Effective 3/9: Preferred Drug List Updates
Date: 03/07/18
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) will publish an update to the Texas Medicaid Preferred Drug List (PDL) on March 9, 2018, that includes changes approved at the November 3, 2017, Drug Utilization Review Board Meeting. As a reminder, the PDL that was published on February 1, 2018, was based only the approved decisions from the July 28, 2017, meeting.
The table below summarizes some of the noteworthy changes from the November meeting.
Drug Name | Status Prior to March 9, 2018 | Status Effective March 9, 2018 |
|---|---|---|
Abilify | Preferred | Non-preferred |
Aripiprazole | Non-preferred | Preferred |
Atomoxetine | Non-preferred | Preferred |
Diclegis | Preferred | Non-preferred |
Latuda | Preferred | Preferred |
Oseltamivir (capsules and suspension) | Non-preferred | Preferred |
Strattera | Preferred | Non-preferred |
Tamilflu (capsules and suspension) | Preferred | Preferred |
New therapeutic classes include:
- Pediatric vitamin preparations
- Antihistamines, first generation
Drugs on the Texas Medicaid formulary are designated as preferred, non-preferred, or neither designation. The PDL is a list of only drugs designated as preferred or non-preferred status. Most drugs are identified as preferred or non-preferred. Drugs identified on the PDL as preferred, or not listed at all, are available to individuals without PDL prior authorization. Drugs identified as non-preferred require a PDL prior authorization. In addition, clinical prior authorizations may apply to any individual drug or an entire drug class on the formulary, including some preferred and non-preferred drugs.
The PDL Criteria Guide explains the criteria used to evaluate the PDL prior authorization requests. The criteria guide was updated March 5, 2018.