News

Preferred Drug List Update

3/8/2011

Attention:  Pharmacies, Physicians, Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners, Oral Surgeons, Optometrists, Dentists, FQHCs, RHCs, Mental Health Service Providers and Nursing Homes

Attention:  All Medicaid Providers

Effective April 1, 2011, the Alabama Medicaid Agency will update the Preferred Drug List (PDL) to reflect the recent Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P&T) Committee’s recommendations as well as quarterly updates. The updates are listed below: 

PDL Additions

PDL Deletions*

Dulera-Respiratory/Inhaled Corticosteroids

Daytrana-Behavioral Health/Cerebral Stimulants for ADD/ADHD-Long Acting

Ritalin SR-Behavioral Health/Cerebral Stimulants/Agents for ADD/ADHD-Short and Intermediate Acting

Dexedrine-Behavioral Health/Cerebral Stimulants for ADD/ADHD-Short and Intermediate Acting

Pataday-EENT Preparations/Antiallergic Agents

Patanase- EENT Preparations/Antiallergic Agents

 

Patanol- EENT Preparations/Antiallergic Agents

* Denotes that these brands will no longer be preferred but are still covered by Alabama Medicaid and will require Prior Authorization (PA). Available covered generic equivalents (unless otherwise specified) will remain preferred.

For additional PDL and coverage information, visit our drug look-up site at http://aldrug.rxexplorer.com/.

The PA request form and criteria booklet, as well as a link for a PA request form that can be completed and submitted electronically online, can be found on the Agency’s website at www.medicaid.alabama.gov and should be utilized by the prescribing physician or the dispensing pharmacy when requesting a PA. Providers requesting PAs by mail or fax should send requests to:

Health Information Designs (HID)

Medicaid Pharmacy Administrative Services

P. O. Box 3210 Auburn, AL 36832-3210

Fax: 1-800-748-0116

Phone: 1-800-748-0130

 

Incomplete PA requests or those failing to meet Medicaid criteria will be denied. If the prescribing physician believes medical justification should be considered, the physician must document this on the form or submit a written letter of medical justification along with the prior authorization form to HID. Additional information may be requested. Staff physicians will review this information.

 

Policy questions concerning this provider notice should be directed to the Pharmacy Program at (334) 242-5050. Questions regarding prior authorization procedures should be directed to the HID help desk at 1-800-748-0130.