22-340 Medication Trend Updates and Formulary Changes - 1st Quarter 2022
Date: 04/25/22
This information applies to Physicians and Participating Physician Groups (PPGs).
This information applies to Medi-Cal in Fresno, Kings and Madera counties.
Review formulary changes and medication safety issues
Stay up to date with info about:
- New buprenorphine warning regarding dental issues.
- Changes to the CalViva Health Medi-Cal Preferred Drug List (PDL) for the first quarter of 2022.
FDA warns orally dissolving buprenorphine is associated with dental issues
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning that orally dissolving buprenorphine can cause dental problems including tooth cavities, infections, and tooth loss even in patients without prior dental problems. Buprenorphine, however, remains an important treatment option for opioid use disorder (OUD) and pain, and its benefits outweigh its risks.
The FDA is requiring a new warning be added to the prescribing information for orally dissolving buprenorphine products. Prescribing and patient information will include strategies to maintain or improve oral health while taking buprenorphine.
The FDA recommends that providers perform a baseline dental evaluation and ask patients about their oral health history before prescribing. Prescribers should counsel patients about potential dental problems and the importance of regular dental checkups and hygiene. For more information please download 1-12-2022 FDA Drug Safety Communication information.
Pharmacy help line
For more information regarding changes to the CalViva Health Medi-Cal PDL, contact the proper pharmacy phone numbers listed below:
Product | Telephone number | Fax number |
|---|---|---|
Pharmacy Benefit (Medi-Cal Rx) | 800-977-2273 | 800-869-4325 |
Medical Benefit Drugs (Medi-Cal) | 877-277-0413 | 833-953-3436 |
Medi-Cal Pharmacy Services | 800-977-2273 | Pharmacy: 800-869-4325 Medical requests: 833-953-3436 |
CalViva Health Medi-Cal PDL changes
Medication | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|
Bylvay™ (odevixibat) | Carved out | An ileal bile acid transporter (IBAT) inhibitor used to treat pruritis in patients 3 months of age and older with progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis. |
Livmarli™ (maralixibat) | Carved out | An ileal bile acid transporter (IBAT) inhibitor used to treat cholestatic pruritis in patients with Alagille syndrome (ALGS) 1 year of age and older. |
Additional information
If you have questions regarding the information contained in this update, contact CalViva Health at 888-893-1569.