Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee formulary update
On November 17, 2009, the Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P&T) Committee met and reviewed several drugs, policies and prior authorization criteria. The following information summarizes the recommendations made at the P&T meeting. It doesn't represent a comprehensive list of all drugs included on our approved drug list. Please visit
priorityhealth.com for detailed information regarding drug coverage.
November P&T changes: At a glance
Alphabetized by drug name
| Therapeutic Class | Drug | Change applies to | P&T recommendation | Effective Date |
| Commercial | Medicaid | Medicare |
| Gastrointestinal |
Aciphex (rabeprazole) |
X |
X |
|
Modify ST (see table below) |
1-1-2010 |
| Infectious Disease |
Cancidas (caspofungin) |
|
|
X |
Remove PA |
1-1-2010 |
| Cardiology |
Effient (prasugrel) |
X |
X |
X |
Add to formulary |
1-1-2010 |
| Infectious Disease |
Eraxis (anidulafungin) |
|
|
X |
Remove PA |
1-1-2010 |
| Neurology |
Extavia (interferon beta-1b) |
X |
|
X |
Add to formulary with ST (Copaxone or Rebif first) |
1-1-2010 |
| CNS |
Fanapt (iloperidone) |
X |
|
X |
Add to formulary with ST (one preferred atypical antipsychotic first) |
1-1-2010 |
| Immunology |
Ilaris (canakinumab) |
X* |
X* |
X* |
Add to formulary with PA |
1-1-2010 |
| CNS |
Intuniv (guanfacine) |
X |
|
X |
Add to formulary with ST (generic guanfacine AND either Adderall XR or Concerta first) |
1-1-2010 |
| Gastrointestinal |
Kapidex (dexlansoprazole) |
X |
X |
X |
Modify ST (see table below) |
1-1-2010 |
| Pain Management |
Maxalt/MLT (rizatriptan) |
X |
X |
|
Add ST (sumatriptan first) |
1-1-2010 |
| Infectious Disease |
Mycamine (micafungin) |
|
|
X |
Remove PA |
1-1-2010 |
| Gastrointestinal |
Nexium (esomeprazole) |
X |
X |
|
Modify ST (see table below) |
1-1-2010 |
| Endocrine |
Onglyza (saxagliptin) |
X |
X |
X |
Add to formulary with ST (metformin first) |
1-1-2010 |
| Pain Management |
Onsolis (fentanyl buccal soluble film) |
X |
|
X |
Add to formulary with PA |
1-1-2010 |
| Gastrointestinal |
Prevacid SoluTab (lansoprazole) |
X |
X |
|
Modify ST (see table below) Add to formulary Add to formulary with ST (one preferred atypical antipsychotic first) Add to formulary with PA/ST (Enbrel or Humira first) Change to generic T1 copay Add to formulary with PA Remove ST Modify ST (see table below) Add to formulary with ST (generic diclofenac first) |
1-1-2010 |
| Neurology |
Sabril (vigabatrin) |
X |
X |
X |
Add to formulary |
1-1-2010 |
| CNS |
Saphris (asenapine) |
X |
|
X |
Add to formulary with ST (one preferred atypical antipsychotic first) |
1-1-2010 |
| Dermatology |
Stelara (ustekinumab) |
X* |
X* |
X* |
Add to formulary with PA/ST (Enbrel or Humira first) |
1-1-2010 |
| Respiratory |
Symbicort (budesonide/ formoterol) |
X |
|
|
Change to generic T1 copay |
1-1-2010 |
| Cardiology |
Tyvaso (treprostinil) |
X |
X |
X |
Add to formulary with PA |
1-1-2010 |
| Infectious Disease |
Valtrex (valacyclovir) |
X |
X |
X |
Remove ST |
1-1-2010 |
| Gastrointestinal |
Zegerid (omeprazole/ sodium bicarbonate) |
X |
X |
|
Modify ST (see table below) |
1-1-2010 |
| Pain Management |
Zipsor (diclofenac potassium) |
X |
X |
X |
Add to formulary with ST (generic diclofenac first) |
1-1-2010 |
PA = Prior Authorization
ST = Step Therapy
• Indicates the change applies to this formulary
* indicates drug is covered under the medical benefit
P = Preferred Brand
NP = Non-Preferred Brand
PS = Preferred Brand Specialty
NPS = Non-Preferred Brand Specialty
T1, T2, T3, T4 = Medicare Tier Designation
PPI step therapy
| Step 1 |
Generics - covered with no ST/PA required - covered for twice-daily dosing with no PA required - all three generics/OTC must be tried prior to Step 2 |
Prilosec OTC/omeprazole Prevacid OTC/lansoprazole pantoprazole |
| Step 2 |
Preferred brand - covered after trial and failure of all three generics/OTC - covered for twice-daily dosing only with PA |
Aciphex |
| Step 3 |
Non-preferred brands - covered after trial and failure of all three generics/OTC & Aciphex - covered for twice-daily dosing only with PA |
Nexium Kapidex Prevacid Solutab Zegerid |
Topics: