Change in Preferred Drug List Status for Glucocorticoids, Inhaled Drug Class

Date: December 8, 2023

Attention: Providers

Effective date: December 15, 2023

Call to action: Effective December 15, 2023, the Texas Health and Human Services (HHS) removed non-preferred status from generic fluticasone hydrofluoroalkane (HFA) and brand Qvar products on the preferred drug list. This is in response to the discontinuation of the product by the manufacturer.

The preferred status of the brand name Flovent HFA and Flovent Diskus will not change to allow for any remaining stock to be used.

How this impacts providers: The change will allow providers to prescribe the generic fluticasone HFA and brand QVAR products without requiring PDL prior authorization at this time and continue accessing necessary medication for their patients.

Please see below for the list of impacted drugs (of note, the approval is NDC-specific):

Preferred Medication	Preferred Medication NDC	Type of Change	Effective Date
FLUTICASONE PROP HFA 44 MCG	66993007896	Generic now preferred	December 15, 2023
FLUTICASONE PROP HFA 110 MCG	66993007996	Generic now preferred	December 15, 2023
FLUTICASONE PROP HFA 220 MCG	66993008096	Generic now preferred	December 15, 2023
QVAR REDIHALER 40 MCG	59310030240	Brand now preferred	December 15, 2023
QVAR REDIHALER 80 MCG	59310030480	Brand now preferred	December 15, 2023
FLOVENT HFA		Brand remains preferred
FLOVENT DISKUS		Brand remains preferred

Update as of 1/11/2024: Flovent shortage notices to announce this change to your patients/our members:

Flovent shortage notice (English)
Flovent shortage notice for clients (Spanish)

Next step for Providers: Prescribers are encouraged to proactively obtain a prescription for the preferred alternatives to avoid disruption in patient’s therapy. Prescribers should share this communication with their staff.

If you have any questions, please email TCHP Pharmacy at: tchppharmacy@texaschildrens.org.

For access to all provider alerts,log into:
www.thecheckup.org or www.texaschildrenshealthplan.org/for-providers.