Tag - Corticosteroids

Provider Alert!
07Jan

Provider Alert! New prior authorization requirements for Mepolizumab (Nucala)

Date: December 21, 2020 Attention: Allergists & Immunologists, Pulmonologists Effective Date:  February 1, 2021 Call to action: Texas Children’s Health Plan (TCHP) is aligning prior authorization criteria for mepolizumab (Nucala), J2182, with the Texas Medicaid Provider Procedures Manual (TMPPM). Mepolizumab (Nucala) is a clinician administered drug indicated for members with severe asthma with an eospinophilic phenotype.   Mepolizumab (Nucala) is also indicated as a steroid sparing agent for certain types of hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA). Below are the new prior...

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21Feb

QVAR HFA Metered Dose Inhaler is Going off of the Market

With little if any notice to providers, TEVA has decided to stop selling the QVAR HFA Metered Dose inhaler in the US. They have replaced it with a QVAR RediHaler, which is a breath actuated inhaler that CANNOT be used with a spacer (valved holding chamber) device. Young children and disabled children who cannot take a deep breath in and hold it will not be able to use the RediHaler device.   Patients who are used to or prefer to use...

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Provider Alert!
22Jun

Provider Alert! Nasonex

Effective July 27, 2017, Nasonex will be reclassified from preferred to non-preferred. Fluticasone nasal will be the only preferred intranasal corticosteroid for allergic rhinitis. Patients requiring Nasonex on or after July 27, 2017 will require a prior authorization. Prior authorization forms can be found here: https://www.navitus.com/texas-medicaid-starchip/prior-authorization-forms.aspx Questions? Please contact Navitus at 1-877-908-6023.

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12Jun

Are oral steroids being overused for children with asthma?

Oral corticosteroids have been shown to definitively benefit children with moderate to severe asthma exacerbations. However, they show no benefit and even possible harm for children with minimal-to-mild exacerbations. Recent research using data from Texas Children’s Health Plan has found very high rates of oral corticosteroid dispensing in the past year for children with a diagnosis of asthma: close to 50% for children under 5 years, and close to 40% of children over 5 years. There was large variation in...

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04May

Are Oral Steroids being overused for children with asthma?

Oral Corticosteroids have been shown to have definite benefit for children with moderate to severe asthma exacerbations, but no benefit and possible harm for minimal to mild exacerbations.  Recent research using data from Texas Children’s Health Plan has found very high rates of oral corticosteroid dispensing in the prior year for children with a diagnosis of asthma – close to 50% for children under 5 years, and close to 40% of children with asthma over 5 years.  There was large...

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