Pharmacies are no stranger to the requirements of completing annual Medicare Fraud, Waste, and Abuse training, which is a very clear requirement created by Medicare Part D and MAPD statutes. Because CMS holds PDPs and MAPDs responsible, PBMs often ask for the pharmacy’s FWA training during onsite audits. On the contrary, cultural competency training isn’t something PBMs regularly ask for. In a world where pharmacy employees are already spread thin, is completing cultural competency training truly necessary?
As of April 2021, NCPDP required pharmacies to indicate if they train their staff on cultural competency and maintain evidence of such training, when going through the pharmacy’s annual NCPDP profile credentialing. Since adding this question, PBMs have decreased the number of direct attestations required of community pharmacies. However, indicating ‘no’ in NCPDP is not without potential repercussions as PBMs may exclude you from provider listings of culturally competent care, as this was required for Medicaid managed care plan directories. Additionally, there are federal requirements that have been in place for many decades.
Through many federal laws and regulations related to discrimination and cultural competence comes the requirement that all healthcare professionals, including pharmacies, must take “reasonable steps” to provide equal access to care across all patient populations. It cannot be expected that a pharmacy would be able to meet the standards if there is a lack of knowledge on what the legal requirements are or what is expected of your pharmacy staff to meet these federal regulations. For this reason alone, training your staff on cultural competency is a must.
In addition, there have been real world examples of pharmacies being subpoenaed and sanctions being placed on pharmacies due to the Department of Justice (DOJ) determining there was a lack of “reasonable steps” being taken to ensure equal access to care, one being Rite Aid. In November 2021, the Justice Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania reached a settlement agreement with Rite Aid Corporation in the matter of people with disabilities having difficulty accessing information about the COVID-19 vaccinations and booking vaccination appointments online. Specifically, Rite Aid’s COVID-19 registration portal was not compatible with screen reader software used by some patients with disabilities. In addition, those who have issues using a mouse were unable to use the tab key in its place when filling out the consent form. Therefore, it was determined there was not equal access to care and Rite Aid had 30 days to correct their online COVID-19 vaccine content to industry guidelines that allows accessibility for users with disabilities. In addition, Rite Aid was ordered to regularly test and correct any issues with its COVID-19 Registration Portal for a 30-month duration.
PAAS National® understands that your time is valuable. Therefore, we condensed more than three hours of content into (less than) one hour of training, making it practical and tailored to the independent pharmacy setting. Our efficient training covers federal requirements, including linguistically appropriate services, and concludes with a certificate of completion.
PAAS Tips:
- Make sure your NCPDP profile is up to date! PBMs now utilize the pharmacy’s NCPDP profile to pull information in regard to cultural competency training instead of having pharmacies directly attest to each individual PBM.
- Humana still requires a direct attestation and additional training in select states
- Watch our On-Demand Webinar “Does My Pharmacy Really Need Cultural Competency Training?”
OptumRx Continues to Cause Headaches!
PBMs monitor, and flag, migraine medications due to excessive cost, quantities submitted, days’ supply (and/or frequency of refills) and vague instructions. OptumRx often flags …
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Pharmacy Owner’s Involvement in Fraud Scheme Leads to 4-Year Prison Sentence
The Department of Justice recently announced the sentencing for a New York pharmacy owner. A four-year prison term, three years extended supervision, and paying back restitution of more than $6 million dollars, is the outcome for this owner based on his involvement in a Medicare and Medicaid fraud scheme.
Investigators from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Office of Inspector General, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services discovered Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance companies paid approximately $5.2 million dollars in fraudulent HIV claims to this pharmacy from 2021 to 2022.
The pharmacy owner was paying illegal kickbacks to low-income HIV patients if they would fill their expensive medications at his pharmacy. Part of this scheme was to repurchase (back from the patients), the unopened bottles of the expensive medications at a fraction of their actual value. These medications would then be “re-used” over and over, while never actually being dispensed to the patients.
The investigation also discovered the pharmacy owner was unlawfully selling pharmaceuticals to other pharmacies that had been obtained from illegal sources.
Ensure your pharmacy has a robust Fraud, Waste and Abuse Compliance Program in place for employees to understand the repercussions of violating laws and regulations such as the False Claims Act and the Anti-Kickback laws. Contact PAAS National®® (608) 873-1342 for more information on PAAS’ FWA/HIPAA Compliance Program that is easy to set-up, web based and customized for your pharmacy.
Audit Risk: Billing DAW 1 Unnecessarily
In a time where every aspect of prescriptions is scrutinized, PAAS National® wants to ensure you don’t forget simple filling and billing practices; in this case, using DAW 1 appropriately. PBMs can flag pharmacies who use a high volume of DAWs (other than zero), increasing your pharmacy’s audit risk. A simple way to decrease the amount of non-DAW 0 claims that are being adjudicated is to …
This includes situations where the prescription comes to your pharmacy indicating “Dispense as Written” per prescriber. The best practice in those scenarios would be to contact the prescriber and inform them a DAW 1 is not appropriate since there is no product on the market deemed to be substitutable. Subsequently, make a full clinical note on the hardcopy with the date, name and title of the person you spoke with, a recap of the conversation, and your initials.
If there are questions regarding proper DAW use, refer to the DAW Codes Explained tool, which can be found under the “Proactive Tips” section on the PAAS Portal.
PAAS Tips:
Diagnosis Restricted? Documentation Required!
PAAS National® is starting to see more audit recoupments on claims where a diagnosis code was required at adjudication but there was no documentation on the hardcopy to support the diagnosis code billed. PBMs may prompt pharmacies to enter a diagnosis code on claims when the medication billed is only covered for certain indications, helping to take the guesswork out of coverage limitations.
Common diagnosis restricted drugs include GLP-1 (e.g. Trulicity®, Ozempic® and Mounjaro®), Nuedexta®, stimulants/ADHD medications, and Naltrexone. It is important to ensure the diagnosis code is present on the prescription or verified with the prescriber and a clinical note added to the prescription if you are prompted to enter a diagnosis code during claim adjudication. Do not process prescription claims for an assumed diagnosis code. Without any documentation to support the diagnosis code entered, the claim is likely to be flagged for recoupment if audited. Repeat prescriptions with a prior diagnosis code can likely be deferred to professional judgment but should have the diagnosis code (with a clinical note) transferred onto the new hardcopy to avoid audit trouble.
PAAS Tips:
2024 DMEPOS Series #4: Surgical Dressings
Many pharmacies struggle with DMEPOS audits due to the complexity in medical billing and the onerous documentation requirements. Medicare Part B suppliers need to be able to produce all the required documentation if audited, and make sure all documentation meets Medicare Part B standards. This DMEPOS series is intended to help you understand these complexities and gather the needed documents.
In particular, you should be able to show the following if audited on surgical dressings:
PAAS Tips:
PAAS Audit Assistance members can search the Newsline archive for keyword “DMEPOS series” to read previous articles in this series. If you have any questions on accessing the Member Portal, or need help adding employees so they have access, please contact us at (608) 873-1342 or info@paasnational.com and our staff can assist you.
Do I Need to Consider Beyond Use Dating for Multi-dose Vial Medication?
The answer is YES! Multi-Dose Vials (MDV) for injection have Beyond Use Dates (BUD) that need to be followed. The beyond-use-date refers to the date after which an opened multi-dose vial should not be used. The manufacturer’s expiration date refers to the date after which an unopened multi-dose vial should not be used. The beyond-use-date should never exceed the manufacturer’s original expiration date. Medication vials should always be discarded whenever sterility is compromised or cannot be confirmed.
The MDVs typically contain an antimicrobial preservative to help limit the growth of bacteria; however, over time, sterility can be impacted. All MDVs for injection will have a beyond use date – in some cases it is specifically identified in manufacturer labeling, in other cases it is not specified. If not specified, pharmacies will need to refer to The Joint Commission guidelines to assign BUD for multi-dose vials (explained below). Pharmacies should use the shorter date (beyond use OR days’ supply calculated per the instructions) when considering what days’ supply to submit (and corresponding refill intervals). Refer to the latest PAAS National® Insulin Medication chart for BUD information for various insulin vials. Remember that each insulin vial has its own BUD!
Example 1: Lantus® vial, 10 mL: Inject 20 units q HS = 1000 ÷ 20 = 50-day supply but should be discarded 28 days after opening (first needle puncture)
Example 2: Levemir®, 10 mL: Inject 20 units q HS = 1000 ÷ 20 = 50-day supply but should be discarded 42 days after opening (first needle puncture)
Here are a few common questions & answers that may assist your pharmacy in filling and billing MDVs accurately:
Q: Do I have to bill the correct days’ supply if it pushes the patient into a 2-month copay?
A: Most likely yes; if you are contracted for an extended days’ supply plan you must bill an accurate days’ supply. If the patient isn’t happy about their copay, pharmacy staff, or the patient, could try to call customer service in an attempt to obtain a copay override (since they are not getting a full 2 months). The pharmacy must submit the days’ supply as supported by the instructions for use and beyond use dating unless given specific approval in advance from the PBM help desk. Don’t forget to document any help desk calls using the 4-element clinical note format on the prescription hardcopy.
Q: When should multi-dose vials be discarded?
A: Medication vials should always be discarded whenever stability or sterility is compromised or cannot be confirmed. In addition, The Joint Commission recommends the following for multi-dose vials of sterile pharmaceuticals:
PAAS Tips:
Why You Should Care About PBM Provider Manuals (and Where to Find Them)
Whether your pharmacy contracts directly with a PBM or the agreements are negotiated through a Pharmacy Services Administrative Organization (PSAO), the terms and conditions within the agreements are just the beginning of a pharmacy’s obligations. Additional expectations for the pharmacy are laid out in the PBM’s Provider Manual. Understanding and following the stipulations contained therein can help decrease your risk of audit recoupments and keep the pharmacy in good standing. However, these manuals vary significantly by PBM, often exceed 150 pages, and can get updated multiple times throughout the year – making it impossible for pharmacies to keep up with all the requirements. Making matters worse, PBMs do not accept a plea of ignorance and violating the provider manual can lead to claim recoupment, accusations of fraud, waste, or abuse, and even contract termination!
Through our Newsline and audit assistance, PAAS National® helps pharmacies stay abreast of these changing requirements as they relate to audits. To access the Provider Manuals directly, follow the links below:
PAAS Tips:
OptumRx Auditing for Medical Supplies Billed Under Medicare Part D
In March 2024, PAAS National® analyst assisted nearly 100 pharmacies with desk audits from OptumRx requesting documentation related to claims for medical supplies (primarily alcohol swabs) that were processed by OptumRx under the Medicare Part D benefit. OptumRx asked pharmacies to provide copies of insulin prescriptions as well as the associated fill histories, signature logs and explanation of payment for these insulin prescriptions dispensed between July 2019 and June 2023.
Most pharmacies report dispensing no insulin to the patients in question and explained that the alcohol swabs were being used in conjunction with diabetes testing supplies (test strips, lancets) that were also billed to OptumRx. Since OptumRx covered the cost for diabetes testing supplies, it would suggest that patients were enrolled in a Medicare Advantage (MAPD) plan and OptumRx incorrectly categorized the alcohol swab claims as “Part D” when they should have categorized as “Part B”. The OptumRx audits seem to stem directly from a nationwide CMS audit of Plan Sponsors initiated in December 2023. During this audit, CMS scrutinized Part D claims for medical supplies, such as alcohol swabs, in cases where patients lacked any claim history for insulin use.
The coverage of insulin and its related supplies may vary depending on the Medicare benefit type and the intended use of the item. Specifically, insulin vials and alcohol swabs could be eligible for coverage under either Medicare Part B or Part D.
Keep in mind that Medicare patients could have prescription and medical benefits that are separate or combined.
Here is a chart to help you identify the correct payer depending on the type of Medicare benefit and the item in question.
(Part B/DMEPOS)
(MAPD)
A few nuances to keep in mind:
PAAS Tips:
Philadelphia Pharmacy Employees Charged for Drug Diversion and Fraudulent Billing Practices
A years-long investigation of the top retail pharmacy purchasing oxycodone in Pennsylvania has come to resolution.
The pharmacy engaged in reckless controlled substance dispensing, ignoring signs of diversion (i.e., accepting blatantly forged prescriptions and sizable amounts of cash payments for drugs) and dispensing opioids in extreme doses or in combination with other “cocktail” drugs. In addition, the pharmacy took part in an extensive health care fraud scheme. The pharmacy would fraudulently bill for drugs that were not intended to be dispensed. A hallmark part of the scheme involves employees using the code “BBDF” or “Bill But Don’t Fill” in their computer system to communicate the prescriptions that were merely to be billed without dispensing medication to the patient as a means to further their profits.
The owner pled guilty and was sentenced to 42 months in prison for his role. He also plead guilty to having conspired with others to ultimately engage in this health care fraud scheme and illegally dispensing oxycodone. The owner and his business agreed to pay $4.1 million to resolve the company’s civil liability. In addition, the company will not be permitted to dispense any controlled substances in the future and will be unable to bill federally-funded programs for 22 years.
Two former employees of the pharmacy also plead guilty to charges alleging they knowingly dispensed oxycodone without a valid prescription, resulting in 3 months and 4 months in prison, respectively. In addition, they each agreed to pay the United States in order to resolve civil allegations and committed to never dispense any controlled substances going forward.
Although the pharmacy’s motives were blatant violations of the Controlled Substance Act and False Claims Act, that is not always the case. Ensure your pharmacy staff has a good grasp on proper billing habits and a policy manual for preventing, detecting and report Fraud, Waste and Abuse. See PAAS National®’s compliance program for more information or call us at 608-873-1342.
Does My Pharmacy Really Need Cultural Competency Training?
Pharmacies are no stranger to the requirements of completing annual Medicare Fraud, Waste, and Abuse training, which is a very clear requirement created by Medicare Part D and MAPD statutes. Because CMS holds PDPs and MAPDs responsible, PBMs often ask for the pharmacy’s FWA training during onsite audits. On the contrary, cultural competency training isn’t something PBMs regularly ask for. In a world where pharmacy employees are already spread thin, is completing cultural competency training truly necessary?
As of April 2021, NCPDP required pharmacies to indicate if they train their staff on cultural competency and maintain evidence of such training, when going through the pharmacy’s annual NCPDP profile credentialing. Since adding this question, PBMs have decreased the number of direct attestations required of community pharmacies. However, indicating ‘no’ in NCPDP is not without potential repercussions as PBMs may exclude you from provider listings of culturally competent care, as this was required for Medicaid managed care plan directories. Additionally, there are federal requirements that have been in place for many decades.
Through many federal laws and regulations related to discrimination and cultural competence comes the requirement that all healthcare professionals, including pharmacies, must take “reasonable steps” to provide equal access to care across all patient populations. It cannot be expected that a pharmacy would be able to meet the standards if there is a lack of knowledge on what the legal requirements are or what is expected of your pharmacy staff to meet these federal regulations. For this reason alone, training your staff on cultural competency is a must.
In addition, there have been real world examples of pharmacies being subpoenaed and sanctions being placed on pharmacies due to the Department of Justice (DOJ) determining there was a lack of “reasonable steps” being taken to ensure equal access to care, one being Rite Aid. In November 2021, the Justice Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania reached a settlement agreement with Rite Aid Corporation in the matter of people with disabilities having difficulty accessing information about the COVID-19 vaccinations and booking vaccination appointments online. Specifically, Rite Aid’s COVID-19 registration portal was not compatible with screen reader software used by some patients with disabilities. In addition, those who have issues using a mouse were unable to use the tab key in its place when filling out the consent form. Therefore, it was determined there was not equal access to care and Rite Aid had 30 days to correct their online COVID-19 vaccine content to industry guidelines that allows accessibility for users with disabilities. In addition, Rite Aid was ordered to regularly test and correct any issues with its COVID-19 Registration Portal for a 30-month duration.
PAAS National® understands that your time is valuable. Therefore, we condensed more than three hours of content into (less than) one hour of training, making it practical and tailored to the independent pharmacy setting. Our efficient training covers federal requirements, including linguistically appropriate services, and concludes with a certificate of completion.
PAAS Tips: