Updates to the Preferred Drug List (PDL) for Androgenic agents, Macrolides-Ketolides, Antiviral, Bronchodilator and Growth Hormone drug classes

Date: November 8, 2023

Attention: All Providers

Effective Date: October 31, 2023

Call to action: Texas Health and Human Services (HHSC) moved select medication(s) listed below to “preferred” status due to various drug shortages at this time. We are notifying providers more options to prescribe your members if they cannot obtain their current medication(s). 

A summary of the changes is included below.

* These medications also have a clinical prior authorization requirement.
 [B] Signals the medication is brand name
 [G] Signals the medication is generic

How this impacts providers: This change will allow providers to prescribe the preferred medication to your patients without requiring PDL prior authorization. Some of the preferred medications may continue to require clinical prior authorizations.

Next steps for providers: Texas Children’s Health Plan (TCHP) encourages providers to switch existing patients to the preferred medication so there is no disruption in patient’s therapy. The preferred drug list (PDL) can be found on the VDP website: https://www.txvendordrug.com/formulary/preferred-drugs

If you have any questions, please email TCHP Pharmacy Department at: TCHPPharmacy@texaschildrens.orgFor access to all provider alerts,log into:
www.thecheckup.org or www.texaschildrenshealthplan.org/for-providers.