.18.B. REQUIREMENTS FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM 1. Licensed pharmacists must have graduated from an accredited college of pharmacy on or after May 1996, or completed a structured and comprehensive education program by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, and must maintain an unrestricted license in good standing to practice pharmacy in Colorado to participate.
2. Licensed pharmacy interns must have and maintain an unrestricted license in good standing in Colorado.
3. Members may participate in the program if they are a fee-for-service member who receives prescription drug benefits and is at high risk of complications from drug interactions.
8.800.18.C. SERVICES 1. Medication therapy counseling services may be conducted face-to-face, over the telephone, or through a virtual meeting and the pharmacist or licensed intern shall:
8.810 PODIATRY SERVICES
8.810.1 Definitions
Foot hygiene means the cleaning and soaking of the feet to maintain a clean condition. Mid-calf means 50% of the total distance between the talus and tibial plateau. Podiatry includes the suggesting, recommending, prescribing, or administering of any podiatric form of treatment, operation, or healing for the intended palliation, relief, or cure of any disease, ailment, injury, condition, or defect of the human toe, foot, ankle, tendons that insert into the foot, and soft tissue wounds below the mid-calf, including complications thereof consistent with such scope of practice. It may include partial amputation of the foot, but it does not involve the complete amputation, or disarticulation between the talus and the tibia, or the administration of an anesthetic, other than a local anesthetic. Routine Foot Care means the cutting or removal of corns and calluses; trimming, cutting, or debriding of nails; and other hygienic care due to a physical or clinical finding that is consistent with a metabolic, neurological, or peripheral vascular disease diagnosis and indicative of significant peripheral involvement. Soft tissue wound means a lesion to the musculoskeletal junction that includes dermal and sub-dermal tissue that does not involve bone removal or repair or muscle transfer.
8.810.2 CLIENT ELIGIBILITY
8.810.2.A. All Colorado Medicaid-enrolled Clients are eligible for Podiatry services.
8.810.3 PROVIDER ELIGIBILITY
8.810.3.A. All Colorado Providers enrolled in Medicaid are eligible to perform Podiatry services when it is within the scope of the Provider’s practice.
8.810.4 COVERED SERVICES
8.810.4.A. Colorado Medicaid covers the examination, diagnosis, and treatment of the foot and ankle up to the mid-calf when medically necessary as described in Section 8.076.1.8. 8.810.4.B. Providers may provide avulsions involving the removal of the entire nail or a portion thereof without destruction of the nail matrix. Documentation substantiating services received more frequently than once every four months shall be detailed in the Client’s medical record. 8.810.4.C. LIMITATIONS 1. Routine Foot Care services are covered only when:
2. Coverage for the debridement and reduction of nails, corns, and calluses is limited to once every 60 days. A Provider may provide both debridement and reduction of nails at the same visit. Once a Client has received either a debridement or reduction of nails or both, neither service is available for 60 days after the treatment.
3. When a Client requires excision procedures to be performed more than once, the medical record shall reflect the reason for persistent or recurrent infections and a plan for future preventative measures being taken.
4. Services that occur in a long term care (LTC) facility shall only be covered when:
5. Excision of nail and matrix for permanent removal shall only be covered once per toe.
6. For established Clients, an evaluation and management visit service shall not be covered if the evaluation and management visit occurs on the same day as a debridement or reduction of nails, corns, and calluses, unless there is another separately identifiable service or procedure documented in the medical record.
8.810.5 NON-COVERED SERVICES
8.810.5.A. The following Podiatry services are not covered by Colorado Medicaid:
1. Surgical assistant services (differing from assisting surgeons).
2. Local anesthetics that are billed as a separate procedure.
3. Operating room facility charges for in-office procedures.
4. Treatment of subluxation of the foot.
5. Treatment of flat feet.
6. Routine supplies provided in the office.
8.815 IMMUNIZATION SERVICES
8.815.1 Definitions
8.815.1.A. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) means the group of medical and public health experts that develops recommendations on how to use vaccines to control diseases in the United States. ACIP was established under Section 222 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. § 2l7a).
8.815.1.B. Immunization means the process whereby a person is made immune or resistant to an infectious disease, typically by the administration of a vaccine. 8.815.1.C. School District means any board of cooperative services established pursuant to article 5 of title 22, C.R.S., any state educational institution that serves students in kindergarten through twelfth grade including, but not limited to, the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind, created in article 80 of title 22, C.R.S., and any public School District organized under the laws of Colorado except a junior college district.
8.815.1.D. Vaccine means a biological preparation that improves immunity to a particular disease. 8.815.1.E. Vaccine Administration Services means the provision of an injection, nasal absorption, or oral administration of a vaccine product.
8.815.1.F. Vaccines for Children (VFC) means the federally funded program administered through the Centers for Disease Control for the purchase and distribution of pediatric vaccines to program-registered providers for the Immunization of vaccine-eligible children 18 years of age and younger.
8.815.2 Client Eligibility
8.815.2.A. All Colorado Medicaid clients are eligible for Immunization and Vaccine Administration Services.
8.815.3 Provider Eligibility
8.815.3.A. Rendering Providers 1. Colorado Medicaid enrolled providers are eligible to administer Vaccines and Vaccine Administration Services as follows:
1. Colorado Medicaid enrolled providers are eligible to prescribe Vaccines and Vaccine Administration Services in accordance with Section 8.815.3.A.1.a.-b.
8.815.4 Covered Services
8.815.4.A. Vaccines identified in the ACIP Vaccine Recommendations and Guidelines are updated routinely and are covered as follows:
1. For clients 18 years of age and younger, Vaccines are either provided through the VFC program or are otherwise provided without cost by the federal government.
2. For clients 19 years of age and older, Vaccines are covered by Colorado Medicaid. 8.815.4.B. Administration of Vaccines identified in the ACIP Vaccine Recommendations and Guidelines is a covered service for all clients.
8.815.4.C. Immunization and Vaccine Administration Services that are provided by home health agencies, physicians, or other non-physician practitioners to clients at nursing facilities, group homes, or residential treatment centers are covered only as follows:
1. Immunization services for clients who are residents of nursing facilities and clients receiving home health services are covered only if ordered by their physician. The skilled nursing component for Immunization administration provided at a nursing facility is included in the facility’s rate or part of a regularly scheduled home health service for clients receiving home health services.
2. Clients who are residents of an Alternative Care Facility, as defined at Section 8.495.1, may receive Immunization services from their own physician. They may also receive Immunization services as part of a home health service in accordance with Section 8.815.4.C.1.
8.815.5 Prior Authorization Requirements
8.815.5.A. Prior authorization is not required for this benefit.
8.815.6 Non-covered Services
8.815.6.A. The following services are not covered by Colorado Medicaid:
1. For clients 18 years of age and younger, Vaccines that have been obtained from a source other than the federal government;
2. Immunization and Vaccine Administration Services provided by a School District provider; and 3. Travel-related Immunization and Vaccine Administration Services. _________________________________________________________________________ Editor’s Notes 10 CCR 2505-10 has been divided into smaller sections for ease of use. Versions prior to 03/04/2007, Statements of Basis and Purpose, and rule history are located in the first section, 10 CCR 2505-10. Prior versions can be accessed from the All Versions list on the rule's current version page. To view versions effective on or after 03/04/2007, select the desired section of the rule, for example 10 CCR 2505-10 8.100, or 10 CCR 2505-10 8.500.
History [For history of this section, see Editor’s Notes in the first section, 10 CCR 2505-10]