Author - tcph

Provider Alert!
08Jun

Provider Alert! Nitrofurantoin Oral Suspension Drug Shortage

Attention: All Providers and Pharmacies Effective Date: June 12, 2020 Call to action: Drug shortages of nitrofurantoin oral suspension have been identified on the Medicaid and CHIP formularies.  There is only one National Drug Code (NDC) available on the market, and it is not on the Medicaid formulary. There are many other antibiotic choices available on the formulary and prescribers may choose an appropriate alternative based on patient diagnosis and indication for use. How this impacts providers:  Members may reach out to providers...

By OB/GYNs, Office Managers, Primary Care Providers, Provider Alert, Specialists0 CommentsRead more...
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...

By Office Managers, Primary Care Providers, Provider Alert, Specialists, , 0 CommentsRead more...
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...

By OB/GYNs, Office Managers, Primary Care Providers, Provider Alert, Specialists0 CommentsRead more...
Provider Alert!
03Jun

Provider Alert! Financial Management Services Agencies (FMSA)

Attention: Financial Management Services Agencies (FMSA) Subject: Cures Act EVV: The EVV Practice Period Begins July 1 Effective Date: 7/1/2020 Call to action: From July 1, 2020, through November 30, 2020, an Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) practice period will allow program providers and financial management services agencies (FMSAs) impacted by the 21st Century Cures Act to practice using the EVV system, EVV Portal, and EVV claims matching. Consumer directed services (CDS) employers can practice using the EVV system. EVV claims will not be denied...

By OB/GYNs, Office Managers, Primary Care Providers, Provider Alert, Specialists0 CommentsRead more...
11May

Provider Alert! Families First Coronavirus Response Act Information

Attention: Financial Management Services Agencies and Consumer Directed Services employers Effective Date: This rule is in effect April 2, 2020 to December 31, 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: The United States Department of Labor (DOL) issued a temporary rule implementing...

By OB/GYNs, Office Managers, Primary Care Providers, Provider Alert, Specialists, , 0 CommentsRead more...
Provider Alert!
11May

Provider Alert! Live EVV Training Webinars in June

Attention: Existing Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) Users Effective Date: June 16-June 17 Call to action: In June, the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and Texas Medicaid & Healthcare Partnership (TMHP) will hold live Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) policy and EVV Portal training webinars for program providers currently required to use EVV. How this impacts providers: Program providers must complete EVV Portal training and EVV policy training annually. See the following link for more information: https://hhs.texas.gov/sites/default/files/documents/doing-business-with-hhs/providers/long-term-care/evv/evv-required-training-checklist.pdf Next steps for providers: To meet the annual training requirement,...

By OB/GYNs, Office Managers, Primary Care Providers, Provider Alert, Specialists, , 0 CommentsRead more...
Provider Alert!
11May

Provider Alert! Cures Act EVV: Required EVV Training Webinars in May and June

Attention: Financial Management Services Agencies (FMSA) Effective Date: 6/2/2020 – 6/3/2020 Call to action: In May and June, the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and Texas Medicaid & Healthcare Partnership (TMHP) will hold live Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) policy and EVV Portal training webinars for program providers and financial management service agencies (FMSAs) required to use EVV by the Cures Act. How this impacts providers: Program providers and FMSAs affected by the Cures Act EVV expansion must complete EVV Portal training and EVV policy...

By HHSC, OB/GYNs, Office Managers, Primary Care Providers, Provider Alert, Specialists, 0 CommentsRead more...
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...

By OB/GYNs, Office Managers, Primary Care Providers, Provider Alert, Specialists, , 0 CommentsRead more...
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...

By OB/GYNs, Office Managers, Primary Care Providers, Provider Alert, Specialists, 0 CommentsRead more...
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...