Monthly Archives - June 2016

Do you know how to access the Texas Children’s Health Plan formulary?

Texas Children’s Health Plan follows the State of Texas Medicaid and CHIP formulary that is managed by the Texas Medicaid/CHIP Vendor Drug Program. Prescribers and their staff can easily access the formulary online at: http://www.txvendordrug.com/formulary/index.asp. By visiting this website, you can search for either a drug or product by either NDC, brand name, generic name, or class. The results will show: Drug Program Type (Drugs covered by Medicaid(STAR) will display a V, Drugs covered by CHIP will display a P) Drug Name Generic Name NDC number that...

Not Too Much and Not Too Long: Appropriate Use of Opiates for Pain Management

In March 2016, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a guideline for prescribing opioids for chronic pain.  The most important points for primary care providers treating acute pain severe enough to require opioids are to prescribe the lowest effective dose of immediate-release opioids and to prescribe a quantity no greater than what is necessary.  Three days or less will often be sufficient; more than seven days will rarely be needed. Opioid pain medication use presents serious risks,...

ADHD: Should your patient take a drug holiday?

Parents of children who take stimulant medication for ADHD often wonder whether their kids should take a "drug holiday" during the summer months. A drug holiday, or a structured treatment interruption, is a deliberate, temporary suspension of medication. Child and adolescent psychiatrist Dr. Edward Walton, recommends against drug holidays unless there is a compelling reason. Current research and population data shows that children with ADHD who stick with their treatment programs year-round reap better results than those who experience treatment interruptions. Children...