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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.
Impacted medications(s) | Preferred medication | Type of change | Effective Date |
Androgel [B] | Testosterone Gel (TOPICAL) [G] | Generic now preferred | October 16, 2023 |
Valcyte [B] | Valganciclovir solution (ORAL) [G] | Generic now preferred | October 16, 2023 |
Nordotropin [B] | Omnitrope* (SQ) [B] | Other Growth Hormone(s) available | October 16, 2023 |
Genotropin [B] | Skytrofa* (SQ) [B] | ||
Xopenex [B] | Levalbuterol solution [G] | Generic now preferred | October 31, 2023 |
Eryped [B] | Erythromycin solution [G] | Generic now preferred | November 7, 2023 |
* 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.