Tag - Pharmacy

Provider Alert!
08Jun

Provider Alert! Texas Medical Board Emergency Rule re: Issuance of Prescriptions During COVID-19 Pandemic

Attention: All Providers and Pharmacies Effective Date: June 12, 2020 Call to action: On June 5, 2020, the Texas Medical Board's (TMB) Executive Committee, with advice and direction from the Governor's Office, adopted rules on an emergency basis related to the issuance of certain prescriptions during the COVID-19 disaster. The emergency rule prohibits treatment of chronic pain with scheduled drugs through use of telemedicine medical services unless: i) a patient is an established chronic pain patient of the physician and is seeking telephone refill of an...

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Provider Alert!
05Jun

Provider Alert! Metformin ER drug recall due to NDMA impurity (Amneal Pharmaceuticals)

Attention: All Providers and Pharmacies Effective Date: June 4, 2020 Call to action: Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC has issued a voluntary recall of several lots of Metformin Hydrochloride Extended Release Tablets USP 500mg, and 750mg. Amneal’s Metformin Hydrochloride Immediate Release Tablets are not affected by this recall. The recall is due to discovery of an impurity (N-nitrosodimethylamine [NDMA]) in the finished product. NDMA is classified as a probable human carcinogen that may be found in certain foods, drinking water, and industrial processes. Amneal has...

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Provider Alert!
21May

Provider Alert! Continuing Education Credit: Immunizations

Attention: Primary Care Providers and Pharmacists Effective Date: May 18, 2020 Providers should monitor the Texas Children’s Health Plan (TCHP) Provider Portal regularly for alerts and updates associated to the COVID-19 event.  TCHP reserves the right to update and/or change this information without prior notice due to the evolving nature of the COVID-19 event. Call to action: Primary Care Providers as well as other interested healthcare professionals are encouraged to participate in this online course provided by the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC)...

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07May

Provider Alert! COVID-19 Medicaid Pharmacy Benefit Updated May 4, 2020

Attention: All Providers and Pharmacies Effective Date: May 4, 2020 The Texas Vendor Drug Program (VDP) has implemented several changes in response to COVID-19. This notice contains the latest updates, as well as links to the previously implemented changes. No-auto prior authorization (NAP) designation temporarily lifted: Normally, medications listed as NAP on the drug formulary by VDP require a manual hard stop in the system. Providers must call/fax to complete a prior authorization (PA) rather than allowing automated authorizations by reviewing historical pharmacy...

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Provider Alert!
21Apr

Provider Alert! VDP Formulary Updates – Update 3

Attention: All Providers and Pharmacies Effective Date: April 21, 2020 Call to action: VDP temporarily revised the preferred drug list to address reported possible drug shortages. A new claims processing edit has also been added to prevent overutilization of antimalarial drugs. Expanded NDCs: The non-preferred status of certain generic formulation NDCs were temporarily removed. The change allows pharmacies to dispense these drugs without requiring a non-preferred prior authorization, and provide continued access to necessary medication. The full list of NDCs can be found...

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Provider Alert!
21Apr

Provider Alert! Issues with EpiPen, Epi-Pen Jrs, and related generic products

Attention: All Providers and Pharmacies Effective Date: April 21, 2020 Call to action: The FDA is alerting stakeholders that EpiPen 0.3mg and EpiPen Jr 0.15mg auto-injectors, and authorized generic versions, may potentially have delayed or inappropriate injecting. Reasons for failure include: Device failure from spontaneous activation caused by using sideways force to remove the blue safety release Device failure from inadvertent or spontaneous activation due to a raised blue safety release Difficulty removing the device from carrier tube User error may also delay or prevent the...

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Provider Alert!
21Apr

Provider Alert! Synagis (palivizumab) removed from Texas Medicaid formulary

Attention: All Providers and Pharmacies Effective Date: April 14, 2020 Call to action: The 2019-2020 respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) season ended April 14 for all counties in Texas. Synagis (palivizumab) has been removed from the Texas Medicaid formulary as of April 14. How this impacts providers: Synagis is unproven for prophylaxis outside of the RSV season. Providers wishing to prescribe Synagis during this time must submit a medical necessity request. Next steps for providers: Providers should continue to follow American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)...

By OB/GYNs, Office Managers, Primary Care Providers, Provider Alert, Specialists, Uncategorized0 CommentsRead more...
02Apr

Provider Alert! Pharmacy Updates Related to COVID-19

Attention: All Providers and Pharmacies Effective Date: March 20, 2020 Providers should monitor the Texas Children’s Health Plan (TCHP) Provider Portal regularly for alerts and updates associated to the COVID-19 event.  TCHP reserves the right to update and/or change this information without prior notice due to the evolving nature of the COVID-19 event. Call to action: Texas Children’s Health Plan (TCHP) supports member access to medications with guidance from Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and Texas State Board of Pharmacy during...

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Provider Alert!
29Jan

Provider Alert! URGENT – Makena (hydroxyprogesterone caproate) formulary change

Attention: OB providers Subject: URGENT - Makena (hydroxyprogesterone caproate) formulary change Effective Date: January 30, 2020   Call to action: The Texas Vendor Drug Program (VDP) will implement changes to the state Medicaid drug formulary, effective Thursday, January 30, 2020. Brand Makena formulations (intramuscular solution for injection, and subcutaneous auto-injectors) will remain on the preferred drug list (PDL). VDP has moved all generic hydroxyprogesterone caproate formulations to non-preferred drug status. Compounded formulations are not covered under the Medicaid formulary. Medicaid managed care plans are required...

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10Aug

Medication Synchronization Plan

Effective September 1, 2018, Texas Children’s Health Plan members can receive the Medication Synchronization benefit that will allow them to pick up all of their prescription medication refills on a single day each month, rather than having to go to the pharmacy multiple times per month. The coordination of refills is proven to lead to better adherence to medication regimens. Inform your patients about this exciting new option. Taking advantage of the Medication Synchronization benefit is as simple as the patient...

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