When PBMs limit patient choice or force pharmacies to close, patients lose access to their trusted healthcare providers. Ask your patients to share their perspective with their legislators – letting them know that PBM reform is just as critical to patients as it is to pharmacies!

PSW has created a poster that you can display in your pharmacy, as well as smaller handouts that can be distributed in prescription bags. Both include a QR that leads to more information about how PBM reform impacts patients, as well as a draft letter that patients can send to their legislators asking for PBM reform.

Due to manufacturer terminations in the federal Medicaid Drug Rebate Program (MDRP), ForwardHealth will no longer cover several drug products effective October 1, 2025.

The following drugs will be removed from the PDL effective October 1:

Rural Pharmacy Residency Night: October 29

Are you interested in learning more about rural pharmacy practice and residency programs? Attend the 3rd Annual Rural Pharmacy Residency Night on October 29 from 6-8 p.m. CDT! This virtual open house will highlight different rural residency programs across the nation. Spots for programs and students are still available. Program representatives, please sign up by October 1. Students, pleaes sign up by October 22. Questions? Contact Julie Bartell. 

The Wisconsin Fast Forward (WFF) program issues grants to help fund innovative and collaborative customized worker training programs, including apprenticeships, in all industry sectors, including health care. WFF helps grow the workforce and earning power for seasoned workers and individuals new to the workforce.

Applications are due by 3 p.m. on Tuesday, October 16. For additional information or to download an application, consult the Grant Program Announcement and related grant program materials.

Discover how Youth and Registered Apprenticeships can help you build a skilled, dedicated workforce. The PSW Apprenticeship webpage is your guide to understanding apprenticeship options in Wisconsin. PSW members have access to the free PSW Apprenticeship Toolkit. Check it out and get started today!

Avoid Early Refills on Titration Prescriptions for Audit Success – Message from PAAS National

To stay audit-ready, avoid early refills on titration therapies by dispensing initiation and maintenance doses separately.

Example: For varenicline (Chantix), patients start with a 28-day titration pack, then move to a 28-day continuing pack; filling both together may seem convenient, but it creates risk. Pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) commonly recoup the second fill for “refill too soon,” “therapeutic duplication,” “overutilization,” or “clinical misuse,” even if both NDCs initially adjudicate. Plans expect the continuing pack only after the plan-defined utilization threshold is met, limiting waste if the patient cannot tolerate the starter.

Best Practice: When multiple prescriptions arrive, dispense one phase at a time. If titration and maintenance are written on the same prescription, either (1) enter the full directions and adjust days’ supply/quantity on refills, or (2) create two prescriptions, one for titration and one for maintenance.

Week 4: Conversations That Matter: Motivational Interviewing (MI)

Motivational Interviewing (MI) helps shift pharmacy interactions from transactional to transformational, creating space for patients to explore ambivalence and engage in change.

What you can do:

• Train pharmacy staff in core MI techniques: open questions, affirmations, reflective listening, summaries (OARS).
• Use MI during naloxone consults, chronic opioid reviews, or MAT (Medication-Assisted Treatment) touchpoints.
• Download and role-play with the MI scripts included in the toolkit.

Read the Toolkit – Chapter 5 (PDF)